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Posted by: North Meadow Media
Published: 28th January, 2009 at 4:59 pm in News.
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Colchester Connected

It’s been a while since I’ve had to approve a magazine for press, but I’m extremely glad to say that the first ever issue of Colchester Connected is being printed right now.

The mag is a great example of what happens when people unite behind an idea. Only three months ago I got an email from Palladian Press’s Sales and Marketing Director Steve Green. He wrote:

Hi Ben,
I want to publish a quarterly magazine called “Colchester Connected”.
10,000 copies, A4, full colour, 64pps, high quality, good read.

A few days later, I wrote a promotional flyer for Steve, just to help gauge interest in the idea. It didn’t take long to realise that there was an enormous demand for a publication that was specifically targeted at Colchester’s business community, and which had an emphasis on collaboration and fresh ideas.

The only fly in the ointment was that the magazine needed to be put together on a shoestring if we were to prove its mettle. But so many people chipped in to help that the project was soon sailing on an ocean of goodwill. My contribution was to write or edit all the features free of charge.

It was a massive task, especially as the only adverts were on the back and inside covers. That left a lot of pages to fill with editorial.

We had a good way of working. Local companies would pay for a high-quality feature, and Publishing Director Linda Green would drop by and conduct an interview with her customary charm and finesse. I’d then shape her notes into an article (whilst rocking, in the final fortnight, a newborn’s cradle with my foot) and the finished work would then be sent back to the customer for approval and signing off. They were all delighted.

Editorial wasn’t restricted to local companies, though; and we also included pieces about the Essex Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses, Colchester2020 and other people with an important message for the local business community.

The magazine is launched on 23rd January at the Weston Homes Community Stadium in Colchester, and over 250 people have already confirmed they are coming along. I’ll do a write up after the event, and I’ll also add full details about the project to the North Meadow portfolio pages in due course.

I hope Colchester Connected is hugely successful — and that Issue 2 is an even better read — but the most rewarding part for me has been to learn about the ideas and determination of a cross-section of the local businesspeople. It would be unfair to point out which ones really captured my imagination — especially as, in a garrison town like Colchester, many of them are trained killers — but I’m very much looking forward to meeting every single one.

Posted by: Ben Locker
Published: 15th January, 2009 at 2:57 pm in Blog, News.
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