This unique and insightful half-day workshop is aimed at helping in-house PRs and agency staff achieve successful popular press coverage.

It is delivered by Jonathan Weinberg and Simon Rothstein, who between them have more than 20 years of tabloid experience as Senior Editors, Journalists and Freelancers.

Packed full of advice, tips and tricks, it explores everything from why coverage did not appear to the dark arts of booze and bribery.

Our unique experience means we are well-placed to cover both print and online, along with apps and multimedia.

For full course details and the latest scheduled dates, see our Training section. We can also deliver the same course, or one tailored to your specific needs, in-house.

The legendary Nature Boy came over to the UK in May for a media tour to launch the TNA Wrestling Maximum iMPACT Tour 2011.

And when his first words to me were “Do you drink?”, I knew this would be two days like no other.

Ric certainly worked hard, doing every bit of media I could throw at him – even phone interviews on car journeys between other interviews, while signing pictures with his spare hand.

He spoke to everyone from Maxim and Bizarre to Kerrang and Big Cheese, with stops at The Sun, Daily Star and TalkSPORT in between.

But it was the nights that were really special – as we drank and partied until dawn with selected guests from the UK media.

Sadly, in true wrestling style, what goes on tour stays on tour. But I hope the picture on the left gives you some idea. Click the thumbnail to see what we got up to.

Simon Rothstein

And that means lots of hot dogs, plenty of gadgets and just a bit of shopping in the American winter sales..

As well as scouring the halls for the latest and greatest technology to write about for various existing cliens, I’ll be on the lookout for any new content opportunities with brands large and small.

But most importantly, I’ll be sizing up which stand has the best booth babes for my Sun column. There might even be a picture or two posted here as well as news from the show floor before I fly back to the snowy UK.

Not even a flood of biblical proportions, an emergency trip to the vet, a bout of flu - it was a real swine - and some crazy internet hosting shenanigans could stop us.

Some of you may have dealt with Ten14 Media before, possibly without realising it. It’s the company I founded back in April 2007 when I left The Sun after seven years to freelance.

In that time I’ve written for numerous national newspapers, edited blogs and websites, consulted with PRs to make their media relations easier, and developed a plethora of ideas on a daily basis – many of which are still in my notebook for a rainy day.

Ten14 Media was named after my birthday, which is today (no need to send a card), and I am celebrating with a new website, new direction and crucially new team members. It’s the same ethos, though, summed up by our tagline: Simple Words, Clear Ideas, Honest Conversations.

The power of words is often forgotten. Whether printed in the pages of a newspaper, posted on a blog, displayed in a booklet or spoken on a video, what you say, and how you say it, matters very much.

All change please

As the media landscape begins to change, journalists face a stark crossroads. But our skills are still in demand, more so than ever. Simple communication anyone can understand will never go out of fashion.

We’re trained to cut to the facts in the most entertaining, informative and engaging way. We strive to cut through confusion and allow the reader to form an opinion.

Brands now have the perfect opportunity to capitalise on that experience to reach their customers and users through real words they want to read. Not boring bland copywriting written by someone churning out buzzwords and marketing speak but engaging editorial in a myriad of ways through a range of mediums.

So that’s what we’ll be doing. It doesn’t matter whether you use old, new or social media – if the words aren’t right and relevant then you will just be talking AT the people you should be talking WITH.

Experts, experience and editing

At Ten14 Media, I’m creating a hub of talented writers, all experts in their own fields from technology to health and men’s lifestyle to food. Their strong background in newspapers, magazines and digital, alongside my editorship, will allow us to help brands make their words work harder.

It is the credit crunch, after all. We can’t afford to waste any words, and neither can you.

Whether commissioned directly from staff in-house or via PR and marketing agencies, we’ll use our experience to produce words and ideas that give the reader reason to sit up, take notice and engage.

We don’t spin, we don’t bullsh*t and we don’t use confusing terms. We simply help tell real stories through our writing, idea generation and consultancy.

They don’t start “Once upon a time…” either. We’re not into fairy tales. Our stories create trustworthy relationships between brands and consumers that this new age of media demands.

This is who we are

On our Services page you can read some ways in which we can do this. Our About page and the Ten14 Commandments give reasons why we exist. The Client pages show people who have benefitted from our work and then there’s the Team. They’re waiting by their keyboards with twitchy fingers. They might even use a pen and paper if I ask nicely.

And if you still need convincing, check out the Praise. Then maybe you’ll get in Contact for a chat about what we could do for you.

