I was right about Sanusi

I got a nice surprise yesterday when I read an article that basically confirmed predictions I made in essay I wrote a few years ago for Monocle magazine. It was just after I’d finished my one month internship there and I was still in my final year of my journalism degree.

I pitched them an idea for an article following Andrew Tuck’s instructions at the end of my spell to keep in touch. So I threw him a story about a man called Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who is the governor of Nigeria’s central bank (I am of Niigerian origin and have a keen intrest in the country’s politics). 

At the time I knew litttle about him, but I was inspired to pitch the story after something I heard on the BBC World Service’s news in briefs one evening. Anyway, to cut a long story short, Andrew liked the idea and asked me to change the angle a little to fit the theme of Monocle’s Christmas issue that year. And so it was, my article was published! My first published work in a global magazine, to be specific.

To say I was chuffed or proud would be something of an understatement. But, to add to my joy, about a year later, a Danish broadcast journalist contacted me. He’d read my article and decided to make a sort of film-cum-documentary about people who were changing Nigeria’s image for the better, which was basically what I’d been harping on about in the article. I put him in contact with my uncle, who’s a journalist also, based in Lagos. I don’t know what came of the film, as I didn’t hear from Bo Taudal (the Danish reporter) again, but the experience was flattering enough in itself.

Then, yesterday, I read this. And it reminded me of this.* And now I’m ready to write stories again and get back to my instinctive journalistic roots. So watch this space.

Good Morning - Part 2.

Two words can make or break a day, at least that’s what I took away from today’s events. Would it have been a better day had I uttered the words “good morning” to my boss as I sidled into work a good eight minutes late this morning? It’s impossible to say, of course. I was too busy cursing the various unfavourable, self-inflicted shortcomings that had caused my tardiness that morning.

What I did learn, as I slumped into my seat hastily, but silently, unpacking and connecting up my laptop and its various accessories to begin work, is that there is no price that can buy the return of good manners. And, really, I should have known better: my father always taught me the very same thing, giving me an earful for not giving him a morning greeting. It does not make a man any more of a man to place himself so high above another man (or woman) that he can not even look down and say “hello”.

One thing is for sure: from now on, the first time during the course of a day that I encounter someone with whom I have a significant relationship (or even if not), I will greet them with a smile, a sharp but slight nod of the head and a meaningfully voiced greeting. That way, I’ll know that I occupied a space in their thoughts that day - even just for a few moments. Who knows? It could make or break my day/

SUBMISSION.

Hello Chuk - 

Thank you for your response to my question, your insight and questions to ponder are greatly appreciated.  

I’ve been reading Monocle for the last year and feel as if it is one of first magazine that speaks to my interests, passion and curiosities.  I’m a journalism student (soon to graduate) from Toronto, Canada and I look at Monocle, with its original and in-depth reporting, insightful global perspective, and distinguished brand, as the highest quality of journalism. In the last four years of my education I’ve recognized some of the realities of the Canadian magazine industry,and quite honestly feel disappointed with some of the thoughtless, largely negative, and mass-media driven agendas of many publications.  Each time I receive a new issue of Monocle in the mail, I’m motivated and reminded of the journalism that I want to produce and the type of masthead I want to learn from and collaborate with.

Thanks for the details of your experience; it has largely reaffirmed my own goals and values, and prompted me to write a letter and forward some writing samples.  Opportunities can’t follow if you don’t first try…

All the best with your next pitch and other endeavors. I’ll be scanning Monocle’s contributor’s page more closely in future issues.

Cheers,

Raylene

(I was not signed into my tumblr account when I wrote the last question, hence the prior anonymity)

The Leather King.

Like my father before me, I want to be a family man first and a business man second. I want a job where I love what I do - not just enjoy it. I want to play while I work and work like I play. Mitch Alfus, ‘The Leather King’, has got the right idea. Here’s a little dose of inspiration courtesy of one of my favourite web personalities, The Selby.

YouTube - Mitch Alfus, Leather King. A Selby Film