Are you an established or aspiring writer? Do you have an interest in aspects of Manchester’s history – be it anarchists in the 1920s, the Moss Side riots, the fight against the Second Runway at Manchester Airport, how a mosque in Bolton raised £10,000 for Palestinian olive trees, or the city’s links to the suffragettes?
If there’s any way that you might fit the bill, please do get in touch. If you’re new to writing but have a good story to tell we’ll give you advice and support, and whatever your level of experience we’ll pay you – not a lot, but something! The main thing is that you have an interest in and passion for your subject – and even if you’ve never written before, the most important thing could be the tales that your Gran, your neighbour or someone you volunteer with can tell. We’re especially interested in writers from outside South/Central Manchester.
To apply to be one of our writers, please email us with an account of your interests and experience and, if possible, links to any previous writing you’ve had published. We’d rather you didn’t send this as attachments.
All writers for this website work as freelances and are paid the same rates – sorry, no steady jobs. But even if you don’t have specific ideas about what you want to write about, we may have particular profiles we want to be written and can allocate these. We also hope to be able to offer training and workshops for developing writers.
see Contry Standard blog and people’s history blog
for some history of the Mnchester Clarion Movement
Hello my name is Paul Riley and I live in Sydney Australia I would like to write an article on my great great grandfather James Gow when my research on his biography is completed.
Originally born in Scotland in 1900 he moved to manchester as a youg man and lived in the area for many years.He was actively involved in the chartist movement there (many references to him in relation to the National Trades Council can be found in the Northern Star chartist newspapers.
As a result of his activism he was hounded by the authrities and he was soon forced to emmigrate to San Fransisco California where he continued as a lithographer and photographer as part of Fishbourne and Gow lithographers in Montgomery St.
Many of his works are contained in museums in the United States including the bancroft library and the university of california.
He finally settled in Australia Sydney in 1854 until his death in 1896.His works are also in the National Gallery of Australia
I am fortunate enough to have his hand written memiors which are a treasuered family herloom and has started me on reserching his life further.
when my work is complete in writing his biography i would like to write an article on his life for your readers
Yours Truly
Paul Riley Sydney Australia.
Dear Paul Riley
I am Senior Curator, Photography National Gallery of Australia and would like to make contact re biographical information on James Gow and Richard H Acley with whom he had worked in San Francisco and with whom he arrived in Australia.
Yours sincerely
Gael Newton
Paul, I would also like to discuss James Gow with you. I’ve extracted quite a few references to his work as a photographer over the years as part of my ongoing research into early Australian photographers. Cheers! Marcel Safier, Brisbane (if you Google my name you will find my email address)
Paul, I also hope to communicate with you regarding James Gow and his activities as a daguerreotypist / lithographer. I am the editor of http://www.daguerreotypearchive.org. The site includes a text advertisement by Gow and Fishbourne. The site also provide a contact form that will enable you to reach me. Gary W. Ewer, Denver, Colorado, USA.