Blog – Blackball Media

Want to write about cars and find GIFS of cats? You’ve come to the right place

Our editorial department is expanding almost as quickly as an American’s elasticated waistline at all you can eat $9.99 buffet – and now’s your time to pull up a chair, tuck in a napkin and plough face first in too.

We’re looking for new talent to join our busy pool of motoring writers to work on a series of exciting projects. As part of Blackball Media’s editorial team you’ll work across our portfolio of outlets which include Press Association, AOL, Motors.co.uk, Car Dealer & Workshop magazines and SuperUnleaded.com – which in total serve more than 50m readers a month.

One day you might be flying to some sunny destination to try the latest new car on a private charter, the next you could be grilling an under-fire car manufacturer boss. One minute you might be finding GIFs of laughing hyenas to illustrate the latest Vauxhall concept, the next researching a buying guide on the Audi A3.

The work here is anything but boring and more diverse than a HR hearing at the BBC. We can promise you one thing: No two days will ever be the same.

Now, we’re looking for an editorial assistant to join our team and help across our titles. You’ll be joining at an exciting time for Baize Group and will help wherever we need you too.

You’ll have some journalism experience (possibly work experience), a great news sense and the ability to write a good story. You’ll also love cars – and will immediately feel at home among what can fondly be described as a bunch of utter car nerds.

You’ll be ambitious too and want to move onwards and upwards in our group, proving to us that you’ve got the drive and determination to succeed in the world of motoring journalism.

If that sounds like you, send a covering letter to [email protected] with an explanation of what car you’d buy – new or used – for £50,000 and why and a copy of your CV.

Applications for this post close on November 18.

We’re hiring an Account Manager for Workshop Magazine!

Blackball Media is an automotive content, PR, video production and marketing company based on the (mostly) sunny south coast of England in Gosport, Hampshire.

Founded by James Baggott in February 2008 to publish the award-winning motor trade publication Car Dealer Magazine and it’s sister publication Workshop Magazine. The company has also grown to provide content for international clients as well as PR and marketing services for some of the leading car manufacturers in the UK.

Workshop is a young publication for garage owners, managers and automotive technicians and we are looking for a new account manager to help move it forward. Packed with interesting and informative content for those in the workshop industry, every month the magazine aims to entertain and inspire these professionals with brilliant features. Workshop launched as a quarterly publication in 2015, sent to a database of 18,000 car dealers and Workshop specialists alongside Car Dealer Magazine. The soft launch was extremely successful and readers gave us plenty of positive feedback.

From January 2016, Workshop is sent monthly to a database of 10,000 Workshop professionals completely independent of Car Dealer.

For the full job spec just follow this link below . All CV’s to be sent to [email protected].

Role Profile – Account Manager

Can you press buttons on a camera really well? Here’s your chance to be a staff photographer

Can you hold a camera professionally? Do you laugh in the face of inferior Instagram pictures? Do you take shots of cars then sit back and think: ‘Man, that should be on the pages of some magazine.’

Well, good news! Now is your chance to prove you’ve got the skills you’ve always thought you had with a staff photographer job.

Our current snapper – a talented chap who took pretty good snaps – has decided now is the time to spread his wings and do something else. Which leaves an opening for you…

If you’re looking for your first step into the big bad world of car photography, you need experience handling ip cameras as this position is ideal. Based in Gosport, on the south coast, this position is full time and would suit a graduate with an eye for capturing cars at their very best.

We are not, and I repeat NOT, looking for freelancers – we already have a very nice bank of those, thank you very much.

We expect our snappers to take charge of a shoot, source great locations and produce pictures that lift the pages of our magazines to the next level. We also expect them to process them afterwards so they’re at their very best by the time we print them.

