Press Release
SwampThing Magazine Launch
Friday August 24
SwampThing is a new online magazine about Manawatu. It's designed for use on iPads using iBooks, but can just as easily
be read on PCs, Macs, Android tablets and smart phones.
SwampThing isn't normal. It isn't really a magazine, and it isn't really a blog...you could call it a blogazine, but
that would be a bit tacky.
SwampThing aims to fill a hole in local media - local being Manawatu. New technologies may have caused traditional media
to struggle in the provinces, but this same technology means something like SwampThing is possible.
SwampThing has been created with very little budget, but looks a million dollars. The world is full of ugly blogs...some
even have good things to say. SwampThing hopes to be both easy to read, watch and listen to...and interesting and
relevant to the local community.
It's design relates more to online publications like the Wired Magazine App than websites like Public Address, or
Wellingtonista. SwampThing isn't an App...yet.
Citizen journalism? You could describe SwampThing as a citizen journalism project. We'd describe it more as a collective
journalism project. We have professional writers, photographers and illustrators contributing.We also have strong and
innovative input from so-called amateurs.
We will cover:
Fashion, movies, the internet, cycling, history, creative writing, the arts, opinion and more. All with a local flavour,
but with a big world view.
SwampThing won't be parochial in a small town way...Manawatu has a pretty switched on outlook on life...we won't be
patronising our readers.
Why should the rest of New Zealand care? Because this is something new. New ideas, new technology and a new approach to
media.
Manawatu may not interest most people, but anyone with an interest in our changing media landscape should check out
SwampThing.
ends