WRITERS WANTED!

How do I get a break into the competitive world of journalism?

We are regularly asked if we 'have any vacancies for journalists on our newspaper and magazine titles?'

The answer is; yes! ... We are always on the lookout for genuinely talented people. YOU are the lifeblood of future reporting and the news industry depends upon your input.

But first of all we need to know that you can develop the same high standard we have come to expect from our team of writers?

To give you a chance to shine as a scribe we select interns who can trial for a period as 'guest bloggers' on one of our publication's websites; working on established regional newspapers and magazines that go out in key areas throughout the UK.

In this way you get a chance to put your news and views across direct to our readers, 1000s of them, often gaining you an immediate following and linking your name, as a brand new journalist, with one of Britain's most successful and prolific regional publishing companies.

So, if you are really interested in making an impression and possibly joining our professional team of bloggers for a 12 week period of free training, please read the five tips below and then do get in touch with us...

Five Tips Every Guest Blogger Should Know


One of the best ways to increase your visibility is to become a guest blogger at a popular blog. This is a chance for you to gain exposure to a new audience and credibility by being associated with highly-respected bloggers with major followings. Guest blogging is a win-win situation for everyone if done right: the blog gets excellent and free content to use while the guest blogger gets increased exposure for their blog, brand or products.

Of course, there are many other people who want to become guest bloggers for the same reason it might make sense for you to do the same. In order to get the prime guest blogging spots on the top sites you need to make yourself and your content stand out from the pack. Here are five tips on how to make that happen:

1. Read and Understand the Blog: It's amazing how many people contact major blogs wanting to be guest bloggers without fully understanding what the blog is all about. Each blog has its own topics that are of interest to the owners and their readers. If you suggest content which is not appropriate your guest blogging request is going to be denied.

Instead, read through the past two to three months of blog posts to see what topics the blog is focused on. You'll want to avoid pitching topic ideas that have already been covered, but at the same time you might be able to pitch a rebuttal to a previous post or a different take on a popular theme. This will also give you a strong sense for the tone of the blog.

2. Know the Guest Blogging Guidelines: Not all blogs accept guest bloggers, so you'll want to make sure they do before you pitch them with your idea. If they do accept guest posts, chances are that they'll have specific guest blogger guidelines published on their site. It's important to review these rules before you contact a blog. You don't want to break any rules at the start which might anger the blog owners and make it harder for you to convince them to let you be a guest blogger. If you seem uninformed about the guidelines of the blog, it's tough to convince a blogger that you will provide great content.

3. Write the Blog First: If you are dealing with a very popular blog, chances are that the site's owners and editorial team are extremely busy. Taking the time to establish a rapport with the blog's management, pitching a story idea and then working through the details is time-consuming. In many cases, it's better to just write a blog on a topic you feel confident will work and send it to the blog. If they like it, they can publish it without having to jump through hoops. If they reject it, you can take it to another blog.

4. Prove Yourself: It's important to provide your credentials when sending over a guest blog in order for the bloggers to understand that you are an expert in the field. A guest blog written by a savvy industry professional is going to carry more weight than one written by a random person. Explain to the blog why you are the right person to discuss a certain topic with their audience and what perspective you bring that can't be found anywhere else.

5. Write a Compelling Headline: A great headline can do more than bring readers to your blog -- it's also the perfect way to grab the attention of the owner or editor of a blog. Much like readers, the people you contact with a request to guest post might only skim to the title of your proposed post. If it's interesting and engaging, they'll want to read more; if it's boring or stale, they'll move on. One great tip is to write a headline that proposes a question you will answer in your article.



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What Happens When Motivation Fails?

An article for Independent News by Lindelle Jones




When we put forth a constant effort to be positive and behave in a positive manner, yet the day comes to an end and you are lacking that motivation. What causes this type of motivational failure? How can we beat it?

There are probably two very different types of individuals that ask this question:

1) The Individual Being Motivated: Employee, Student, Daughter, Son, etc. These are the types of individuals that normally receive motivation from a motivator, or are guided along the self motivation path. Yet they have trouble finding motivation.

2) The Individual Motivator: Manager, Teacher, Mother, Father, etc. These are the types of individuals who inspire motivation, help guide motivation, and require self motivation. Yet they too find it hard to stay motivated.