You’ll be expected to master (or already know inside out):

Camera:

Canon 1DX Mk1 & Canon 7d Mk1

Lenses:

Canon 24-70mm F4 IS L (with Hoya Pro-1 77mm circular polariser); Canon 70-200mm F2.8 MKII IS L (with Hoya Pro-1 77mm circular polariser)

Lighting:

Canon 600EX-RT Speedlight

Elinchrom Quadra kit

Elinchrom Skyport trigger set inc universal receiver for the speed light

Manfrotto M-PRO 536 3 stage carbon tripod with manfrotto XPRO ball head with standard quick release plate adapter

Software:

Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Bridge

Photo mechanic

This role involves worldwide travel, driving some of the coolest cars on sale today and being creative – so you’ll need a passport and a driving licence. If you can handle that then this could very well be a job for you. Ideally the candidate will be a graduate looking for their first full time role, but we are open to discussions with anyone with the right skills.

We offer 25 days holiday a year, money for doing a job you’ll love and the chance to work with an amazing team of like-minded petrol heads.

Blackball Media is part of the Baize Group, 25 per cent owned by the Press Association, and publishes the award winning Car Dealer Magazine, Workshop Magazine and provides content to websites such as AOL, Motors and many more.

This role will also see you working for Blackball Media’s sister company, OnCue Communications, which provides photography services to a host of car manufacturers and dealers.

If you think this is a role for you, send your favourite ever three pictures of cars with a short explanation of why you like each so much with your CV to [email protected] by June 24.

Yeah Royyyyy! We’re on the hunt for THREE new motoring writers

Blackball Media is on the hunt for THREE more motoring journalists. Yes, three.

You may be worrying that we’ve been feeding our latest intake to the zombies that wander Gosport High Street in search of Greggs, but they are in fact alive and well and writing many, many words (our journalists, that is, not the pasty-eating half dead).

So now that’s cleared up – here’s the good news. This is your chance to join our team and see for yourself Gosport’s very own answer to Shaun of the Dead.

Not only will you witness the Zombie Apocalypse from the confines of a safe and, what some would describe, over-zealously policed office, you’ll also get the chance to write about cars.

We’re looking for three motoring writers with a variety of experience to work on a very exciting, not-to-be-talked-about project. The details can’t yet be revealed but we can promise it will involve testing cool cars, writing motoring news and opinion pieces and travelling the world in search of great petrol-based copy.

We’re looking for:

Senior Staff Writer / Newsdesk Editor

Full time, salary negotiable depending on experience

You’ll already be working in the motoring industry as a writer or will have experience that proves you know about cars and can produce sparkling copy as a result. You may be working in a motoring news team and looking for your next step up the ladder or you could be already running a newsdesk but want more responsibility. Applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Staff Writer

Full time, salary negotiable depending on experience

You will have good experience writing about cars for a variety of outlets and will be able to demonstrate a good understanding of motoring news. You’ll have a strong news sense, a brilliant ability to sum up the best and worst things about a car and will be hungry to develop your career further. Applicants will need to demonstrate they’ve already been published as a motoring writer.

Editorial Assistant

Full time, salary negotiable depending on experience

Love cars? Check. Love writing? Double check. Want to write about cars and earn money? CHECK. That’s a lot of checks. If you’re into cars and have proved you can write about them with your own blog or perhaps some work experience for some of the major motoring media outlets around the UK we want to hear from you. If you can prove you can string a sentence together and have an obsessive love of motoring this is the perfect starting job for you. Our editorial assistants are rapidly promoted through the company and with our expansion plans this could happen sooner rather than later.

Oh, and an encyclopaedic knowledge of Shaun of the Dead-based gags is preferred from all candidates…

Not only will you be part of one of the fastest-growing motoring media agencies in the UK, you’ll also have access to a number of amazing benefits:

An onsite canteen with such artery-clogging regulars as Friday All You Can Stuff In Your Face Breakfast followed by Friday Fish & Chip Lunch. Fridays make our hearts hurt…
An onsite gym where you’ll find many people on Mondays sweating out Friday’s over-consumption
Close proximity to two Costas, a rather jazzy in-office coffee machine and a supply of watery coffee-coloured liquid from the canteen. Did we mention the coffee?
Holiday of 25 days per year and we shut for Christmas so you can eat turkey and sleep a lot
You get money for coming to the office, there’s a company bonus scheme and above all else, you’ll laugh a lot. Well, we do, so you might as well join in
All-you-can-eat Cornettos*

How do you apply? Easy. Simply send an email to [email protected] explaining why you should be considered for the role you think you should be considered for. We get lots of emails so make sure yours stands out, and not because you’ve addressed it to Jane Boggoff.

