They met on a TV set & the rest is history | Why I miss newsrooms at Christmas
Jobs, events, and opportunities for writers and journalists into 2024 with bells on
My dear wordsmiths,
T’is the season and by that I mean writing season. Put down the mince pies, forgo the nap, and get typing as for many of us it will be the only chance we get. That’s the end of my Ted Talk. You’re welcome - though I’m really talking to myself.
I want to say a massive hello to my new friends from over at Threads where the hashtag #writerthreads has brought me an influx of new and amazing writerly pals who subscribed this week. I’m so happy to have unexpectedly found my tribe and thanks so much for supporting me. I’m Nicola - an author and journalist - and this newsletter exists to build an inclusive writerly/journalist-y community. I’m even inventing new words as I’m so excited. The newsletter regularly includes writer guests and highlights news, events, and opportunities as well as oversharing from me generally.
This week, and as it’s the festive season, I’ve brought you not one but two authors - a writing partnership with an unlikely start on the set of a reality TV show. I’ll let them tell the story but first a little plea to share this newsletter - all I want for Christmas is you to spread the word so I can showcase even more of you marvellous writers. If YOU fancy being featured in a Q&A or as a guest post email me at writerejectrepeat@substack.com
Anyway, as is my tendency at the festive season, I’m feeling maudlin - and not just because I haven’t scooped the massive book deal listed on my new year resolutions (I didn’t win the lottery either). It’s the first year I’ve really struggled to put my festive big girl pants on and socialise properly. It all feels like too much effort. Admittedly it’s been a big year with our wedding and host of other exciting video, TV and radio opportunities. But what I’m actually missing is the newsroom.
For more two decades I worked in a large newsroom with the accompanying banter and admittedly Grinch-like festivities as we didn’t do trees or decorations due to general cynicism. But in reality the grind of Christmas, when you have to get multiple newspapers out early with a skeleton staff in a season traditionally low on actual news and when no-one answers the phone, actually fostered a sort of Blitz spirit. We worked like demons amid piles of Quality Street wrappers, feasted on free random foods sent by brands and groaned every time we got an email with another festive pun or cliché. I literally just received a press release today using the phrases ‘Twixmas’ and ‘Jingle Tills’, which is a double crime against Christmas, and I had no-one complain about it with. Bah Humbug. In case you are wondering what the festive newsroom scenario looks like - I got AI to generate it. Sadly this looks nothing like me after that much cake, and we definitely didn’t have that tree, but I’ll take it.
I’m not saying this kind of newsroom no longer exists but it’s changed enormously as journalism evolves to survive and thrive. Many work remotely ( as I partially do now as I work across the whole north) and newsrooms have closed and staffing levels dwindled. Offices are small and without the layers of experience, the multi-generational buzz of conversation rare, which is a real shame for many. Undoubtedly, those losing out the most are the newer generations. They may be comfy in their flats and onesies behind a laptop but you learn most from others in a room, no question. But the media landscape has changed and it will be interesting to see what 2024 brings.
Meet.. Corjan Mol and Christopher Morford
The authors of The Jerusalem Files met on the set of TV show The curse of Oak Island and the rest is, well, history.
Christopher Morford started out as a musician and recording engineer during the heyday of industrial rock in Chicago after attending Berklee College of Music in Boston. He later settled in New Orleans, until the devastating Hurricane Katrina struck the crescent city. Chris then traveled to China and married the love of his life, Yan. The couple now live in South Carolina with their daughter Mia, where they own and operate a restaurant on Hilton Head Island.
Corjan Mol is an entrepreneur and recording artist from the Netherlands with more than a casual interest in history. He had a classical education, learning Greek and Latin, but is also fluent in Dutch, English, and French. Corjan studied in the Netherlands and France and has spent his professional career working in Europe, Asia, and North America. He lives in the Dutch town of Valkenburg.
WHO
Corjan Mol & Christopher Morford. Writing a book is difficult enough on your own. Still, we decided to do it together. We are both historical researchers associated with the TV show “The Curse of Oak Island” and we discovered early on that we are fully complementary as writers. Chris is the fountain of knowledge, is inquisitive and truly thinks outside the box. Corjan has the tenacity to build the timelines that exposes the narrative, and has a talent for finding obscure sources.
