Jalopnik Not What It Used To Be...

"Nick drives Stick (not Stig)" (NickR) 01/15/2016 at 17:29 • Filed to: None

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Jalopnik used to be the first thing I would check out in the morning and I would circle back at least 4 or 5 times a day to check on updates. But lately I visit the site less and less...

To me, there has been a clear change of content over the last 6 months or so... The tone has become more childish, the articles don’t interest me as much as they used to... I also feel like there is a self-promoting attitude among some of the writers, which has gradually happened, following the rise to fame of Jalopnik.

Some writers have left, Flight Club is no more and there has been more about sleeping in a van at the Detroit Auto Show than about the actual auto show...

I’m not the only one that feels that way, because it’s a topic that has been brought up, both my the office and among friends.

I know that I don’t pay for the content, and I can always leave if I don’t like it... But I would much rather have my old Jalopnik back...

... In lack of that, I’m in search for good alternatives...

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 17:32

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It’s hard to put a finger on the exact reason, but I agree with the feeling. I like Black Flag, Lanesplitter, and Truck Yeah subs a lot more than the front page.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 17:34

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That’s why I hang around Oppositelock more often than jalopnik.

Bytemite > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 17:38

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Hooniverse. Where you get actual car enthusiast content. Every article on Jalopnik is now way too PC. There is always talk about cars being 2 ton deadly weapons. The focus is on safety and the writers keep emphasizing the dangers of driving instead of the joy. Speeding is seen as dangerous. Attacking corners is seen as dangerous. Just go to hooniverse.

Berang > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 17:39

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I think it has it’s ups and downs. I’m happier when they do more old car content, which has been pleasantly up since what seemed like a low point a few months ago.

But I’m sort of confused when it seems like a story is going to appear, and then nothing. Like for instance when they posted that video of Raph gaping at the concours cars. I kept expecting a “serious” article about the show to pop up any day after that. If it did happen I missed it. I was also expecting a big summary article about the Lada trip, and then ??? That’s the sort of stuff I don’t get. Why the teaser material, but no follow through?

Anyway don’t be surprised if people from Jalopnik come over to explain you a thing.

If you like old car content, I would check out Curbside Classic. It’s not all gold, but it’s old cars, and it has a sense of accessibility and authenticity that is sometimes lacking in other sites.

HammerheadFistpunch > Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed 01/15/2016 at 17:40

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just think of those as jalopnik that they put new hats on. Same authors, same privileges...same content in the end.

AM3R shamefully returns > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 17:42

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Speedhunters is great, with amazing photography. Mostly JDM stuff though.

TheHondaBro > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 17:48

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I kind of see your point. If you lock back at the articles when Spinelli was running the show, they were more about car news than anything else. Nowadays (Not singling-out any EIC or editor), the content has turned more into, like you mentioned, childish- if that makes sense. Some of the content would be at home on a celebrity’s social media page.

Of course, you can give credit to some of the sub blogs, such as Black Flag, Lane Splitter, and the others, for carrying the torch of actual news, and sort of taking that load off Jalopnik’s back, so they can focus on being a source of car-related entertainment.

Manny05x > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 17:50

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Thank you I pointed this out and got bashed.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Berang 01/15/2016 at 17:54

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Diving into Curbside Classic is great fun when you want to burn time/taking a shit.

Berang > HammerheadFistpunch 01/15/2016 at 17:55

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I think the noticeable difference between those blogs and the FP is that the proportion of first hand reporting is higher.

It’s cool the FP points us to articles and news that others are writing about, but it also creates an extra distance between the readership and the material.

CB > Bytemite 01/15/2016 at 17:56

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... wait what?

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 17:57

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I've grown to like Oppo since. I feel since Okulski has left, the magic has been gone. Road and Track have stepped up their game since. Ballaban is not exactly the best.

HammerheadFistpunch > Berang 01/15/2016 at 17:58

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I think there is an odd effect that comes from stripping the main site of its byline, its like starting a company where one guy does it all and then towards the end the guy is just a facilitator and all his helpers are doing the visible work. That doesn’t mean the facilitator doesn’t deserve credit, it just makes him a much less visible part of the operation.

Berang > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/15/2016 at 18:00

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Yeah. It’s not a site to check every day, but when you get into it you can spend a lot of time.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 18:01

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It’s because I’m back after about 4 years away.

I’m sorry.

Berang > HammerheadFistpunch 01/15/2016 at 18:07

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If I wrote a book, I wouldn’t put the most interesting parts in the epilogue, for example. Yeah they’re technically there and interesting, but then what is the point of the main story anyway?