In your covering letter we also want to know what your favourite movie car is of all time and why, and if you had £100,000 what one car you’d buy to last you for the rest of your life. Tough.

We also want to see your CV, so make sure you attach that too.

Applications for all three positions close on March 31 but interviews will probably begin far sooner. So if you’re keen, prove it and get in early.

*All-you-can-eat Cornettos limited to one per year on a really hot sunny day in July when the boss is feeling overly generous and decides to walk to the corner shop in the hunt for ice-based goods.

Want to be the next Car Dealer Magazine editor?

Blackball Media is looking to fill some rather interesting shoes (and colourful trousers) as we look to appoint a new editor for Car Dealer Magazine.

Car Dealer has gained an enviable reputation as a must-read monthly motor trade publication and is the most widely circulated and widest read publications of its type.

The magazine mixes interesting editorial with serious business messages for car dealer professionals every month – all wrapped up in a glossy package with stunning design.

Our website is updated daily with relevant stories for the motor trade and we publish a popular weekly email newsletter.

And that’s not to mention our awards and events.

Annually, we hold the biggest Car Dealer Conference and Expo for the motor trade, our Car Dealer Power Awards celebrate the best suppliers and manufacturers at the top of the Spinnaker Tower every summer, while our Used Car Awards with Mike Brewer play host to 400 dealers every Christmas.

Our new editor will be expected to lead from the front at all of them. We’ve experienced a huge period of growth over the last few years and our new editor needs to help us continue to improve.

Make no mistake – this is a big job, with big responsibilities – but one that’s hugely enjoyable and which will give you wide scope to make your mark on an award-winning publication.

We’re looking for someone with all of the following:

Be bursting with ideas and cover features – we need someone creative
The ability to sniff out a story and write one after three glasses of wine at a launch
Feature writing skills that can make any subject shine
Charisma, charm and personality that can represent Car Dealer
Layout and sub-editing using InDesign
Organisational skills that would scare NATO
A welcome embrace for worldwide travel
Excellent car reviewing skills and motoring knowledge
Not scared by website CMS
A Twitter following of at least 500 people and the ability to demonstrate its importance to your work
A proven talent for public speaking and hosting
An absolute passion for all things motoring related
Man management skills

Who would this role suit? Well, you may be a seasoned motoring writer professional looking for a new challenge in a fast-expanding company. Or you might be a junior writer on a car magazine and looking for the chance to prove yourself. We’re open to all – as long as you can demonstrate your passion, skills and ideas for Car Dealer.

In your covering letter we want to know what you think the strengths and weaknesses of Car Dealer are, a brief synopsis of your ideas for the title and where you think you can help complement our existing team the most.

I’d also like to hear about your experience in the industry, your biggest ever stories and the features you’re most proud of and why.

If you’re invited in for a chat we’ll expect you to present in detail your ideas for keeping Car Dealer Magazine at the top of its game.

Salary will depend on experience, but we are offering a competitive package with 25 days holiday, company bonus scheme, discounted private health care and access to on-site gym.

Applications for this role should be made by email to [email protected] with that covering note and a copy of your CV.

Come make our video editing suite your own! We need a new video editor to film cars

Spielberg – he’s got nothing on you right?

If you thought the editing on the latest Transformers movie was ‘a bit tame’, the graphics in Avatar ‘not quite up to your standards’ or 12 Years A Slave ‘not moving enough’ then don’t fear.

We won’t shun your perfection, won’t laugh at your attention to detail or chuckle at your desire to prove you’re ‘better than them’.

Instead we can offer you a platform to prove it. Ok, so we’re not talking the IMAX, but your work will walk the hallowed digital turfs of the YouTube and if you’re REALLY lucky Vimeo too.

And no one will need to shell out on over-priced popcorn or hotdogs made of horse to see your work either…

In a roundabout way that’s us saying we need fresh talent. We need a Mac genius who can turn a car video into a YouTube audience pleasing (if there is such a thing) featurette in double quick time.