We’ll be blogging here regularly about our values, plans, the media and anything interesting involving words, plus adding more clients, team members and work examples to the site soon.

In the meantime, I’m off to revel in three words for the rest of the day: HAPPY, BIRTHDAY and CAKE.

PS: If you spot any dead links, bad words or browser compatibility issues on the site, please let me know.

1. We only use highly-skilled professional journalists working to editors who have senior experience.

2. We have specialists in all fields producing high quality copy on everything from technology to travel, gaming to gossip and music to movies.

3. We work like a paper newsroom meaning every single story is subbed, edited and then checked again.

4. We never rehash copy – every client gets their own bespoke team creating unique content for them.

5. The reader is at the heart of all we do, to build direct trustworthy relationships that deliver a return.

6. We are always on top of the current trends in media, technology and communication.

7. Our plain-speaking and honest approach is key. We don’t use management speak, we simply tell it like it is.

8. We keep you informed at every step of the production process – to make sure our work matches your vision.

9. If you need us, we’ll be available 24 hours a day and seven days a week. That’s what our newspaper experience has taught us. We’ll even work Christmas Day if you provide the mince pies and crackers.

10. We only ever charge a fair and clear price for the job we do.

1014 AD – Our theme tune. And the only one in the world we could find with Ten14 in it. But it’s good. Honest!
 
Words – Just like the Gibb Brothers, words are all we have and we’ll use them to tell your story. (Stephen Gately RIP).
 
Paperback Writer – We had to use the Paul McCartney version as The Beatles don’t do downloads as yet, but we won’t hold such backwards digital thinking against them.
 
Here Comes The Sun – If it wasn’t for JW’s experience at The Sun there would be no Ten14 Media. We’re not exactly the best thing since Page 3 but we are simply the breast. (Ouch, did he really say that?!)
 
Message In A Bottle – We prefer delivering your message through more traditional means such as websites, blogs and social media. But hey, we’re happy to float it out there in any way possible.

Neverending Story - If you need a reason for that, then read the rest of the site. It’s also the theme tune of our second favourite 1980’s movie.
 
We Don’t Talk Anymore – It’s not that people don’t talk. In fact, most of us talk more than ever. But much of what is said disappears into hot air. So chat to us, we’ll help your words work harder. Oh, and we couldn’t have a playlist without dedicating one to the legend who is Cliff Richard because he was born on October 14.

Rabbit - They might have split up for good but Chas & Dave will always have a special place in our hearts, if only for their classics Ossie’s Dream and Hot Shot Tottenham. Besides, we won’t stop talking, we’ve certainly got more rabbit than Sainsbury’s and no, we won’t give it a rest.

Headline News – As Edwin Starr sings: “Extra, extra, read all about it”. We’re journalists after all. Newspapers are in our blood and their traditions form our working ethos in this ever changing media world.

Where Everybody Knows Your Name – We’re not some faceless organisation. You’ll know our names, we’ll know yours and by the time we’re finished everyone will know your brand. Cheers!

And here’s a bonus track we added to the list just to prove why you should be working with us.
 
Social Networking – This is exactly what we’re NOT – boring, monotone and spouting silly buzz words.

• October 14 is the 287th day of the year (288th in a leap year)
• In the French Republican Calendar October 14 is Navet, or Turnip Day
• 1066 – Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings
• 1586 – Mary I of Scotland goes on trial for conspiracy against Elizabeth I of England
• 1789 – George Washington proclaims the first Thanksgiving Day
• 1940 – Cliff Richard was born
• 1964 – Martin Luther King Jr was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize
• 1969 – The United Kingdom introduces the 50p coin, replacing the ten shilling note
• 1977 – Bing Crosby died and JW was born. (He can’t sing though, but loves a White Christmas)
• 2007 – Big Moe died – that’s the American rapper not Charlie Slater’s mother-in-law

Alex from Prettier Pixels – the man behind our design and a great sounding board. He’s always willing to tell you how rubbish your idea is, even when you’re paying him. Now that takes pluck!

Lee Coan – who put up with my endless stream of “we can do this and that” thoughts for months. Finally we’ve ticked one off the list.

Andy Merrett – who built the first draft of the Ten14 website and helped me fashion the framework.

Simon Rothstein – he listened, thankfully he didn’t laugh and he honed my thinking.

Matt Hill – a last-minute addition to the team whose last-minute proof-reading skills were invaluable.