Red Top Magazine – Camden Roundhouse

My newest creative outlet comes in the form of an online magazine called Red Top – created by young people at the Roundhouse in Camden.

The publication – released twice a year – used to be produced in print form, however, it will now be transforming into a brand new website.

Multimedia Journalism

Focusing on online and radio journalism, each Wednesday evening the team meet to expand our writing and broadcasting styles; so far we’ve been learning how to research features and will hopefully be producing simple audio and video packages to upload to the site in time for it’s grand launch.

You can view our content online at: www.roundhouse.org.uk/redtop

We’ll be launching the new site in a few weeks – with an invite-only launch party, which we are currently organising,

Hayley

Interviewing the original women from Made in Dagenham

To encourage people from around the UK to get involved with the UCU and The National Union of Students demonstration against cuts to education, myself and my colleague Lisa Pool interviewed four of the women who went on strike in 1968, at Ford Dagenham. Their actions consequently led to the introduction of the Equal Pay Act in 1970.

They did it – so can we. Fight for what you believe in.

Find out more about the demo – Fund Our Future: Stop The Cuts, by visiting the demo2010 website and joining the facebook group.

The Joiners, Music Venue

[Originally written for Solent Riot in 2007]

The Joiners Arms has simply got to be the best place in Southampton to see local and not so well-known bands play in an intimate environment. The bar can be crammed, the space can be restricted and don’t even mention the lack of air-con, but there’s something very special and somewhat homely about this particular venue.

The images and posters that are plastered around the bar area document the many bands that have played in this small-time setting since it’s opening as a music venue in 1968. These include large paintings of Oasis, Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand and controversial Pete Doherty’s original band, The Libertines. Other well-known acts that have played this once quiet, local pub are Radiohead, Green Day, Suede, PJ Harvey and The Manic Street Preachers; proving that this place holds quite a legacy.

If you’re into bands of the alternative persuasion, or simply love finding out about new music, then there’s absolutely no excuse not to visit the Joiners as often as you can over the duration of your University life, especially if you’re living in halls as it’s literally a minute walk from Kimber and Hamwic, 5-10mins from Deanery/Chantry/Mercury Point and approximately 15mins from Lucia Foster. It’s the closest established music venue to Halls, followed closely by the Nexus [RIP – Ed].

Last year The Academy is… and Panic! At The Disco played a sell out performance at the Joiners right before they shot into the limelight, so keep an eye on the listings for bands of a similar buzz because you never know, tomorrow night’s headliners may be gracing much larger venues in no time at all.

If you live in Solent Halls of Residence, make the most of the Joiners being pretty much in your back garden!

Ticket prices vary depending on the artists and drinks prices are relatively low for a music venue (there’ll be no £3.50 pints here!) Check out the Joiners website for listings, artist previews and online bookings.

Solent Riot

Solent Riot was a student-run, online publication where Southampton Solent University students were able to contribute articles, read about student life in the city and discuss issues within the forum area.

The website was independently run by two Solent students and I was one of the regular feature writers. I often wrote music reviews, student features and was the main contributor to the ‘nights out’ section; recommending evening entertainment venues.

The site ran for two years, until the site owners and editors graduated.

I shall shortly be uploading the articles I wrote for the site onto this blog. Here’s an image of the site as it was:

Creative Partnerships work

In June 2007 I was employed for a three-month period as Assistant to Communications and Development at Creative Partnerships, Southampton & Isle of Wight.

My main duties were writing press releases for events and projects, making phone calls and sending invites to the press, local councilors, schools and other contacts. I also took on administrative duties such as filing DVDs, CDs, Press cuttings and updating contact lists.

I wrote several press releases & web content for various projects including a radio station at a school in Redbridge (Radio Redbridge) and a media booth project called the Fascination station, that was set up at Bestival on the Isle of Wight.

View CP’s website