Help name a new publication!
Aug 8 2007
Hey folks,
So, I'm starting (hopefully with help from others) a new publication, a monthly newssheet style thing - to start with, an A3 folded in half (to give 4 A4 pages).
My idea for this new publication is to be more of a newssheet than a magazine, with a much broader focus than Aotearoa Anarchist (the only other "national" publication, an internally focussed magazine put out by the Wildcat Collective in Wellington) – something more akin to Freedom. Anarchist analysis of current events such as worker's struggles, NZ's role in the Pacific etc etc, anarchist theory (but written accessibly to people just picking it up), upcoming events etc etc
As an example, here's some of the stuff that I'm hoping to have in issue 1, not in any order:
* What is anarchism?
* An anarchist critique of the upcoming local body elections
* A round up of the Spotless lockout and Miner's strikes & lockout
* Callout for the Auckland anarchist conference
* Something on whats going on in Aboriginal communities in Australia
For now I and anyone else that wants to write for it will keep it going monthly (I'm commiting to writing it all if need be, although obviously I'd rather have others contributing). If the Aotearoa Anarchist-Communist Federation gets off the ground, I can see this being something I'd be keen for it to pick up as an official publication...
Anyway, its all going smoothly so far, except for one thing - it doesn't have a name. Any (serious) suggestions are welcome - probably looking for a 1 or 2 word title, something that isn't an anarchist in-joke, and would be appealing to someone who saw it on the street without a clue of what it was.
So, start suggesting! 
Aug 8 2007
#2
'Free the paedos'
Aug 8 2007
#3
Good luck Asher! You'll find it tough doing it without help though, producing a monthly bulletin is a lot of hard work!
Aug 8 2007
#4
Dundee_United wrote:
I'm involved with a leftwing rag in Glasgow. We've given it a name that doesn't remotely reflect its politics.
Good?
Will have a think asher...
Aug 8 2007
#5
Quote:
Good?
Yes it is, because the publication is aiming to be more than a mouthpiece for an ideology but actually be a news source; had we called it "The Anarchist-Communist Worker", not only would this be doing the publication a disservice, but I'm quite sure a few less public libraries and chip shops would have stock it and it wouldn't be getting read by so many people.
Aug 8 2007
#6
Dundee_United wrote:
Quote:
Good?Yes it is, because the publication is aiming to be more than a mouthpiece for an ideology but actually be a news source; had we called it "The Anarchist-Communist Worker", not only would this be doing the publication a disservice, but I'm quite sure a few less public libraries and chip shops would have stock it and it wouldn't be getting read by so many people.
If I'd put '"Good"?' would that've made my joke clearer?
Aug 8 2007
#7
Asher,
KIWI-FREE
Peter Good(TCA)
Aug 8 2007
#8
Quote:
If I'd put '"Good"?' would that've made my joke clearer?
I'm sorry John. I'm still really not following?
Aug 8 2007
#9
Saying that I'd really like for leftist glamour reasons to be involved in the publication of mass circulation daily national newspaper called "The Anarchist-Communist Worker". That'd be one of the ultimate political wank fantasies.
Yargh! Lol
Aug 8 2007
#10
Well done libcom you've pushed dundee over the edge.
Shouldn't the publication name be collectively decided by this new group anyway?
Aug 8 2007
#11
Quote:
Well done libcom you've pushed dundee over the edge.
Aug 8 2007
#12
Dundee_United wrote:
New Zealand Messenger/Times/Courier/Angel etc.I'm involved with a leftwing rag in Glasgow. We've given it a name that doesn't remotely reflect its politics. As a result hunners of places are more than happy to stock it and people read it. Your name should be as innocuous as possible. If it can be a little bit weird (while not that weird) people will also be piqued to read it. It depends (as everything does I guess) though on your target audience.
this is good advice imo.
Aug 8 2007
#13
John. - yeah you've lost me on that one too.
Aug 8 2007
#14
Dundee_United wrote:
We've given it a name that doesn't remotely reflect its politics.
John. effectively wrote:
So a good name then?
Aug 8 2007
#15
oh right.