Blackball Media’s rapidly expanding video department (and we don’t mean waistline, despite our close proximity to Greggs) needs a new online video maker to work in our busy editing suite. When we say suite we mean desk next to the pool table, but you can call it a suite if you want.

Once again, I digress (you’ll need to get used to that). This is a brilliant opportunity for someone who loves cars and video to “synergise” the two with some “blue sky thinking” thus allowing the two passions to “merge” to create some SERIOUSLY AWESOME FILMS viagra ohne rezept in holland.

We work with some of the best brands in the UK – from car manufactuerers to price comparison sites – to produce compelling car videos that engage with audiences across the world.

Whether that’s pedaling some hairy-chested sports cars around a track in the name of science (for science, read video)…

…or pitching a GT-R engined SUV against a British Superbike champion on a 1,000cc widow maker…

…or making dogs jump into the backs of cars…

…then you’ll get the opportunity at Blackball Media.

Our work is nothing if not varied and will give you a brilliant opportunity to develop your camera skills, editing mastery and prove that Sam Mendes really is “past his prime”.

You’ll be working with a fun team that takes pride in their work and thoroughly enjoys doing it.

You’ll get to travel the world (well, possibly to Europe, but if you’re American that would be seen as near-intergalactic travel, so we’re sticking with it), you’ll get to live in Gosport which boasts a swimming pool (where the last recorded case of athlete’s foot was at least three years ago. Probably), there are so many supermarkets you’ll need TWO hands to count them and where a ferry ride to another part of the world (Portsmouth) can take all of SEVEN minutes.

A huge camera. And our head of video. You don’t know who you want to work with more, right?

There are plenty more perks about living in Gosport – often described as the jewel of the Costa Del Portsmouth (by the local pub landlord) – but we can tell you all about them when you come to see us.

First you’ll need to wow us (and us I mean Nigel, our head of video) with your application. We want to see your show reel, hear about why you won’t mistake PS with VHS and learn a bit about your background and your career ambitions.

Also (I’ve been told to add) any candidates will need to have the following:

Final Cut Pro X expertise
After Effects knowledge would be an advantage
Full driving licence
Passion for cars desirable
Experience shooting with a DSLR, Canon C100 and Sony EX3
Experience shooting films and editing
Be organised and reliable

If you think you’ve got what it takes to impress, send a CV, covering email and a link to your show reel or examples of previous work to me at [email protected].

Applications close on August 15.

Le Mans two ways with Blackball Media

The First Timer

For many, Le Mans is the pinnacle of motorsport, a mix of excitement and endurance wrapped up in a once-a-year event – but what’s it like to experience as a 24 hours virgin?

This year I headed to the famous race to tick off one of the entries on my “things to do before I’m 30” list and strangely, it wasn’t what I was expecting at all.

Before I left, I was planning on watching the whole race and ditching sleep, but boy was I wrong. The track itself (Circuit de la Sarthe) is a big one, measuring more than eight miles – I severely underestimated just how exhausting it would be.

I arrived on the Thursday morning to do a bit of ‘recon’ before the event, checking out each of the corners for best viewing and photography opportunities.

Friday was a morning of pit lane explorations, then later the drivers paraded in the centre of Le Mans which was truly amazing to watch with dancers, musicians, amazing cars including a Bugatti Veyron and a LaFerarri and of course all the drivers including, former F1 racing driver, Mark Webber, driving for Porsche, joining the throng.

Saturday was race day. With a 3pm start you would think you’d have plenty of time to get down to the track, well think again – if you want a good viewing spot you need to get there early to get the best spot but it’s worth it.

It wasn’t at all what I expected – 24hours of non-stop action is difficult to keep up with when you’re there. The atmosphere is incomparable to anything I could have ever imagined and that noise is amazing – but I couldn’t help thinking it would be easier to keep up with on the TV!

I did learn a few lessons from my first trip though. Buy a Le Mans radio (I know, I know, rookie mistake) rather than trying to catch-up every time you see a screen. And take food with you, so you don’t have to move when you’ve found the perfect spectator’s spot.