Sentec219 > Bytemite 01/15/2016 at 18:09

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I agree, Byte ... awhile back I posted comment on Opposite Lock regarding a photo of a Corvette with a vinyl-ized hard top roof. It was parked in a handicapped spot and I merely stated that it was parked where it belonged, due to that horrible roof (meaning of course, that anyone who would do that to a Corvette required therapy). In other words, I was joking. A moderator took offense to this remark and banned me for a week. He misguidedly took offense at something I obviously never implied, but apparently his PC gene kicked into overdrive and he booted me. I'll not return to Opposite lock where humor is relegated to comments certain to be inoffensive to a 5 year old.

HammerheadFistpunch > Berang 01/15/2016 at 18:10

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I don’t quite follow, but I see what you are frustrated about. Protip: replace all the names of the subblogs you like with “Jalopnik” in your head and it will be a more enjoyable experience.

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > HammerheadFistpunch 01/15/2016 at 18:14

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I guess the focus is a little tighter on the subs. Not as many dumb articles.

Berang > HammerheadFistpunch 01/15/2016 at 18:15

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Yeah, but if I’m talking about Lane Splitter, I’m not talking about Jalopnik. I know they’re all tethered together, but they’re not interchangeable.

HammerheadFistpunch > Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed 01/15/2016 at 18:15

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Again, the subs are just roses of different names, its all Jalopnik. Though if they are reading this I hope they see a theme in the danger of spreading the brand too thin.

HammerheadFistpunch > Berang 01/15/2016 at 18:16

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do you not like lanesplitter?

Berang > HammerheadFistpunch 01/15/2016 at 18:18

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I do like it. But you better not tell me it’s all Jalopnik. That’d be like saying Jalopnik is Gawker.

El Rivinado > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 18:19

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I agree, I will also say that Jalopnik is starting to get way too political for its own good. I feel like Gawker is forcing it to write articles that fit with the Gawkerverse, lest the site’s writers be flogged for not conforming to Gawker’s “standards”. It’s pretty obvious when you consider some of the writers and articles *COUGHAlissaWalkerCOUGH*

That's why I visit Curbside Classic for my car fix now.

HammerheadFistpunch > Berang 01/15/2016 at 18:19

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Lanesplitter.JALOPNIK.com

Dr_Watson > Bytemite 01/15/2016 at 18:21

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The only thing frowned upon is street racing. As it should be. Hell there was even a recent post defending stance nation.

nermal > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 18:22

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The front page is kinda like the Chumbawamba discography. There’s a hit song hidden in there amongst a lot of filler, just like there are some really good and in depth articles hidden between a lot of clickbait and fluff.

Berang > HammerheadFistpunch 01/15/2016 at 18:23

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But that’s just being deliberately thick. I think we all agree that when somebody says “Jalopnik” without any other qualifications, they are talking about Jalopnik, and not the sub blogs in particular. Or else they’d name them.

Berang > El Rivinado 01/15/2016 at 18:27

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Political in what way? The posts shared from Foxtrot?

HammerheadFistpunch > Berang 01/15/2016 at 18:27

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Well, no offense, but comparing a motorcycle sub site to a tech sub site when talking about which is more Jalopnik is also deliberately thick.

Blondude > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 18:29

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Oppo isn’t what it used to be either, but I’m still here.

Berang > HammerheadFistpunch 01/15/2016 at 18:33

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In what way?

HammerheadFistpunch > Berang 01/15/2016 at 18:36

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in the same way that pointing out that a Jalopnik owned subdomain about motorcycles being part of the Jalopnik brand is apparently thick.

E92M3 > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 18:38

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I feel it’s lost some of it’s attractiveness too. Same thing with BAT. They barely have 5 finds a day now.

Maybe it’s just a slow time of year for car news?? I’m glad some of the OG’s have moved up to more lucrative careers, but I miss some of their writing.

Patrick George > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/15/2016 at 18:39

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Folks complained in Oppo how bad it was under Travis too. I'm not that worried :)

Patrick George > E92M3 01/15/2016 at 18:40

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It is a very slow time for car news, but we have some cool shit in the pipeline as always. Stay tuned.

Patrick George > Berang 01/15/2016 at 18:41

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The Lada story... is coming. Let's just say there's been a reason you haven't seen it yet. But you will and it will be amazing

Patrick George > Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed 01/15/2016 at 18:42

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And that’s all Jalopnik. Just different sections for the same content and the same writers. We’re all Jalopnik writers, we work together all day, and we put stuff where it “goes.”

Patrick George > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 18:46

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We had a ton of stories about Detroit and one or two about the van. There’s a video coming on the latter and it’s gonna be great.

