Comments on: Holding Out For A Hero

By: Robin Brown

Robin Brown — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:26:24 +0000

What would the Liverpool vodka taste of? So many dark, delicious possibilities…

By: Moptop

Moptop — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:42:54 +0000

Thought-provoking article which contains a lot of truth. Why does Local Media promote Z-list slebs? I guess for the same reason the National Media promotes ‘em.

Break the mould, Liverpool! Dare to be different!

How about giving coverage to artist Katriona Beales, Philosophy in Pubs, Mandy Coe, David Bateman, Dead Belgian, Ragz, TJ & Murphy…

In this City, I could go out every night of the week and experience poetry, music, theatre, film, art – and not need to go anywhere near the Newz Bar…

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:18:21 +0000

I know a lot of people recently who’ve been across Europe this year and they all came back saying EVERYONE thinks Liverpool is a cool, ‘hip’, and buzzing city to visit (regardless of whether they’ve actually been or not). I don’t know what’s happened over the past couple of years to turn it around (maybe the 08 push?) but it seems to be a real talking point internationally now.
There’s a weird, unpleasant imbalance between the ‘faces’ and the values that represent the city in the media, and the actual weight that Liverpool now has nationally and internationally.

By: Liam Fogarty

Liam Fogarty — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:44:48 +0000

Well said, David. Coverage of the ubiquitous “slebs” is symptomatic of a city that’s happy in its comfort zone of the second-rate. Poor civic leadership, low expectations and an unjustified self-regard stop us from having the grown-up conversations we need to move Liverpool forward. Our discourse as Liverpudlians has been infantilised: never mind the “laydeez” tumbling out of the Newz Bar; tonight’s five top stories in the online version of the “local” evening paper are all crime stories – that’s not the Liverpool we love!
As for this year’s official “re-branding” – design guru and lover of Liverpool Michael Wolff ( co-founder of Wolff Olins) nailed it good style:
“It’s a lazy, dull, unimaginative and uninspiring cocktail of poorly conceived and drearily executed graphics.”
The marketeers’ “mission statement” tosh that accompanied it made me want to poke my own eyes out. But at least then I wouldn’t have to read “Winkler Watch” in the Echo each night…

By: Andrew Jalali

Andrew Jalali — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:36:58 +0000

We’re getting there Dave…

http://planningblog.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/here’s-to-liverpool/

Again, it’s the same with any town or city- Peter Kay, Bolton, Liverpol, Beatles, Manchester, Oasis etc etc. Everywhere has automatic branding, often led by the media itself, no just advertising agents.

I think Liverpool are improving on their advertising form, bar the overuse of their colour scheme for derelict houses that are in the middle of compulsory purchase buyouts.

The way people perceive urban centres is also changing, often being ignorant of the mindless reps that may face some magazines- i seriously didn’t know Atomic Kitten members were still around…we are seeing more well-planned and produced adverts for city centres, often backed by catchy tag-lines and slogans. Hopefully this will pave the way of avoiding these old, z-list representatives.

Seriously though, why are Hollyoaks cast everywhere??

By: Joe Murtagh

Joe Murtagh — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:34:27 +0000

What happened to Phil Redmond? He was all over the 08 project.
Maybe he ran out of steam.

Great article David, it’s good to hear the truth occasionally.

By: David Lloyd

David Lloyd — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:06:36 +0000

Thanks. Apparently, you have to search for the hero inside yourself. But where did that get Heather Small?

By: Dave Fanning

Dave Fanning — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:03:13 +0000

Great article.
Alan Bleasedale said many years ago when anarchy ruled the Labour Party in this city, that we in Liverpool were basically destroying our own city, but doing it in style!! The press in Liverpool (published in Oldham) don’t do good news, they only want the sordid or bad news. Thats what sells papers. Look at the Sun!!
We need someone and we need someone fast to really sell this city.
Any one know a hero?

By: Vinny Lawrenson-Woods

Vinny Lawrenson-Woods — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:24:52 +0000

Very nice article Dave and absolutely spot on. Thanks for thinking of us.

By: David Lloyd

David Lloyd — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:14:42 +0000

yeah, and Alex Curran said something similar this year, but was forced to make a hasty retraction…