Toyota Offers a Showcase For a New Generation of Motoring Journalists
- New scheme invites unpublished writers to contribute articles to the official Toyota UK blog
- Accepted submissions to be paid for at professional rates
Toyota has launched a scheme to give the next generation of aspiring automotive journalists the opportunity to showcase their work to new audiences.
It is offering young people dreaming of a career in automotive media the chance to have their work published on its official UK blog (https://mag.toyota.co.uk/). The blog pages feature a fantastic mix of stories from around the Toyota world, from crazy cars at American custom shows to practical help for owners, attracting large numbers of readers and generating lively online conversations.
James Clark, Toyota GB’s Press Relations Manager, said: “Everyone at Toyota’s UK HQ is passionate about good automotive journalism, and we are all avid readers of car magazines and websites.
“We believe that in an ever-changing media environment there must always be a place for the expert writer who can offer not only a great read but also informed and, crucially, independent, advice to potential buyers.”
Toyota hopes that by using its own channels to highlight a handful of the best new writers who have not yet broken through it can help them take the next step in their careers.
“Importantly, because we value automotive journalism, we will always pay aspiring authors for any work we publish,” said Clark. “We are firmly against the practice of offering new writers exposure in return for their work. If we run it, we’ll pay for it, and at the same rate we pay established professional journalists when they write for us.”
Submitted work must have a strong automotive element, and most preferably be about Toyota vehicles. Any area of interest can be covered, from road trips and restorations to the intricacies of design, motor sport or the personal appeal of a specific model. Contributors should submit articles of around 500 to 600 words maximum, with good quality images if possible.
All work may be edited and copyright must be given to Toyota in order for any item to be published on its official channels. Writers must be aged over 18 and possess a valid UK driving licence; importantly, they must not already be being paid to write for an established automotive publication or website.
Submissions should be sent to Toyota GB Editor Iain Reid, at iain.reid@tgb.toyota.co.uk, together with a short personal profile, the reason for contributing work and contact details.