I've emailed the chocolate egg pitch to loaded and am awaiting response. I really hope someone buys the idea. The thought of me vomiting in the name of journalism seems much more appealing than say, interviewing some band that's stuck up their own arses (not that any bands I associate myself with are).
I've signed up to the 28 Days Later forum, which is about Urban Exploration - not the zombie film. I think they're a bit strict with people using the forums, so hoopefully I'll be able to get some anonymous responses to questions. I also need to get off my arse and go exploring myself.
I checked Vice and their features tend to run between 1 and 1,500 words which is an attainable word count. I'm thinking I'll get this one done and dusted and out of the way so I can concentrate on generating more ideas and work.
Toodles
Wednesday 27 February 2008
Monday 25 February 2008
Another idea
As with all my good ideas, I stumbled upon this one whilst sat on my skinny arse watching the tv and drinking a beer.
Text dating is advertised on late night telly and men's magazines mercilessly. I thought I'd contact one of the lines (get free texts) and see if I can 'make new friends' via their service. Write a report on a night's effort to get some without leaving the house. If the companies have any sense they'll want me to be impressed by their service. Don't need to be anymore suggestive.
Pros: Gonzo feature, could be funny, could get laid
Cons: Magazines/text lines might not want to run it - don't want to scare off the advertisers, might meet not so appealing women
Text dating is advertised on late night telly and men's magazines mercilessly. I thought I'd contact one of the lines (get free texts) and see if I can 'make new friends' via their service. Write a report on a night's effort to get some without leaving the house. If the companies have any sense they'll want me to be impressed by their service. Don't need to be anymore suggestive.
Pros: Gonzo feature, could be funny, could get laid
Cons: Magazines/text lines might not want to run it - don't want to scare off the advertisers, might meet not so appealing women
Try again
I received this unfortunate email on Thursday (only just got around to posting it), I think I'll pitch it to loaded, but I expect a similar response.
Re: feature
From: Joe Barnes (j*****@frontarmy.co.uk)
Sent: 21 February 2008 16:28:27
To: Tim Horner (t*****@hotmail.co.uk)
Security scan upon download Trend Micro ® logo
Attachments: image.jpg (19.0 KB)
Hi Tim,
We were actually offered something similar by Cadbury’s PR people but decided to give it a miss. If you were in on work experience we’d probably go with it but I don’t think it would work written as an external story.
Defo send me through feature ideas and stuff though, we’re always looking for good new writers.
All the best,
Joe
Joe Barnes
Editor
FRONT | Flip media | 19 Waterside | 44-48 Wharf Road | N1 7UX
T: 0207 689 3908 | Be our mate: http://www.myspace.com/frontmag
Re: feature
From: Joe Barnes (j*****@frontarmy.co.uk)
Sent: 21 February 2008 16:28:27
To: Tim Horner (t*****@hotmail.co.uk)
Security scan upon download Trend Micro ® logo
Attachments: image.jpg (19.0 KB)
Hi Tim,
We were actually offered something similar by Cadbury’s PR people but decided to give it a miss. If you were in on work experience we’d probably go with it but I don’t think it would work written as an external story.
Defo send me through feature ideas and stuff though, we’re always looking for good new writers.
All the best,
Joe
Joe Barnes
Editor
FRONT | Flip media | 19 Waterside | 44-48 Wharf Road | N1 7UX
T: 0207 689 3908 | Be our mate: http://www.myspace.com/frontmag
Monday 18 February 2008
First ideas
'Holy fecal matter Batman! He's got some ideas!' Is what I'd like to here Robin say when he discovered that I actually had some dasstardly plans for material for Neg Port 2. Last semester I think I managed one decent idea in the first two months. We've been back a week and I've got three! So here they are:
1. Travel article: Poland on Pennies - TNT Magazine (other backpacker titles as well).
Over the inter semester break I went to Poland on a cheap holiday to see a friend. The return flight from London cost about £40, we stayed in private apartments for around £20 (between us) a night. Snowboarding is super cheap as is food and booze - all the requirements of an Antipodean traveler.
2. Urban Exploration - Vice Magazine
New and growing interest/hobby for people of all ages. Basically, it involves nosing around abandonned/derelict buildings. Kind of making the mundane exciting and abstract, appreciating the world around us. Quite hippie-y really. There's an old hospital just out of town that I want to go and check out, have a nose, take photographs. There are also plenty of websites dedicated to this odd past time and quite a big online community with forums where they show off their crafty work. This could be a good place to hook an expert or two and do interviews (via email/phone probably).