I don’t think I could’ve picked a better year to pop my Le Mans cherry. I honestly can’t tell you how many miles I walked over the course of the four days and now I feel like I could sleep for a week, but it was all worth it. So much so I’m already planning to go to the Le Mans Classic is a few weeks’ time…

Danielle Bagnall

The Seasoned Pro

Three days, one racing-striped MG B and the father and daughter team back on the road for Le Mans 2014 – what could possibly go wrong? Well, apparently quite a bit…

Unlike Danielle this isn’t my first time. I’ve popped my Le Mans cherry before – albeit with varying degrees of success over the years. But the winning father and daughter recipe with classic car garnish has never let me down. Well, until now.

The first time we took the MGB Roadster to Le Mans there was a sense of impending doom. The car had only been in the family a month and to take it almost 900 miles in a weekend seemed a bit risky, but it sailed through.

In the two years since the car has been a dream with no major problems so when we decided to drive it to the famous endurance race again this weekend no doubt entered my mind.

However, almost half a day since we left camp after packing up for the weekend I’ve just waved goodbye to the little orange car, leaving it in a French garage less than 100km away from Le Mans.

Don’t get me wrong, this weekend was probably the best 24 Hours of Le Mans I’ve ever been to. The sun was out, but I didn’t get burnt. The campsite was full of weird and wonderful people but also had proper showers and toilets. And we managed to spend about 18 hours of the race actually at the circuit.

Miraculously, the rain and safety cars only came out when we weren’t trackside. Plus the sound of those cars is possibly the best thing ever.

These are things which make me happy. I’m not an organised person, but an organised Le Mans is a fun Le Mans – and this year has been a LOT of fun.

But back to the present. I’m writing this on my phone in the back of a taxi heading to Paris. We spent four hours in the French hell that is Le Pin (or Le Massive Pain as it shall now always be known in my head) because the wheel bearing on the MGB disintegrated unceremoniously on a French autoroute.

My dad doing donuts in it last night probably didn’t help, but I suspect it wasn’t going to make the 440 miles home if it couldn’t cope with that.

I can’t blame the French really. Or the car. Or my dad. But you have to take the rough with the smooth, and when the good is Le Mans I’ll take whatever bad comes my way…

Becca Chaplin

Want to work with us? Know PR? Know cars? Read on…

Blackball Media is looking for a new Dealer PR executive to work with some of the coolest car manufacturers in the UK.

The job, which is predominantly based on the road with occasional meetings at our Gosport office, means your location is not a problem. In fact, a central UK base would be an advantage.

The role requires visits to car dealers across the UK, where you’ll dig up stories that would interest their local media outlets. A news reporter with a desire to move into PR would be perfectly suited to this job – a keen news sense is far more important than knowing the difference between BHP and PS.

An interest in cars and motoring would be handy, but is not essential. More important is your ability to find a good story and get it written in a manner that local media outlets could use.

If you’re handy with a camera, it would also help (and we’re not talking selfies). You’ll need to be self motivated, organised and disciplined.

Previous journalism experience is essential – if you’re working on a local newspaper as a reporter or on the news desk you’d be perfectly suited to this role. And it’s far more fun than covering parish council meetings…

Working from home and on the road you’ll help uncover the best stories for our car manufacturer clients. Some of the stories we’ve uncovered in the past have made the BBC and pretty much all national newspapers.

The role comes with a company car, an iPad, Apple Macbook computer and an expenses account that would make local newspaper editors weep.

Wages are to be discussed with the right candidate, but needless to say will be more than a local newspaper reporter’s salary.

For an informal chat, tweet me @CarDealerEd, or call the office. Otherwise send me your CV and a covering letter explaining why you should be part of one of the fastest growing automotive agencies in the UK. I’m on [email protected] and need to see something by July 15.

Drive cars. Write about them. Get money!

LIKE a seat in the House of Lords, a place on the Blackball Media editorial team doesn’t come along very often.

You see, the thing is people don’t usually get fed up of writing about cool cars, being treated like a pop star by manufacturers on lavish launches, driving the latest vehicles or working for a fast growing fun firm that truly values its team.

