Passionate Blog

Writing Magazine feature: The art of the interview

JOURNALIST Tamsin Oxford recently interviewed Linda for a piece in the current edition of Writing magazine.

It's an article about interviewing and also features Johanna Payton and Anne Wollenberg.

Here's a snippet:

What three things do you believe are essential to preparing for an interview?

To have researched your subject properly, to be in the right frame of mind to be confident the interviewee knows what to expect.

How do you go about sourcing your interviewees?

I have worked hard to build contacts in my chosen areas so I get in touch with people I know or hope will help me and take it from there. These days, I’m also using social media and online tools available more too, so I’ve found people through Twitter and Facebook as well as through blogging, these are different ways of building new contacts and can work well, but I still prefer to then actually speak to the people so I know they are who they say they are. It's important to value contacts once they are made and build relationships with them for the future.

You can find the rest in the current edition of Writing Magazine.

Charitarian: A philanthropy magazine made in China

Photos by Janek Zdarski.

WE are working with an Anglo-Chinese team on Charitarian magazine. So far, we've started work on a blog for this innovative publication that reports on aid for China's most vulnerable groups, as well as including exclusive updates on other aspects of Chinese society.

Janek's photos show migrant children at work and play and are featured in the next issue of the magazine, which is currently being put together.

We can't wait to see the next edition and more of Janek's beautiful images.

An introduction to freelance journalism workshops, London and Midlands

SINCE running workshops for writers in how to diversify and survive and receiving such brilliant feedback from those attending, we've also been asked to consider running training sessions for aspiring freelancers.

In response to these queries, we've booked four training dates for 2010.

These are:

Saturday March 13, 9.30am-4.30pm

Friends House, Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ 

Saturday March 27, 9.30am-4.30pm

Passionate Media, 2 New Street, Cannock, Staffs WS11 0DD

The itinerary will include practical exercises to highlight the skills, aptitude and realism needed to have any chance of making it in this most highly competitive of fields.

Top Tips for a family cruise from MyChild.co.uk

LINDA recently joined a group of journalists aboard the Disney Wonder for a press trip to the Bahamas.

We've planned a series of reports for Have a Lovely Time, as well as video and a podcast.

She's also contributed a piece to the parenting and education website MyChild.

You can read the report here.

Double the excitement as our twins blog is featured in The Times

By Linda Jones

I'VE been reading about how PRs are engaging with bloggers lately and some of the discussion has either been sparked by or led to mentions of a recent trip I shared with six other so-called UK 'mummybloggers' to Walt Disney World.

The trip was the subject of a feature in The Times by my fellow member of the so-called Disney Seven, Alice Castle.

You can also see this forward thinking post from travel journalist Jeremy Head and this interesting piece by Manchester's Sarah Hartley.

I'm included because of You've Got Your Hands Full, our blog for multiple birth parents, which has gained more than 11,000 returning readers since being launched in 2006.

Susanna, from A Modern Mother, recently shared guidance for PRs wanting to contact this group of bloggers and I have been meaning to add my thoughts on her excellent post for a while. The one point I disagreed on was that I write for other people, not for me.

The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World: Book, blog and training

THE Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World, by Passionate Media director Linda Jones, was published in November 2007 and can be bought in bookshops and from Amazon here.

See a selection of reviews, plus feedback from readers, here.

Listen to a podcast about The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World. A blog was set up to help publicise the book.

There's a round-up of around 20 posts with advice for writers here.

We also run training sessions for freelance journalists wanting to make more money. The following is feedback gained from a London session:

Great course. Up and at 'em now! Anne Marie Flanagan

Do you have a good news story you'd like to share?

THEN don't just save it for your circle of contacts.

Ever wondered where magazines and newspapers get their stories?

It could be you. We're on the hunt for heartwarming, inspirational, quirky or entertaining stories for UK newspapers and magazines.

We love stories about people who have overcome the odds or battled back against adversity. Find out more by emailing us here.

Code of conduct for online tribute sites launched

IT'S always rewarding to work on features that can make a genuine difference.

One such piece is published in Take a Break this week and Linda previously wrote about this for The Guardian.

While researching a previous writing project she came across various online tribute sites and became concerned, when she saw the outpourings of grief they contained, that vulnerable people could fall victim to unwanted attention.

She was further alarmed when she read reports from America that said some bereaved relatives were even insulted online and decided to suggest features to warn people of the perils.

Quick journalism catch-up

IT's been a busy time recently with some very interesting and worthwhile commissions. Here's a selection.

Your Family magazine: Focus on bullying

HOW can you nip bullying in the bud if your child is either the bully or the victim? Linda Jones reports. Read more.

NHS Choices: Caring for a loved one with depression

WHEN a loved one suffers from depression, OCD or has a breakdown, it’s not just their life that’s affected. Here are some tips on how to cope if you find yourself in the role of carer. Read more.

The Telegraph: Headhunted on Facebook

AS some companies ban social networks, others are using them to find recruits, says Linda Jones. Read more.

More advice for freelance writers

CONTRIBUTIONS to Press Gazette are continuing with a report on how to build a specialism as a freelance writer.

Our blog at Freelance Writing Tips is also picking up readers. Do get in touch if you have any questions. [Carol]