WHAT
During our research for the TV show we walked into a forgotten memorial for a rather dull English prime minister in an overgrown garden on the edge of London. It marked the start of a real-life Da Vinci Code-style treasure hunt for the Jewish Menorah, the 7-armed candlestick from the bible. It is one of the world’s most sacred objects and it was assumed lost around 500 AD. The memorial we found demonstrated that it wasn’t.
WHERE
Our book The Jerusalem Files starts in biblical Jerusalem and ends 1,500 years later in present-day North America. (continues)
WHY
It is the sort of hidden history story that had to be told. We wanted to public to realize what is hidden in plain sight. Literally. One example: the ground plan of the Chateau of Versailles, the biggest palace on earth which was built by the Sun King Louis XIV of France in the 17th century, is laid out in the shape of a giant, 3 miles tall 7-armed Menorah, that is also perfectly aligned with Jerusalem in the East. It has been lying there unnoticed by anyone for almost 400 years but once you know you can’t unsee it and you also start seeing the many obvious clues around the palace and its gardens.
WHEN
The book is coming out on February 13 through Watkins Publishing of London and Penguin Random House in the US. After searching for an agent or publisher for more than a year and over 300 rejections, we were so lucky to get in touch with Watkins. They were incredibly invested in the story from day one and it is the biggest privilege in the world to work with a firm that is so utterly professional and experienced in its execution.
HOW
The Jewish Menorah made its way to North America with the help of the medieval order of warrior monks the Knights Templar. They collaborated with the Royal House of France who remained the stewards of the artefact after the Templars had been arrested and dissolved in the early 14th century. It is an old story. As to our ‘how’… the answer is relentless dedication and very hard work.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN READING RECENTLY?
Corjan: I read a lot of non-fiction, at this moment ”Le Mystere Basque” by Louis Charpentier is lying open on my desk. In the fiction department, the last book I read was “The Last Kingdom” by Steve Berry.
Thanks so much to Christopher and Corjan. You can read more about the book here
News, events, and opportunities for authors and journalists
(with bells on, as it’s Christmas)
JOURNALISM
Jobs at National World (where I work): The company has created a new central video team and there are four jobs up for grabs including two Watch Article journalists and two Engagement and Amplification Specialists for our TV channel Shots TV (Freeview 276) Details and how to apply in link.
BBC Young Reporter: BBC Young Reporter is the BBC’s journalism and media project supporting young people to develop content creation skills, find out about careers in broadcasting and share their own stories.
Predictions for journalism 2024: What next for social media strategy in newsrooms? Read more via journalism.co.uk
NiemanReport: Journalism year in review: Read about threats to an independent press during a deadly year in journalism.
Press Gazette: How can news media bounce back? Newsroom leaders make their predictions for 2024.
BOOKS AND WRITING
Hay Festival 2024: Early bird tickets for selected events at the famous festival are now on sale. Guest spots already scheduled include Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Tim Spector, Alice Roberts and Lenny Henry.
The Discoveries Prize: The Women’s Prize Trust, Audible, the Curtis Brown literary agency and Curtis Brown Creative have partnered to run the Discoveries writing development programme for a fourth year. The programme culminates with awarding the Discoveries Prize for an unpublished novel-in-progress. Submissions are open until January 8, 2024.
WolF Poetry Competition: Wolverhampton Literature Festival has opened its poetry competition to poets from across the globe for the seventh consecutive year. Poems must be in English and no more than 40 lines long and can be on any theme you choose. Deadline is December 31, 2023.
New Writers Flash Fiction Competition 2024: Open to writers from around the world, it offers a top prize of £1,000, a second prize of £300 and a third prize of £200. The deadline is midnight (UK time) on Wednesday January 31, 2024, and £1 from each entry will be donated to charity. Go to the website for the entry form.
And finally.. here are my socials:
@nicolakadam on Threads
@jabberingjourno on X
Facebook page is Nicola Adam Journalist
Instagram is nicolakadam
TikTok nicolakadam
If you read this far you are my favourite . Please share the love and this newsletter - it’s free. Have an absolutely fabulous Christmas if you celebrate. Sending writerly, supportive, hugs, Nicola