Understanding the problem and finding a solution may vary upon individuals. The first group has lost confidence and need a bit of a nudge now and again. They are finding themselves and need to be guided along the pathway of motivation. It is important to note that this group tends to need motivation defined by someone else before they see it within themselves. They have to learn to set attainable goals. They must create a version of success within their own minds and follow their own path. They may need help along the way, but they'll make it.

The second group has to have an understanding of individualism and understand the fact that everyone is different. Nothing is set in stone, and what motivates one individual may not work for another. They have to be willing to help change the attitudes of others. Attitudes cause behavioural problems when they are out of synch with the individual. These are tell tale signs that more guidance is needed, and that the individual has yet to be motivated properly. When this group gets down they must reflect inward and look for the changes and adjustments they can make within their own lives.

Let's look at some of the things that motivate people. Some people are motivated by an example. A teacher gives guidance and motivates students by showing a positive attitude. The students pick up on this and exemplify that attitude. Some people are motivated by money. A manager and employee; the manager sets a bonus for productivity and the employee works toward that. A criminal and a police officer; the criminals actions are normally motivated by the fear of being caught and the thrill of getting away with something illegal. Fear can be a very powerful motivator. There are as many different types of motivators as there are people, and each individual is motivated by something unique to them. Some will be the same as others and others will be totally independent.

The idea is that with the right attitude and proper motivation, anyone can pick themselves back up. Some people may need help, others just need time. Overall it just depends on the individual and what motivates them.


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Our Readers' Poll of Top Ten Family Movies

If you're looking for an affordable fun-filled activity that you and your family members can enjoy, then you don't need to reinvent the wheel. Watch a movie! Although not every movie is appropriate for children, there are still tons that are. Here are 10 fun, wholesome films in no particular order that every member of your family can enjoy:

1. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

This is an oldie-but-goodie film that never seems to become outdated. The film is based on the children's novel by L. Frank Baum, of the same title. "The Wizard of Oz" is about Dorothy Gale, 12-year-old girl from a Kansas farm. After becoming unconscious during a tornado, Dorothy and her dog Toto seem to be transported to the world of Oz. There, she meets a host of memorable characters.

2. The Parent Trap (1961)

This original version was much better than the 1998 remake. The Disney film is based on the life of teenage identical twins, and their (divorced) parents. Sharon and Susan meet at summer came, but don't realize that they're actually sisters. After becoming friends, they learn that their parents had divorced soon after the twins were born. The twins switch places, and ultimately attempt to reunite their parents.

3. Mary Poppins (1964)

This Disney musical stared Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, and was based on the Mary Poppins books written by P.L. Travers. The story is based on the adventures experienced by the Banks' family's new nanny, Mary Poppins; Mary's friend Bert; and the Banks' children Jane and Michael. "Marry Poppins" won five Academy Awards, and was nominated for 13 awards-an all-time record for Disney films.

4. The Bad News Bears (1976)

This original film is heads and shoulders better than the 2005 remake, and is also arguably one of the best sports films ever made. The movie is about Morris Buttermaker, who's recruited to coach the worst team in a Southern California baseball Little League. Although the Bears' first game of the season is a disaster, the team eventually earns a spot in the Little League championship.

5. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

This film stars a young Drew Barrymore before she became a household name in Hollywood. The story is about Elliott, a lonely boy who becomes friends with an extraterrestrial named "E.T." Elliott and his sibling try to keep E.T. hidden from their mother and the U.S. government, while E.T. strives to return home.

6. Back to the Future (1985)

The film is the story of Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox. McFly is a teenager who accidentally travels back in time, from 1985 to 1955. Afterwards, he meets his parents while they're high school students. Marty has two missions: to make his parents fall in love with each other, and to find a way back to the future-the year 1985.

7. The Princess Bride (1987)

This is not only a fun family film-it's also funny! The film is based on grandfather's reading a book to his ill grandson. The humor in the fairytale is what makes it different from run-of-the-mill fairy-tales featured in other family films. It's a film with multiple layers.

8. Toy Story (1995)

The film was the first computer-animated family film to be produced, and was the first feature film in history to be made entirely using Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI). It also features voice acting by several Hollywood stars. The story is about the toys of eight-year-old Andy. The toys come to life whenever humans aren't around.

9. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)

This is the first film in the series, which introduces the audience to the world of Harry Potter. On his eleventh birthday, Harry Potter learns that he's a wizard. He then must attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, to begin his education in magic. There he meets Ron and Hermione, who become his best friends.

10. Shrek (2001)

"Shrek" is an animated comedy film that was the first movie to win the "Best Animated Feature" award at the Academy Awards. The movie is about an ogre named Shrek, a beautiful princess named Fiona, and Donkey-a chatty donkey.

While several family movies have been produced in the history of film, these aforementioned ones are some of the best-of-the-best. If you have a DVD player then you're ready to enjoy an evening of quality entertainment with your family.

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Forty billionaires to give away wealth

Forty American billionaires have pledged to give at least half of their fortunes to charity as part of a campaign by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Microsoft founder Gates and investor Buffett, who are worth a combined $90bn (£56.6bn), have persuaded 38 of their fellow billionaires to sign up.

The friends and philanthropists started The Giving Pledge last month.

Its aim is to persuade fellow billionaires to pledge the money to charity, either in their lifetime or after they die.

Buffett said: "We've really just started, but already we've had a terrific response.

"At its core, the Giving Pledge is about asking wealthy families to have important conversations about their wealth and how it will be used."

He added: "We're delighted that so many people are doing just that - and that so many have decided to not only take this pledge but also to commit to sums far greater than the 50% minimum level."

Those who sign the pledge are also invited to publish a letter explaining their decision.

Among the latest batch to have signed up is New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is worth $18bn (£11.3bn).

In his letter Bloomberg wrote: "Making a difference in people's lives - and seeing it with your own eyes - is perhaps the most satisfying thing you'll ever do. If you want to fully enjoy life - give.

"And if you want to do something for your children and show how much you love them, the single best thing - by far - is to support organisations that will create a better world for them and their children."

Joining him is Star Wars Director George Lucas.

Lucas wrote: "My pledge is to the process; as long as I have the resources at my disposal, I will seek to raise the bar for future generations of students of all ages."

Others on the list include entertainment executive Barry Diller ($1.2bn, £775m), Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison ($28bn, £17.6bn), energy tycoon T. Boone Pickens ($1.1bn, £692m), media mogul Ted Turner ($4.8bn, £3bn), banker David Rockefeller ($2.2bn, £1.3bn) and investor Ronald Perelman ($11bn, £6.9bn).

They join Eli Broad, who made his money in property, venture capitalist John Doerr, media entrepreneur Gerry Lenfest and former Cisco Systems Chairman John Morgridge in supporting the effort.

The US has 403 billionaires, the most of any country, and all together they have a combined fortune of $1.3 trillion.

Mr Buffett himself pledged to give 99% of his wealth to good causes in 2006.

Gates and Buffet will now wine and dine other billionaires in an attempt to persuade them to follow suit.


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Capello Press conference, why Fab must STAY

A personal commentary by the sport's favourite journalist FRANK WORRALL


Have just watched Capello on SkySports News for his final Press conference in South Africa - and have changed my opinion on him...

I know I said yesterday that he should go...but nowt is set in stone, is it?

Now I believe he should STAY. He looked to me like a man who had learned many lessons - yes, he agrees we should build with young players and I am sure he will weed out the deadwood and the stirrers. He looked contrite and even humble...the great Capello humbled! Whatever next...

But the main reason he should stay (apart from those 12 million smackers which, rather than being used to pay him off could be employed to more useful benefit like opening up the national centre for excellence in Burton) is that here is a man who had a point to prove.

For the first time in a distinguished career Fabio Capello is being viewed as a FLOP. He has the ideal motive to make England great again - to salvage his own rep - so give him two years to do it.

Two years to give us a team we can be proud of. A young team playing with vibrancy, urgency and passion for the shirt.

I believe it is a win-win situation if we keep him.

You can read more Frankie Worrall at; www.FrankWorrall.com


Copyright (c) 2010, Independent News Ltd.

