Investigate magazine

Here's some good news. Today sees the launch of a new Australian current affairs magazine, Investigate. It's a glossy monthly magazine modelled on the successful New Zealand magazine of the same name and published by Investigate Publishing Pty Ltd.

An illustrious line up of writers has been assembled including James Morrow, Miranda Devine, Alan Anderson, Ann Coulter, Luke Slattery, Ian Wishart, Matt Hayden, Pat Sheil, Paul Ham, Michael Morrissey, Claire Morrow, Shelly Horton, Paul Ham, Eli Jameson, Jake Ryan, Alice McCormick plus, bringing up the rear, some cabbie called Adrian. Say what !?

That's the good news. Unfortunately, I'm unable to post here my first story titled, Cocaine Blues, subtitled... surviving a cabload of cokeheads. But if you all go out and purchase a copy of Investigate, for a measly $7.95, I'll be able to proudly state I've sold out to mainstream media ! Otherwise a case of grog goes to the tsunami relief fund. 

Seriously though, Investigate seeks to fill a hole in the Aussie market by presenting an alternative and fearless voice on current affairs. An independent magazine whose first loyalty is to the readers. As editor James Morrow explains,

Some magazines only exist to sell you something. Our main focus is telling you something.

For further information on Investigate here's the press release...

Investigate magazine launches

The hard-hitting ‘stories behind the headlines’

February, 2005: Australia’s first monthly, mass-market independent news and current affairs magazine Investigate will launch 23 February 2005. The new hard-hitting title will contain in-depth, compelling stories across the realms of politics, crime, international events and human interest. Home to some of the world’s top news journalists, Investigate Magazine will provide a much needed perspective currently lacking in the era of the 24-hour news cycle.

The 100-page, full-gloss publication is led by Head Investigator, Editor James Morrow. A former Associate Editor of US News and World Report and contributor to The Australian, James also spent time as a White House press corps correspondent where he travelled extensively on Air Force One during the Clinton administration.

“Australians have a voracious appetite for news across all mediums but our research shows they still long for a magazine that lifts the lid on important issues, revealing the truth behind the stories of the moment,” stated Morrow. “Ultimately, what you get with Investigate is no-holds-barred journalism; written by reporters who are not afraid to tell the truth.”

The crack team of news journalists include Miranda Devine and Matthew Thompson (The Sydney Morning Herald); Paul Ham (The Times, London); Melbourne lawyer and journalist Alan Andersen and American syndicated journalist Ann Coulter.

“If you want to see how far the limits can be pushed, Investigate will take you there,” explained Morrow. “We’re edgy, hard hitting, and invariably we’re on the money, sometimes several years ahead of our competitors.”

The first issue will include the following provocative features

The high incidence of accidents involving P-Plate drivers: You’ve read the headlines, now find out the real story of what’s needed to stop the carnage. Hint: It’s not more laws. Plus, how Victorian drivers and taxpayers are being scammed – again!

The Islamic insurgency just north of Australia: how our neighbours are mishandling an Islamic insurgency. Taking readers into the jungle where Jemmah Islaamiyah and the Bali bombers trained, this story is critical to every Australian.

And an in-depth cover story interview with the most important man in Australian politics right now.

Published by Investigate Publishing Pty. Ltd., Investigate is modelled on the highly successful New Zealand magazine of the same name, which has seen its writers and photographers captured by the Taliban and shot at on the West Bank by Hamas. With an ethos of ‘we respect everyone, but we fear no one’, Investigate has earned the enviable reputation as New Zealand’s best current affairs magazine by many media commentators.

Comments

[Darlene]

Looking forward to purchasing a copy, Adrian.

Good luck with it.

[Dirk Thruster]

I hope its got a long shelf life, I won't be able to get to a newsagent untli the second week in March.

[kimbofo]

Brilliant!! I've had many discussions over here in the UK bemoaning the state of play with the magazine industry (in which I work), because I fear that REAL journalism no longer exists: magazines have become PR tools full of puff pieces and unsubstantiated gossip. "Investigate" sounds like my cup of tea!

