From Outback to Front of class

By Ashley Rigby

An editor from a successful menís lifestyle magazine offered some sage words to aspiring magazine journalism students on how to be excellent journalists.

Front editor Eoin McSorley emphasised that the most important thing in journalism is being able to tell a good story. And as he came into journalism by accident, Eoin is proof of how far you can get in the industry just by "blagging it".

Eoin started his journalism career back in 1990 whilst backpacking in Australia, never having written a professional word before. He told students on the MA Magazine Journalism course: "I went into the Sydney Morning Herald, spoke to the features editor and told him I was some hotshot UK journalist."

Crocodile Harry

From this Eoin was given his first assignment to interview an eccentric cave-dweller named Crocodile Harry who lived 2,500 miles from Sydney in the Australian Outback, a six-day round trip for which he received $300 air fare. "It was an easy story to tell," he said and this landed him his own column, English Backpackers Take on Australia.

Afterwards Eoin worked in TV, providing commentary on Sky Oneís recent Britainís Toughest Seaside Resorts and Channel Fiveís Britainís Biggest Celebrity Mingers. And for the past four years he has been editor of Front magazine which was initially conceived as "a magazine Loadedís little brother would read", involving more swearing, silliness and unruliness.

Old school journalism

Eoin talked about tackling subjects that are slightly more hardcore and taking it back to old school journalism, where the writer no longer watches from the sideline. Along with its "girl content", Front also tackles hard-hitting issues such as a feature on heroin addiction, which was applauded up by the Periodical Publishers Association. 

On the subject of getting a good story, Eoin said: "You have your best ideas on you already. Something as simple as walking past a tramp can produce a good story."

The most important advice he gave was on how to approach magazine editors when applying for a job. He said: "Iím inundated with generic 1000-word letters and CVs up to four times a day. You shouldnít write boring letters but impress the editor through entertaining writing that shows an understanding of the publication."

More info:
MA Magazine Journalism >

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Extra and related information

Our print and broadcast courses are accredited by the The Broadcast Journalism Training Council and the National Council for the Training of Journalists. Our MA Magazine Journalism is accredited by the Periodicals Training Council.