Ta.
Aug 8 2007
#16
I recomend a one word name. It sticks better. I agree with DU about the non political nature of the name. Very sensible but I think short is important.
There's little to be gainned from putting the name of the area you cover in the title either. Youcan always put that in the byline, alongside your politics.
Eg:GAGGED!
south wales anarchist newsletter
Aug 8 2007
#17
I think it depends actually. In local areas particularism is your friend as people warm to that shit, cos it's 'their community/job' etc. This is in part because mass circulation news which most people find sterile does not cover local stuff that people can see and feel taking place around them but covers more abstract things orr things that are further removed from them. Therefore the same is not true for wider geographical regions, and if you cover a large area you're probably right in saying that geographic specificity is not a selling point. For example I think Hackney Independent is a great name. A 'London Independent' however would be a shit name.
Aug 8 2007
#18
fair enough. In this case 'New Zealnad Independent' would be a shit name.
Aug 8 2007
#19
Dim Llywodraeth wrote:
'New Zealnad Independent'
some kind of gonad zealots?
Aug 8 2007
#20
Quote:
fair enough. In this case 'New Zealnad Independent' would be a shit name.
Probably. Unless it was aimed at competing with nationals in which case you'd want it to sound like a reasonable voice of authority on national issues, in which case that'd be fine - bearing in mind all that entails on how people 'feel' about the kinds of things those publications tend to deal with and the fact that people won't have communitarian affinity with it.
It all depends on what you want from a publication and who it's targetted at.
Aug 8 2007
#21
I think more publications should be named "Barricada Revolutionary Anarchist Monthly".
Aug 8 2007
#22
I like 'Decadent Worker' because I thought somebody shouted to me in the street, but apparently I misheard.
Aug 8 2007
#24
How abut Super Awesome Sexy News?
Moving along from South Park though, Dundee’s got a point there, something more neutral is a good idea, depends on what goes in it though, if it’s comment something like the Thunderer (tips people off you’re going to be doing comment so they’re primed for it), if it’s news more like The Guard emphasising that you’re reporting/investigating so people reckon they’re about to learn something new and exciting. Check for existing versions first though.
It’s also a good idea if you use a reasonably rare word, as that heads up the google rankings quickly once people read you a few times.
Aug 8 2007
#25
Joseph K. wrote:
Dundee_United wrote:
We've given it a name that doesn't remotely reflect its politics.John. effectively wrote:
So a good name then?
No I meant "is the name of the publication 'Good'?" Because "good" would be a word which didn't "remotely reflect its politics"
Aug 8 2007
#26
Joseph K. wrote:
Dim Llywodraeth wrote:
'New Zealnad Independent'some kind of gonad zealots?
Aug 8 2007
#27
Quote:
No I meant "is the name of the publication 'Good'?" Because "good" would be a word which didn't "remotely reflect its politics"
Ugh... Don't take up stand up man! Lol.
Aug 8 2007
#28
Dundee_United wrote:
Quote:
No I meant "is the name of the publication 'Good'?" Because "good" would be a word which didn't "remotely reflect its politics"Ugh... Don't take up stand up man! Lol.
He'd have to hide behind the drum kit. 
Aug 8 2007
#29
guydebordisdead wrote:
Shouldn't the publication name be collectively decided by this new group anyway?
There isn't a new group yet - at the moment, the publication is just something I'm starting up as a personal project. If the AACF gets off the ground and wants to take it over, I'd be more than happy for that to happen though, including if it wants to change its name (although I think a "An AACF Publication" byline would be more likely).
Cheers for the suggestions so far, keep 'em coming
Aug 9 2007
#30
ANZAC! - Anarchy NewZealand: Anarchist Communist newsletter
The Vet's will love it!
New Zealand Messenger/Times/Courier/Angel etc.
I'm involved with a leftwing rag in Glasgow. We've given it a name that doesn't remotely reflect its politics. As a result hunners of places are more than happy to stock it and people read it. Your name should be as innocuous as possible. If it can be a little bit weird (while not that weird) people will also be piqued to read it. It depends (as everything does I guess) though on your target audience.