We work hard to bring good original stories and videos every day, plus the bloggy stuff that pays the bills. We can’t please everyone-not everything we do will interest people all the time. But I’m in it for the long haul, and we’ll only get better and better this year.

Patrick George > Bytemite 01/15/2016 at 18:47

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Yeah, we hate speed. And cars. You got us.

Berang > Patrick George 01/15/2016 at 18:47

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Well I kept thinking it had to be too good to drop. So I’m excited it’s still in the works.

Patrick George > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. 01/15/2016 at 18:48

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Jalopnik pays the bills so Oppo can exist at all. Server space and image hosting ain't free.

Patrick George > Patrick George 01/15/2016 at 18:49

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Also, tell us what you'd like to see more of! We're always taking suggestions.

Patrick George > Berang 01/15/2016 at 18:49

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That story shaved a year off my life. Buy me a beer in Austin sometime and I'll tell you all about it.

slipperysallylikespenguins > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 18:50

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Completely agree, I haven’t even attempted to get authorship for front page commenting. I can get most of my news from Autoblob, and will read the occasional history article here. The days of Wert, Spinelli, and company are for the most part long gone, not to mention all the fantastic oppo members lost due to changes on the front page

Berang > HammerheadFistpunch 01/15/2016 at 18:53

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And I already explained why. Because generally, when anybody says “Jalopnik” they’re talking about the front page. Jalopnik-Jalopnik. Jalopnik .

I don’t see why that’s tough to follow?

And if somebody says truck yeah, we can safely assume they’re talking about truck yeah, not front page Jalopnik. Yes. We know they’re connected. Nobody is saying they aren’t. I’m pretty sure you know what I mean. I don’t think everybody has to specify “front page Jalopnik” every time they’re talking about Jalopnik.

HammerheadFistpunch > Berang 01/15/2016 at 18:54

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I guess my point is that Jalopnik IS trucks, it IS bikes, it IS boats. Its just Jalopnik. The sub domains are just extensions.

Berang > Patrick George 01/15/2016 at 18:55

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I can buy you a beer all I want, but you’ve got to actually come to the beer for this to work.

Maybe when Mr. Regular comes to Texas we’ll all go together.

I_AmDeath > Patrick George 01/15/2016 at 19:01

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What’s the point there? I mean sure it’s true but that doesn’t address any critism leveled.

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > Patrick George 01/15/2016 at 19:07

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I get it. You’re obviously not going to please everyone on this blog, no matter what happens. I would like to see Jalopnik break more car announcements and rumors in addition to the editorials. And more stuff like the Morning Shift so Jalopnik can be the front page of the Internet (for cars). More reblogging and more linkwraps.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Patrick George 01/15/2016 at 20:13

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I get that.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 20:34

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And you don't want Jalopnik to turn into Gizmodo. Gizmodo has become full of sploid stuff, which reduces it from a reputable blog to a Facebook share site. When it has actual articles, its discarded. Don't get Sploided

JRapp: now as good as new again > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 20:42

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My issue is the non car-related content. Too much cross posted content from non-car blogs. Clicking over to the main page, right now I see: Drone strike on ISIS, Star Wars holograms, Denim ad, CAR, CAR, EMP Weaponry, Coding Ad, CAR. And I get the ads, but from the first 6 articles it’s 50% cars, 50% crap.

In my opinion Foxtrot Alpha doesn’t have a place on Jalopnik unless it’s specifically car related. Same for Gizmodo or Deals or anything else like that.

My first place is always Oppo, and then if I have time, I may click over to the main page.

Chariotoflove > Patrick George 01/15/2016 at 21:14

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Patrick,

I have a couple of thoughts that I hope you find helpful. First, I think that some of the gripes you see here grow from two related phenomena. One is that the effort to keep a steady flow of content onto the site through the day means that meaty, high-effort cornerstone articles are mixed with filler stuff and shared posts. Two is that there is no hierarchical organization of your posts so good stuff and the fluff get equal billing. I don’t know that you can do anything about the latter, but for the former, I would suggest that maybe you don’t have to keep the non stop content flow going. You could cut out half of what you post and still have quite a lot of stuff.

Another thought: when you do share content from elsewhere, you could add a little Jalopnik-specific content with not too much extra effort. For example, if you share a post from Allysa Walker that calls for banning all cars, you could present it with some Jalop perspective analysis about what that would mean for people’s lives, especially people whose lives depend on cars in different ways. That would also help direct the discussion in comments instead of getting a bunch of.”that Walker is a stupid &#!*!!”

Food for thought.

Nick drives Stick (not Stig) > Patrick George 01/15/2016 at 21:16

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Hey Patrick,

I wrote the piece, not to criticize, but to start a discussion about where Jalopnik is going and what I personally don’t like about it.