Bail out Britain - all parties to the pump! - a political perspective by William Briggs

A bookmaker taking bets on what would be the main pull-quote from David Cameron’s first speech as Prime Minister would have given long odds against the phrase “This will not be a marriage of convenience” being the phrase which the media picked up and analysed at length. As inspiring opening statements by newly-elected leaders go, it doesn’t compete with minor examples of the genre such as John Major’s “I want to see us build a country that is at ease with itself”, let alone FDR’s “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”, but it does acknowledge a current political reality. After four weeks of going out of his way to “agree with Nick” while also arguing that Nick’s policies on Europe and Trident would leave Britain a defenseless backwater, the sudden agreement between Liberals and Conservatives needed to be addressed in a way which disarmed cynicism.

The coalition may last the full five years or end prematurely amid calls for a snap election and accusations from each party about the other being unfit to govern. Either way, the coalition was forced on the two parties by an inconclusive election result that gave life to the theory that the electorate, disillusioned by the political class as a whole, voted the way they did because they positively wanted a two-party government. The ‘New Politics’ which began on May 11th, intended to be open-hearted and free from sleaze, was created amid great public goodwill and will need to maintain its central spirit of cooperation to maintain it. Not, then, a marriage of convenience but certainly a settling down between two singletons who had planned to remain bachelors for a lot longer. The first soundbite of the new government also meant that the headlines in the event of the coalition breaking up could be predicted years in advance - “Cameron and Clegg: the Messy Divorce”, “Clegg - ‘I’m Leaving You. It’s Over’”, etc.

Prior to his becoming Prime Minister, the debate around David Cameron centered on what kind of Conservative he would be when he took office. (And on whether he should be addressed as ‘Dave’ to remind people how matey he is or ‘David’ to remind people that he is fifth cousin to the Queen). Now, the debate centers on how his moderate conservatism will survive during a period when future short-term diagnoses for the British economy range from double-dip recession at worst to minimal growth at best.

On becoming Party leader, Cameron was widely believed to be a simple reincarnation of the worst, shallow aspects of Tony Blair, who just happened to be leading the opposing party. The Cameron persona at the time was that of a moderately handsome, moderately viewed politician, with a history in PR (to match Blair’s schooling in amateur drama and early attempts at being a rock star), with a nice young family, and an interest in the environment somewhat anomalous for a Tory. Over the course of five years he has not yet won unconditional support or affection from the public, but a more subtle political personality has emerged, as noted by both supporters and opponents.

The Labour left, and the majority of the left-wing press, welcomed Cameron’s election as leader in 2005 as the return of the Eton-educated Toff to the top of the Tory party, assuming that, in time, simple class antagonism would turn the public against him. So far that has not happened. Cartoonists may find it impossible to portray Cameron wearing anything other than top-hat and tails but so far the attack has been largely affectionate. That situation will change if the economy collapses further and the contrast between David and Samantha Cameron’s family fortune, which the Sunday Times Rich List estimates at £30 million plus, and the income of the average voter diverges even further. But for the moment the poshest Prime Minister since Sir Alec Douglas-Home appears to be safe from a class-war backlash and even to have tapped into the some of the ancient British love for the aristocracy.

The Right-wing media have had a harder time knowing what to do with their new man in Downing Street. Right-wing columnists such as Peter Hitchens have reacted to Cameronism as the final straw that has driven them away from the party altogether. Tory romantics such as Andrew Roberts have accused him of directly ripping his shtick from Harold Macmillan, i.e. using his privileged background as a cloaking device under which to push the country further to the left. To some extent this accusation is true. 2010 saw the first deliberately moderate, One Nation, Conservative election campaign in a generation. The result of this, when added to the unpopularity of the sitting government, was very nearly a full majority. In terms of social and foreign policy, Cameron has done much toward his stated aim of ‘detoxifying the Tory brand’ and in doing so has distanced himself from the more confrontational excesses of Thatcherism. Sections of his own party have offered mild rebellion over what they see as unnecessarily progressive policies on education, gay marriage and Europe. The general idea of the natural party of government sharing power with its opponents has also provoked rumbles of discontent. Far better to go it alone with in a minority government and gain support from the Ulster Unionists and whatever parts of the opposition have enough common sense to support us, say some constituency parties and members of the 1922 Committee.

