I have received a request from The Birmingham Post, can you help ?
Quote
I am responsible for the gardening page at The Birmingham Post and was looking for someone in the Midlands who might be willing to write a diary-style feature about their year preparing, planting and harvesting at their allotment? It wouldn't be a weekly feature, perhaps once every six weeks. Sadly we cannot pay any contributor, but it is an opportunity to get their picture (at the allotment!) and words in the paper on a regular basis.
I'd be very grateful if this request could be published on one of your forum sites. Anyone wishing to know more is very welcome to email me at the address here.
Many thanks,
Jayne Howarth
The Birmingham Post.
If you are interested email me, admin@allotments4all.co.uk and I will pass your details along.
Cheers
Dan
oooh, sounds interesting, shame I don't live in the Midlands :)
Ditto Jesse - sounds like something I would like to do - might have to suggest it to the Echo :)
I have a friend who writes for a gardening section of a local paper, and is paid well for his work. I don't see why an allotment garden diary should come free of charge. My understanding is that many publications are keen to pay for contributions, so if you do it get a fee!
Brian
I believe it's an opportunity to promote allotments and encourage people to get out there and take up an allotment on many of those empty sites. It would encourage people to get outdoors for fresh air and exercise, promote healthy eating and educate our children to having a healthier lifestyle. In our area there are waiting lists for allotments but I believe in other parts of the country it's a very different matter, many of the allotment sites being unused and falling victim to developers. I see this as an opportunity for someone to try to change that, I would do it for free if only to see allotments becoming popular again and hopefully encourage families to take one on. So many family activities today are expensive, an allotment is one of the few things the whole family can enjoy at relatively low cost, it's educational and healthy....I can't think of a better thing to promote. :)
Exactly, that's why I've offered to do it. 400 words every six weeks isn't onerous, it'll promote allotments, and they sound interested in stuff about beekeeping as well. We'll see if it comes to anything, and it is at least something in print that I can point to if feepaying work comes up elsewhere.
oh make sure and post the articles here robert :)
They might not be too keen on their being published elsewhere at the same time! I haven't asked about copyright, but they're supposed to be phoning back next week. We'll see.
Hopefully they will take you up on your offer Robert.
Hope it is an enjoyable experience.
Dan
I'm sure it will be if it works out. Someone I was at school with has been doing a bit of journalism on the side for many years; he always says there's no money in it, but he has a lot of fun, and gets to some interesting places.
We often have the Birmingham Post so will keep an eye open for your articles.
Lynn
Well done Robert - look forward to reading them if we are allowed. I'd love to write freelance - another dream I've never really done anything about - and to have your own column - wow!
Well done Robert, so pleased someone offered to write for them, please do post the articles if you're allowed to, or send me a copy by pm ;) ;D
Great news Robert - I was hoping it was you who would go for it. With a bit of look they will all appear on here so all Robert will have to do is tell us when one is published and we can all have a look without him and Dan breaching copyright. http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/ (http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/)
I'll ask them about it if we go ahead. I couldn't see any gardening articles when I looked, but after a day at school I do tend to miss the obvious.
Well done Robert! Look forward to seeing you in the local rag. Good stuff!
Lishka
Well done Robert. Look forward to reading your column.
:)
Thanks for the link Red Clanger. I have family in Brum so it's always nice to keep up to date.
Alishka are you working nightshift? ;)
Nice one Robert ;D
I would have liked to do the column as well but A: I don't know enough about gardening and B: I wouldn't have kept to the subject ;D
I know a few people in Brum: They'll save the papers for me so let us know when it's published!
Trixie XXXX
Good luck Robert,
Put a few 'yow' & 'aints' in 'em wow yow so we feel at um?
Tara a bit.
I couldn't write Brummie convincingly to save my life, so I won't even try!