[anon]

Good luck with it, but I find it hard to reconcile the words "alternative, independent and fearless" in the same sentence as "Miranda Devine" and "Anne Coulter"

[PB]

Congrats, mate!

[Fabian]

Congrats and good luck, mate. I'll keep an eye out for it at the newsagent.

[PQ]

Where will it all end?
First a TV star, now hard hitting investigatve reporter!

Next you will be nipping into a phone box to change into the blue and red suit :-)

[IanH]

Good luck with your new venture. I'll be on the lookout for it.

[Julie]

Excellent, Adrian. I shall get a copy over the weekend.

[ymmoT]

Hi Ade,

Mate, well done. The first issue stories sound good. Hopefully it will be really independent, both in ownership and content.

I wonder whether your opinion of jounalists will change now you're in the print media game? Is there a difference between a journo and a writer?

Hope it goes well for you.

Cheers,

[adrian]

Thanks for the good wishes folks. Feels really good to know my stories are read and enjoyed. If only I had more time to present polished reports, as I call them, rather than brain dumps at dawn.

Which extends a point ymmoT has made. I've often asked journalists, 'What's the difference between a journalist and a reporter ?'. I've yet to receive a straight answer.

The difference between a journalist and a writer ? Off the top of my head, journalists report and writers interpret. In which case yes, my post uses 'writers' in the wrong context. Fair enough. Time for bed.

[Reckers]

Congrats on the writing gig, Ade.

Did you spot the write up the Herald gave you in the Icon liftout?

Here it is.

[kimbofo]

Journalist and reporter are interchangeable terms: there is no difference.

[Splat Guy]

Argh! Is "Investigate" on sale nationwide? I tried a few newsagents here in Canberra and they didn't have it.

[adrian]

Thanks Reckers for supplying Icon link.

Kimbofo, I'm curious to know why most reporters adopt the term, 'journalist'. Wondering if it confers a perception of gravitas - sounding more like a profession than a trade. I imagine this would especially hold true during wage negotiations !

Furthermore, I don't have a problem with journalists per se. As with any person, I react negatively to those passengers who would have me believe, by either words or action, my profession somehow gives them the right to dump on me. It just so happens in my experience male journos, usually from Fairfax, are over-represented in this behaviour. Call me sensitive. Must be a bloke thing...

Splat Guy, as I understand it Investigate has secured a pretty good distribution deal. I'll make some inquires and get back to you...

[Splat Guy]

Hey, got the magazine - good work, Adrian! I really liked your story... what an interesting (and villainous) way of dealing with drug fiends.

Is the plan for you to be the regular back page writer?

[Splat Guy]

Hey, got the magazine - good work, Adrian! I really liked your story... what an interesting (and villainous) way of dealing with drug fiends.

Is the plan for you to be the regular back page writer?

PS - Does your time delay thing penalise people who preview their posts before posting for real???

[IanH]

Picked up a copy at Brisbane airport yesterday - full marks, refreshing and readable. If they keep up that standard it should go well. Good article too, Adrian, well done.

[Greg]

A journalist is someone who produces or edits copy for publication, whereas a reporter gathers information for publication. There doesn't seem to be much distinction between print media vs. online or broadcast, so I guess it's up to you which you choose to employ. Given the diarist character of weblogging, I'd go with "journalist".

[adrian]

Thanks Greg for the qualifying comment. I see now reporters deal mainly with contemporaneous notes. Which journalists polish. Therefore I guess a correspondent is a distant reporter/journalist. So editors also fall under the category of 'journalist'... or a promoted journalist. Plus could not 'diarists' be also classed as 'columnists' ?

Regarding magazine distribution, Investigate is available at some 4000 outlets Australian wide. Namely at major newsagents rather than every corner paper shop. For example in Canberra, it can be found in over a dozen outlets, from Canberra City to neighbourhood shopping malls and centres. And I imagine in the regional areas it would be available in each towns major newsagent.

[slatts]

Picked it up in Geelong's main street newsagency. Excellent read. Bit like scanning the blogs, only the spelling's better. Must submit something.