However, a rare opening for a Senior Staff Writer has opened on the hallowed turf at our Gosport HQ for a talented scribe to fill.

Working for a multi award… entering company based on the beautiful south coast of England, in close proximity to no less than SIX supermarkets, a well-stocked Greggs and a Subway, you’ll work with a talented team of writers to produce compelling car copy.

One day you might be driving the new BMW M4 through the Alps, the next you might be at a test track helping out with a photo shoot. One day you might be eating a full English breakfast in our staff canteen, the next you might be in a five-star hotel gorging yourself on miniature-sized posh nosh.

Day-to-day, however, you’ll be producing content for our network of editorial outlets which include AOL Cars, Motors.co.uk and Car Dealer Magazine, serving a combined monthly readership of 2.6 million readers.

And that’s not all – Blackball Media has some big plans and is working hard on some hush, hush, Project Squirrels that will give the right writers the platforms to really shine.

So, among other things, the right candidate will need:

A keen news sense – and the ability to tailor stories to the right audiences.
Excellent news-gathering skills – we have to find 20 motoring news stories every day. That’s a task not to be under estimated…
Ability to write lots – and keep standards high. Our clients demand the very best motoring content and lots of it. You can’t spend all day penning one 300 word piece, that’s for sure.
More ideas than you know what to do with. Blackball Media prides itself on coming up with innovative ideas. You need to prove you can too.
Excellent eye for accuracy – we don’t like mistakes. Excellent grammar and spelling are an absolute must. You need to be a stickler for fact checking too.
An understanding of the laws affecting reporting
A brilliant writing style – Our content needs to be passionate, humourous and engaging. We like our writers to have personailities, but know when that needs to be toned down too.
A sense of humour. We don’t take ourselves too seriously. If you’re expecting the news desk of The Times look elsewhere. We love what we do and have fun doing it. You’ll need to fit in.
Excellent CMS skills. We upload our content directly to our clients’ websites. You’ll be expected to manage that.
Fantastic organisational skills, work ethic and self driven.
The ability to hit a deadline long before the client hits you.
Obviously you’ll need a driving licence. Preferably your own. And a valid passport.

The right candidate will ideally have some experience in the motoring world of writing. But we’ll consider talented newcomers too. You’ll just have to prove you’re ready for the role…

The job is full time based in our Gosport offices. Pay (I take it you want that, right?) is negotiable depending on experience.

To apply wow me with your covering letter and CV. We get LOTS of applicants for these roles and you really need to capture our attention with your brilliant writing style in your opening email…

Applications to [email protected] by close of play on June 27. Any questions, tweet me @CarDealerEd

If you know everything there is to know about fleet, then we want to get to know you.

Blackball Media’s dynamic and expanding PR team is embarking on an exciting new project to raise a major marque’s profile in the fleet sector and help them meet their ambitious growth plans.

And we’re looking for someone who can take the driver’s seat and lead the way.

The right candidate will be someone keen to make the move from a fleet title into PR or with extensive fleet experience at agency or manufacturer level.

Either way, you’ll know your BiK from your KFC, have a real passion for all things fleet and an inherent understanding of what fleet operators, business car drivers and the specialist media are looking for.

Working as part of a three-strong team servicing the client, you will take responsibility for all fleet activity. Find out more details at https://fleetwraphq.com/denver/.

Your responsibilities will include:

Liaising with the manufacturer, dealers and fleet operators to find the best news stories

Building and managing relationships with key journalists and titles

Planning a media calendar and strategy to keep the client’s fleet operations in the public eye

Planning and attending promotional events for the fleet media

Fielding enquiries from fleet journalists

Although we are based in Gosport on the sunny South Coast, this role will take you all over the UK and beyond and so location is no obstacle.

As part of the package, we’re offering a generous salary (negotiable upon experience) and a company car. We also offer 25 days holiday a year, discounted private health care, on-site gym and bonus scheme.

By the way, we should mention that you’ll also get to be part of Blackball Media – an agency where we all love what we do and have fun doing it.

To apply, send your cover letter and CV to James Baggott via [email protected]