Brief: Copy for Causeway, the community magazine which I edit as a volunteer, and for which in 2018, I won Best Editor in the National Parish Magazine Awards in A5 category. A blend of community activities, editorial and advertising by a variety of local businesses it is an important part of local culture. My involvement since the end of 2017 has improved the quality of copy and editing which is reflected in the numerous unsolicited positive comments I receive. I have retained mark up for designer to demonstrate my work as an Editor as well as copy writer. I collaborated with my teenager.
EXAMPLE SHOWN IS NEW COPY FOR PRINT MAGAZINE 20 Tips to Tear Teens Away from Tech [envisage this being over two pages with lots of white space and images - see file or feel free to find! 800ish plus images] Recently the media has been highlighting childhood gaming addiction, with the popular ‘video’ game, Fortnite, coming under fire. The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated it had identified online gaming as a medical disorder which will means it may be treatable by the NHS. [gaming control image] In spite of the hype, it is a sad fact 4% of youngsters are clinically at risk of internet addiction. Fortnite is certainly not the only game under scrutiny but certainly is the most popular video game in the world with 40 million monthly players. To help prise the kids from their screens, our Editor and her 15 year old son, Evan, came up with a list of 20 fun things to do instead of sitting in front of a screen the whole of the summer holidays. (I am, of course, going to be quoting these back at the 15 year old when he is nose to screen…Ed). With a plea to parents - be authentic…if the kids are going screen free, make sure you do too - avoid the ‘do as I say not as I do’ scenario! 1. Play back garden sports - hold your own Test Match, Wimbledon or Football World Cup tournament. [football back kick image] 2. Take your dog - or someone else’s - for a walk (ask first, don't just take them!) or clean pet beds and bowls or simply play with them. [dog image] 3. Go to the cinema - Wetherby Cinema is a gem - support it this summer. 4. Visit a museum or historical place eg Kirkstall Abbey - free and only 30 mins drive away! [abbey IMAGE] 5. Talk to (phone, Skype, Facetime - yes they may need the screen for this one!) or visit a grandparent
6. Play a board game like Monopoly…we seem to have a fetish for this board game with about 9 variations! Most of these versions go on, and on, and on…so will keep them busy! [image of board] 7. Sort out old toys and games and sell them with parents’ help AND PERMISSION! Take a look at Ebay/Gumtree/Facebook selling sites/Schpok/boot or garage sale. 8. Look out for organised events for kids eg Breeze or St Mary’s Holiday Club. 9. Visit the library - Wetherby and Boston Spa library hold events and readings for all ages, and advertise what else is going on in the Leeds area. 10. Help with the weekly shop and create their own list (with a little supervision or their basket will be full of energy drinks and chocolate) When ours were quite little they’d push a tiny ELC trolley to fill from their ‘list’, however once over about 3 feet in height that wouldn’t quite work - not as cute… 11. Set up water slide - we use a large bit of plastic sheeting and a water sprinkler. Hill not needed just a bit of a run up… [IMAGE] 12. Go out with friends and create mischief - then the parents will have you back in front of the console! (Hey, how did that slip in…) 13. Use stop motion technology to make a film. There are fantastic apps for tablets which help with this - they’d need their screen, but this is creative…LEGO people are brilliant for this. [image lego men] 14. Get in the kitchen - bake, cook or make - it will be chaos but think of the benefits cake and less screen time - winner all round…[cookies IMAGE] 15. Earn some money! House clean, car washing or lawnmowing (one friend says that since they got a Karcher, the kids LOVE cleaning.) 16. Helping upload photos from phones/tablets/digicameras to an online photo storage system or order your favourites as prints or a book. 17. Learn to skim stones - being awfully careful of the water and not hitting other people with the stone of course - the landing by the bridge at Wetherby is a fab place to do this. [IMAGE] 18. Set up an obstacle course and time yourself and friends - you could add ‘faults’ like in show jumping for added fun! 19. Put on a play - and of course mum, dad, neighbours, grandparents et al would LOVE to be your audience… 20. Raise money for a charity - let the kids think up something THEY WANT to do - might be making something to sell or an activity they can get sponsored for - the neighbours may be delighted they are doing a sponsored silence!! [image] If you or your kids are especially worried about screen time or things that happen online, here are a couple of useful websites: www.bbc.com/ownit - offers useful advice on all aspects of a kid’s online life. www.childline.org.uk