3. 100 Creme Egg Challenge - Front magazine
In the film Cool Hand Luke, Luke eats 100 hard boiled eggs as part of a bet (or so I've heard, haven't seen it). For what seems to be the only lads mag left with a decent stupid sense of humour, I'd like to put an Easter spin on it and try and eat 100 Cadbury Creme Eggs whilst dressed as the Easter Bunny or Jesus (I think Jesus would be more amusing and offensive). It'll probably/definately involve me throwing up/shitting myself/getting tooth-ache, which is exactly the kind of fun they like in the lads market. I'm thinking I'll only be able to get a few hundred words as it's hardly the height of journalism, but it is work for a specified market and audience, which will be written in style and with the bravado it deserves.
To do list:
Read TNT online, Australia & NZ Times - get idea of style, word count, content of travel pieces for travelers. Do background research (contact Polish Tourism Office). Write article.
Check word counts of articles in Vice. Go and adventrue. Take a friend who can operate a camera better than a five year old (I mean me). Get on forums, contact other explorers, do interveiws. Write.
Hear back from Joe @ Front re: free Creme Eggs/Jesus costume. Eat eggs, vomit, write.
1. Travel article: Poland on Pennies - TNT Magazine (other backpacker titles as well).
Over the inter semester break I went to Poland on a cheap holiday to see a friend. The return flight from London cost about £40, we stayed in private apartments for around £20 (between us) a night. Snowboarding is super cheap as is food and booze - all the requirements of an Antipodean traveler.
2. Urban Exploration - Vice Magazine
New and growing interest/hobby for people of all ages. Basically, it involves nosing around abandonned/derelict buildings. Kind of making the mundane exciting and abstract, appreciating the world around us. Quite hippie-y really. There's an old hospital just out of town that I want to go and check out, have a nose, take photographs. There are also plenty of websites dedicated to this odd past time and quite a big online community with forums where they show off their crafty work. This could be a good place to hook an expert or two and do interviews (via email/phone probably).
3. 100 Creme Egg Challenge - Front magazine
In the film Cool Hand Luke, Luke eats 100 hard boiled eggs as part of a bet (or so I've heard, haven't seen it). For what seems to be the only lads mag left with a decent stupid sense of humour, I'd like to put an Easter spin on it and try and eat 100 Cadbury Creme Eggs whilst dressed as the Easter Bunny or Jesus (I think Jesus would be more amusing and offensive). It'll probably/definately involve me throwing up/shitting myself/getting tooth-ache, which is exactly the kind of fun they like in the lads market. I'm thinking I'll only be able to get a few hundred words as it's hardly the height of journalism, but it is work for a specified market and audience, which will be written in style and with the bravado it deserves.
To do list:
Read TNT online, Australia & NZ Times - get idea of style, word count, content of travel pieces for travelers. Do background research (contact Polish Tourism Office). Write article.
Check word counts of articles in Vice. Go and adventrue. Take a friend who can operate a camera better than a five year old (I mean me). Get on forums, contact other explorers, do interveiws. Write.
Hear back from Joe @ Front re: free Creme Eggs/Jesus costume. Eat eggs, vomit, write.
The journals of a journo
DISCLAIMER: As this is a blog, the contents are likely to be of the standard of other bloggers around the world. Heresay and half truths are bound to be rife. There will undoubtly be copious uses of swear words. But I'll try and be good on the spelling and grammar - that's just good practice for a writer.
...And so we get to the point. This blog is designed to be a diary/journal of my work on the Negotiated Portfolio 2 unit. Sticking out and pasting magazine pages, interview transcripts, notes and doodles into a scrapbook are so 2007 (or even 1987). Plus, if I do this I'll have to keep on top of it (damn time/date stamp on posts, no last minute scrapbooking this time), which hopefully will be to my benefit. If not: it gets me using the internet for more productive things than checking the football scorees and playing poker.
Enjoy.
...And so we get to the point. This blog is designed to be a diary/journal of my work on the Negotiated Portfolio 2 unit. Sticking out and pasting magazine pages, interview transcripts, notes and doodles into a scrapbook are so 2007 (or even 1987). Plus, if I do this I'll have to keep on top of it (damn time/date stamp on posts, no last minute scrapbooking this time), which hopefully will be to my benefit. If not: it gets me using the internet for more productive things than checking the football scorees and playing poker.
Enjoy.
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