Jalopnik used to be the place where I would go for all things car news like the Corvette design story and new car press releases. It used to be the primary topic on the site. It was my one stop shop solution for what’s new and upcoming. I don’t feel like there is much of that theses days. Instead I get patty cake stories... if there an audience for that, fine. But I would like to see more of the traditional automotive journalism and the “I don’t give a fuck”, we’re publishing it despite getting in trouble with the car makers.

There are obviously a lot of different opinions, but I hope you guys use theither comments here to steer in the right direction, so you don’t alienate your audience.

Nick drives Stick (not Stig) > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/15/2016 at 22:05

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I actually like Sploid, but I go directly to Sploid for that, not Gizmodo. What I’m personally looking for is more serious automotive news.

Patrick George > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 22:17

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OK, I’ll address these:

Jalopnik used to be the place where I would go for all things car news like the Corvette design story and new car press releases. It used to be the primary topic on the site.

Cars are definitely still the primary topic, though we cover transportation as a whole too. The Corvette design story is the kind of story that doesn’t come along every day. If only it did. Also, this is not the place for “press releases” from automakers. News and commentary, yes, but not just repeating manufacturer BS. There are plenty of other sites for that.

Instead I get patty cake stories... if there an audience for that, fine.

I think you missed the point of that. Silly as it was, it was an illustration of how advanced the autonomous tech is in the Tesla. Welcome to the future. This is how cars are going to be.

But I would like to see more of the traditional automotive journalism and the “I don’t give a fuck”, we’re publishing it despite getting in trouble with the car makers.

If the often-furious interactions I had with PR people in Detroit is any indication, we have nothing to worry about! We still piss people off all the time in an industry whose “journalism” depends on sycophantry.

I think we’re as good as we’ve ever been. Growing, yes, but still the same old Jalopnik that will piss in anyone’s Cheerios if it means a good story.

wantafuncar > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 22:17

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I agree that it used to be the place where I would go for all things car... I’m not sure what is missing, but it has definitely changed.

Patrick George > Chariotoflove 01/15/2016 at 22:20

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Two is that there is no hierarchical organization of your posts so good stuff and the fluff get equal billing.

I agree with you on that one for sure! I’m told a fix for that will be coming with an eventual redesign. Stay tuned.

As far as keeping the steady flow of content coming, we have traffic and post goals we all must meet. Dialing it back isn’t an option. Also, last summer when a bunch of folks were out for press drives and vacations, and stories went up just twice an hour or less, readers complained we weren’t posting enough.

So which is it?

Chariotoflove > Patrick George 01/15/2016 at 22:52

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The post goals sound like a harsh task master. As far as keeping the readership happy, people have become used to constant sensory input over the Internet. You feed their addiction, and they just demand more. If you were allowed to, I bet you could wean them down a little bit in the name of overall quality, and they’d cope.

Or not. You can’t please everybody. Twice an hour is pretty high. If someone is bitching about that, they need to get back to work.

Patrick George > Chariotoflove 01/15/2016 at 22:54

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I try to aim for a new post every 20 or 30 minutes, not counting breaking news, which goes up ASAP. But we also work very hard to develop the longer, more in-depth stuff too, whether it’s a crazy Torchlopnik post, a car review or something we did some digging into.

Nauraushaun > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/15/2016 at 23:01

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I feel the same way. I thought it was me, I’ve only been here a year and I thought the novelty had worn off a bit. I also spend more time on oppo now and have less time in general so that contributes. I can’t really say if jalopnik has changed.

Chariotoflove > Patrick George 01/15/2016 at 23:07

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Thanks. I, like many others here I’m sure, have other thoughts that I hope will help my favorite car site. I’ll probably post them when I can put them in coherent order, as long as you care to listen.

Wheelerguy > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/16/2016 at 01:08

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Everything will be fixed by the time the next chapter of Max Hardigrew’s story is on. Seriously, it’s the best.

Bytemite > Patrick George 01/16/2016 at 02:07

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What happened to the interactive articles that drew me into Jalopnik? March Madness beatoff. That had me coming back every day. I loved the polls and the focus on cars us poor people could afford and go out and buy and hoon without giving two shits. Enough with the new 50k luxury cars.

There was no March Madness last year. I know it has already been done but there is still so much more you can do with polls and reader-feedback driven articles. There is only Tavarish articles now And they have been decreasing in frequency too.

bryan40oop > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/16/2016 at 16:57

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Top gear has become the buzzfeed of cars.

Just endless top 10 post.

gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun > Nick drives Stick (not Stig) 01/16/2016 at 17:58

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I’m not really enjoying it much either these days, I’m just here for the Doug articles and everything from the Garage