This week FeaturesExec caught up with freelance journalist and celebrity personal training coordinator Sam Connell.
Connell writes about health and fitness and his work has appeared in AXM, the Pink Paper and QS Magazine. Here we talk PRs and training Sophie Anderton.
About your work:
What do you write about?
My main specialisation is health and fitness. I normally write fitness articles aimed at a specific subject but also write more general articles too. Feature articles are also close to my heart too. I like to do something and then write about my experiences.
Where are we most likely to see your work?
I have written and been published in numerous newspapers and magazines. These include, AXM (national magazine), Pink Paper (biggest gay newspaper in the UK with 200,000 readership), Bent Magazine, Navy News and QS Magazine. You can also find me on Skiddle.com where I write reviews.
What’s the most memorable work you’ve done?
For me my most memorable work was to get a full three pages of the national gay newspaper Pink Paper and also three pages in AXM. These are both massive in the gay world and I found it very exciting to be published by these.
What feature or interview would you most like to do?
I would love to be published in a massive fitness magazine like Men’s Health or Men’s Fitness. But if I had to do an interview, I would love to interview a massive music band post gig.
Where do you source ideas for articles?
I read a lot of magazines and books, but I think I get my main ideas from my Personal Training Clients. I am always asked a lot of questions on ‘how to’ or ‘what if’ etc, so I normally act on these.
About PRs:
How can PR’s be useful to you?
PR is always good. If they can help me get offered one job then its one more than I wouldn’t have had. Plus they can hopefully help with my personal training reputation and support my drive to get more celebrities on my books.
How and when do you like them to get in touch?
By email or phone and PRs can get in contact whenever they have leads for me, or whether they can help support my career.
Do you find press conferences, trips, parties and other events useful or an interruption?
All of the above are very useful. Contacts are the biggest part in the journalist world, so if I am invited you will probably see me there.
If you could make one change to the way PRs deal with you, what would it be?
I would like them to make more positive contact with me as oppose to sending me lots of spammy rubbish. More decent leads would be better.
About you:
How would you pay the bills if you weren’t a journalist?
I am a personal trainer co-ordinator, PT and events organiser so I have quite a few fingers in pies. My personal training books boast two celebrities in Sophie Anderton (Supermodel and Celeb Love Island) and TV’s Doctor David Bull.
If we gave you £1000, how would you spend it?
I would spend it on enrolling on more courses. I love learning and trying new things.
What books are on your bedside table, magazines in your bag, or blogs on your screen?
I love to read. Currently I have an Anatomy and Physiology book, Men’s Health and a Chris Ryan book. On screen I get lot of emails about scientific exercise information. All information is good information.
[lnk|http://www.journalistdirectory.com/pr/XAQTg/Sam-Connell|_blank|FJD: Sam Connell]
[img|jpg|Sam Connell]