Angling Journalism

[Elton]

coxie:

Well, back to the original question! I agree with Peter Sharpe. I have also had an article published, in Match Fishing Magazine, but that was in the days when they published work from "average anglers". I don't believe my article would be published now. As Peter says, the magazines seem to be full of the "How to" type articles, written by well known, sponsored professionals.

Coxie,

 

It would be published here {*}

 

TL,

 

Elton

 

{*} You just wouldn't get paid, that's all

[Dick Dastardly]

So after all this Barnese when are we going to see your first article and wots it going to be about?

[chesters1]

i wrote an amusing letter on the "new" carp people a few years ago in an angling magazine (cannot remember which one) i won a bottle of scotch only i didnt get it :mad:

[John S]

chesters1:

i won a bottle of scotch       only i didnt get it   :mad:  

Chesters, you live too far south to sample real Scotch whisky. If I was you, I'd stick to weak lager that looks like the stale contents of a specimen bottle instead

 

Take care

[Barnese]

Hey guys, just got back from a rather dissapointing holiday at which the stretch of river i was fishing was clogged with weed, making it very hard to fish. Didn't catch a barbel but visited new forest water sports lake and caught two catfish weighing about a pound whilst float fishing maggots for roach

Didn't have enough material to put anything together though but me and a friend are off tench fishing very soon so hopefully something will emerge from that.

Elton:

I'll send you a copy if I come up with anything.. where should I send it though??

[Woodzzz]

Tally-ho, Wordsworth's at work in here then, or benders anyway [Hi Terry! ]

 

As somebody who would love to work in angling journalism I can only really outline what I've done myself towards achieving such a position.

 

1. Be keen. Slack copy is not only difficult to read, it looks pants and editors wont settle for second best with the amount of writing (or angling) talent out there at the moment. If your english isn't great, work at it.

 

2. Write articles like they're going out of fashion and develop a style. I have a weekly carp fishing column on a website, which I'm very proud of. Some very good anglers are reading it and complimenting me on it as well [Hi Terry ], and even the guys in the Carpworld office were impressed... apparently.

I have also written lots of reviews and other articles and nowadays when the opportunity for writing an article comes up I jump at the chance.

 

3. Build up your contacts. The more anglers and the more writers you know the better.

 

4. Take criticisms and advice from people like those on this forum who have done the job before. Don't be pig-headed if they tear you to pieces either, they're probably right so take it on the chin.

 

5. Take a course. I took on a role as a trainee journalist at the Midlands News Association. Now I am a senior reporter on a weekly newspaper after a little time as a trainee on daily papers (less work now...but more money .) Learning these journalistic skills really does help. Teaching will help you write clear, concise and accurate copy and learning shorthand will help if you ever interview anybody. Editors will also look fondly upon the effort these courses take and the qualifications they will give you. Think about it, if you were an editor which would you prefer? A good angler...or a good journalist who is also a good angler?

 

6. Much has been said about the writing style of the Chris Yates' of this world and although in demand from anglers I don't think it's in demand from the editors of the magazines. The majority of the readers won't know what you're going on about, so keep it simple. It is also worth pointing out that unless you're a VERY good writer that style is difficult to pull off effectively.

 

7. Do lots of work for free. Writing for websites like this one, which have obscene amounts of hits per day (thousands and thousands) puts you in the spotlight and there is a better chance of your article being read on here than in a magazine. Specialist angling magazines tend to have low circulation figures, extremely low when you think about how many daily newspapers get sold each day. Get yourself known on the net and it will help.

 

8. Write a CV and read it through...would you send it to all the angling publications as it stands? This is why I said keep writing articles. If you send your CV with 10 articles attatched they will like you. Save some for when you show up at the interview though, which they can read through after you've made (hopefully) a good impression.

 

Anyway, I'll probably be told to be ignored now, but at least I'LL gain some advice through that.

 

All the best mate.

 

[ 01. August 2003, 08:58 PM: Message edited by: Woodzzz ]

[Wordbender]

Sound advice, Woodzzzy, and in addition to a good grasp of the 'mechanics' of the job, you obviously have the priceless attribute of enthusiasm for your subject, mate.

 

Now sod-off and make the tea, young 'un.

 

Terry

[Peter Sharpe]

Excellent advice, although I wouldn't bother too much about the shorthand. It's fine if you want to send secret, handwritten notes to other journos, but a tape or digital recorder saves you all that trouble. The writing itself doesn't have to be absolutely perfect: after all, editors are supposed to do a bit of editing once in a while. There is a world of difference though between a knowledgeable, enthusiastic amateur who is doing their best, and someone who is just downright lazy and can't be bothered to represent themselves to the best of their ability. If you are typing your article out on a computer then use the facilities for checking your spelling and grammar. Admittedly, they sometimes come up with annoying and quirky suggestions, but at least they can highlight any basic grammatical errors and obvious mis-typing. Sometimes, the presence or omission of a comma can completely alter the meaning of the entire sentence, so they're not just put in for decoration.

[Wordbender]

Peter Sharpe:

Sometimes, the presence or omission of a comma can completely alter the meaning of the entire sentence, so they're not just put in for decoration.

'What is this thing called 'love'?

 

'What is this thing called, Love?'

 

Thanks to Benny Hill, and Chevin, for providing that example of Peter's point.

 

Terry

[Apache]

quote:

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Peter Sharpe:

Sometimes, the presence or omission of a comma can completely alter the meaning of the entire sentence, so they're not just put in for decoration.

---

'What is this thing called 'love'?

 

'What is this thing called, Love?'

 

Thanks to Benny Hill, and Chevin, for providing that example of Peter's point.

 

Terry

---

And it makes it a lot weasier to read with correct punctuation!