What follows was sent as a mass email to all our culture contributors at the start of the year. For keen future contributors though, we thought we’d put it up here as well:

We thought something was worth a point of clarification, as there have been a few misunderstandings about it (mainly our fault, we can assure you). We will probably not include any typical film or album reviews and interviews in the print mag in 2010. There are a few reasons for this. We think that simple reviews don’t add as much to the magazine as other content, generally speaking. Too often, they constitute the easy way out and contain little creative work of the author. They can all too often end up pretty bland, can scream filler, and are not focused on students in any meaningful way. Adelaide is actually fortunate enough to have a vibrant street-press, and mags like dB and Rip it Up do reviews and interviews better than On Dit could (and aren’t impossible to get involved in, if review-writing is your first love).

However, before you think we’re shutting the door on all you eagle-eyed and eared reviewers entirely, we’re really not. That by no means implies we don’t want any film or music coverage. In fact, we’d like more, but we’d like it in the longer form of either researched articles or personal reflection, as opposed to what you would typically consider a review.  What we would like – love, in fact – from you is if you take the initiative and use the review as a starting point for a deeper analysis. That could mean seeing Fantastic Mr. Fox and including in the review an examination of the history of animation and the recent resurgence of old-school filming techniques. Or it could be a review of the new Eddy Current Suppression Ring album (say) that delves into an examination of Australian punk and garage rock over the decades. Essentially, the album/film/book would form one part of a longer article. That’s what we’re after. We know you guys are capable of writing things that others aren’t. And we’ll let you have more words to express them with.

Don’t forget we have a website too. With virtually infinite space. The print mag is not the be all and end all. So keep writing – we’ve sent this email so that we’re not wasting your time and leaving you under the impression that we’re after typical reviews. Because we’re not, really.