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- Saturday 29th August: My Media Roundup by Kevin Whitchurch, Finance Director, Delicate Rebellion
Saturday 29th August: My Media Roundup by Kevin Whitchurch, Finance Director, Delicate Rebellion
Every Saturday morning, we invite a publishing pro to put together their top media links. This week’s guest editor is Kevin Whitchurch.
Kevin has spent his career in printed media - principally in the launch, development and growth of magazines and newspapers - from What Car? to FourFourTwo to Sugar to Wedding Ideas. He’s currently happily engaged with the development of The Delicate Rébellion, an indy print magazine, community and events brand for womxn in the creative industries. Given any spare time, he wonders if Jimmy Anderson really can get to 700 wickets. He can be found on Linkedin here.
For those of us working in the independent print sector, there’s a real sense of support and co-operation between publishers. Slowly, but effectively, the sector is being built by new, sparky magazines (and retailers) sprouting enthusiastically. Here, Hannah Taylor, my business partner at The Delicate Rébellion looks at the market and recommends some indy mags you may not have heard about.
I won’t be the first, and I certainly won’t be the last, to recommend The Daily podcast from the New York Times. I think host Michael Barbaro - for all his idiosyncratic style - is setting the standard for podcasting. Always insightful, thoughtful and engaging, it’s worth listening every day - there’s always something to learn. Moreover, it’s created a habit in me and, in media, that’s invaluable. The NYT tells me ‘this is how news should sound’. Couldn’t agree more.
Music magazine veterans David Hepworth and Mark Ellen have, brilliantly and lovingly, taken their rock-interview-in-a-pub-with-an-audience to their attics. Word In Your Attic, during lockdown, has brought us over 50 Zoom-zines featuring Simon Mayo, Clare Grogan, Ian Rankin, Pete Paphides and many more. They’re joyful, often moving and a striking example of blokes who love their subject. The simple question with the impossible answer ‘What Is The Greatest Record Ever Made?’ makes for priceless Zoomery. Interviewees are asked to dig out pop ephemera that’s been collecting dust in the attic. Asked what makes it so great, Hepworth tells me: “The interesting thing is that it seems to be therapeutic for the subjects as well as the people watching. Everybody who’s been in it wants to be in it again. It seems to justify people in having held on to all their stuff all this time. My favourite bit was in the one with Jo Kendall where, for no good reason, she suddenly held up a picture of Ian Ogilvy and a horse. I said “Jo, is there anything you don’t like?” And she said “no”. I think that sums up the spirit of WIYA.”
WIYA is using Patreon for exclusive content and benefits too.
Colin Morrison’s Flashes And Flames (now with 9.5k monthly uniques, up 50% since last December) is always on the button. A weekly e-shot featuring the latest movements in global media, it’s always insightful, often leading the story but, most importantly, it has context. Colin’s experience means that he knows exactly where the story fits and that, above all, gives the reporting resonance. If you want to be briefed on what’s going on, where, and, critically, what’ll happen next, this is the place to be. Yesterday’s analysis of The Athletic - the online subscription, ads-free, sports reporting network - is a case in point. There’s background, insight, analysis and intelligent foresight of a brand that, until Covid, was on its way to greater success. Then, sport stopped. Great reporting.
Having relocated to Dorset nearly two years ago, it’s always interesting to immerse yourself in the local media. Dorset Biz News is the best around these parts - impartial, topical, on the case, independent, well written - it’s difficult to fault. It seems to have achieved the difficult balance of bring friendly, positive and informative without being patronising or naff. Nub News is beginning to do the same sort of work too - strong local stories backed by local businesses - it’s the future of local media.
If you would like to guest edit a future edition of My Media Roundup, simply reply to this email.