The freelance football journalists’ community has been hit hard by the current pandemic, and they tend to be the last in line for government support at times like this.
It’s not just about loss of earnings but also about what to do with time that is unexpectedly available.
We want to try to do something to help fill the gap in earnings and in time available, albeit at modest levels.
We’re going to produce an e-magazine every month starting in April, which will be available for purchase, comprised of up to 10 articles of between 1,000 and 2,500 words on a theme.
The themes of the first four issues and the deadlines are:
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April (deadline: 9 April) – Old Soccer vs New Football
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May (deadline: 1 May) – The Coach
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June (deadline: 5 June) – Football Futures
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July (deadline: 3 July) – 1982
We will pay up to $250 for each article (on the basis of $100/1,000 words) on publication.
If it’s possible to increase the payment as the editions progress, we will. However, we will give priority to continuing production for the benefit of as many writers as possible, rather than increasing individuals’ fees.
The money earned from the e-magazine will be used exclusively to help fund future editions.
All of our time in design, editing, production and management is given free of charge. The one aspect we will need to pay for is production of the e-book format (unless there's someone out there who can do this and is willing to give their services - at least for the first couple of editions).
To pitch a story idea for any of the themes above please email Bonita at editor@fairplaypublishing.com.au.
Pitches for the first edition (for which copy is due on 9 April) should be received by no later than the end of this weekend (29 March 2020).
Finally, we've workshopped a few names for this new e-magazine but haven't settled on one yet. If you've got a thought for one, drop Katie a line to sales@fairplaypublishing.com.au. If we select your suggestion, we'll send you a copy of Peter Kunz's Chronicles of Soccer in Australia: The Foundation Years 1859 to 1949 and Andrew Howe's Encyclopedia of Socceroos (paperback White Edition) as a thank you.