The silencing of the Liberals and the defeat of Labour has created the unusual possibility for the new Prime Minister that at first his most effective opposition will come from internal dissent. The two most notable features of Cameron’s first few weeks at Prime Minister's Questions were the body language between himself and Nick Clegg (supportive but cautious and tense, as one might expect), and questions from Conservative backbenchers enquiring whether the coalition would care to start acting like a right-wing government (repeal the Human Rights Act, reform the House of Lords, hold a ‘bonfire of the QUANGOs’ etc). Internal opposition is likely to dog Cameron in one form or another, as it does every party leader, and it is not yet entirely clear what his various self definitions (a "liberal Conservative", "not a deeply ideological person”, "a modern, compassionate conservative") actually mean in practice. But the fact remains that no other viable candidate for national leader currently exists and, for the time being, for any Conservative, or for that matter Liberal, serious about the idea of power, Cameron’s leadership is the only game in town.

Barring electoral reform re-emerging as a popular issue as it did during the election campaign, it is the state of the economy that is likely to dictate the amicability between the two coalition partners and the popularity of the government as a whole. At the time of writing, the program of tax-increases and public spending cuts, conceded as a necessity by all three main parties, is just beginning. (The term used to take the sting out of this is ‘fiscal adjustment’. Get used to hearing it.) The first sign of the new spirit of fiscal conservatism came with the announcement of the new Cabinet. As with Margaret Thatcher’s first government, Ministers keen on reductions in public spending were placed in key positions, such as Iain Duncan Smith at Work and Pensions and Liam Fox at Defence and, briefly, David Laws as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Vince Cable’s admission, after only three days in government, that he would in fact have to go against his party’s manifesto pledge and oversee large cuts in public spending, officially because of the effect of the Greek crisis on the European economy as a whole, also acted as handy public neutering of the leading Liberal seen as having the finest mind in the government.

The fiscal adjustment process will obviously be unpleasant but, in another contrast with early Thatcherism, the government looks set to acknowledge the potential pain they will cause. Chancellor George Osborne has set out £6.2bn of cuts on what he calls "wasteful spending"; there will also be £20bn cut in welfare and pensions over the next five years and a public sector pay freeze for those earning more than £18’000 a year which is likely to extend into 2011. Amongst the talks of painful cuts and rises in VAT to pay off spiraling national debt, the Coalition has also signaled that it will be interventionist where necessary. The earliest sign of this was the announcement that a £20 million grant awarded by the previous government to Nissan’s Sunderland plant to develop the next generation of electric cars will still be honored The early weeks of the coalition also saw the unusual sight of Conservative ministers talking about the need for government to stimulate industry and manufacturing. This may prove to be a simple political gimmick. No British politician has spoken in favour of denuding the manufacturing base but plenty have done so. It will be interesting to see what the promise amounts to, particularly in the North East and North West, traditionally anti-Conservative areas where the need for manufacturing jobs is great but support for the new government is low.

Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition, meanwhile, are determined to engage in a civilized post-defeat, leadership election which will be a “chance to help shape Britain’s progressive future” according to interim Leader Harriet Harman. Four former cabinet ministers - Ed Balls, Andy Burnham and David & Ed Miliband - and one feisty backbencher - Diane Abbott - will fight for the future of the people’s party over the course of a fifteen week contest. Historically, the script for Labour leadership races consisted of a series of dirty tricks and deep ideological divides, conducted in confrontational and public way which scared many voters away from the party for a generation. Post-New Labour, lessons appear to have been learnt about keeping rows private and, so far, the atmosphere between the candidates has been competitive but collegial. The central question of the process will be how the party can reposition itself against a Coalition which now occupies much of the ground between the centre-right and centre-left of British politics. It remains to be seen whether or not for Labour 2010, like 1992, could be considered a good election to have lost, thus avoiding being in power during an inevitable period of government unpopularity. According to the Office for Budget Responsibility, outgoing Chancellor Alistair Darling's prediction of 3% economic growth for 2010 were wildly optimistic and minimal or negative growth for the year is a real possibility. Far better to have created that situation than to have to deal with it. The ultimate irony, the electorate returning to Labour because the new government cannot deal with the mess that Brown and co. created, may be the best hope they have of avoiding an extended period in the wilderness.



Copyright (c) 2010, Independent News Ltd.