Nang!
Encyclopedia
Nang! is a general interest magazine based in Aldgate
, London
. Aimed at 14-21 year olds, the magazine is free and is distributed at sixth forms, colleges, universities, libraries and Connexions
centres in the London area on a quarterly basis. In December 2006, Nang! was presented with one of the prestigious Philip Lawrence Awards
for services to the local community.
’s (THSU) summer courses. The course was completely funded by big businesses and other charitable organizations and featured a small group of aspiring journalists who came together to create a free magazine that would paint a positive picture of the youth in east London. Featuring local artists and celebrities, the magazine achieved a strong following in the Tower Hamlets borough. A professional journalist worked with the youngsters to create a magazine relevant to the youth in Tower Hamlets.
For the 2003 course, THSU brought freelance journalist, Adeline Iziren, on board. Iziren had previously worked on The Voice
newspaper and was a regular contributor to the Education and Careers section in The Guardian
. She had also had extensive experience in helping groups of young people to create their own magazine.
The magazine continued to grow and soon distribution increased to include the Hackney
area and most of east London.
The first quarterly issue, published in January 2006, featured hip-hop magician, Dynamo, on the cover and included an interview with local MC, Professor Green, and a feature on Pride of Britain winner, Ashley Huxley. The magazine received positive reviews for its style and relevance to its audience.
The success of the Winter issue was outdone by the release of the hugely popular Spring 2006 issue. The issue featured a world exclusive interview with former England Head Coach, Sven-Göran Eriksson
, just before the World Cup
, as well as MOBO winner
, Sway DaSafo
.
Two more issues were released in 2006. The Summer issue featured interviews with rapper and beatboxer, Killa Kella, and X-Men
star, Ian McKellen
. This was followed by the Autumn/Winter issue featuring Eva Longoria
.
. The revamped Autumn/Winter 2006 issue was released with Eva Longoria
of Desperate Housewives
on the cover. For the first time, Nang! magazine contained paid advertisements signalling a move away from amateur journalism towards a professional youth magazine.
.
Seen And Heard Awards.
by Sir Trevor McDonald
and the Home Secretary, John Reid
, at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London
. Created in memory of the murdered headteacher by his widow Frances Lawrence, the awards celebrate the achievements of youth groups and organizations in their local area. Nang! and seven other winners each received cheques worth £1,000.
to Lethal Bizzle
to the editor of The Times
.
The re-designed website will be launched in September, the first of many new initiatives planned for late 2007 and 2008.
In January 2008, after leading the magazine to four awards in 12 months, the successful duo of editor-in-chief, David Gordon, and creative editor, Sanoobar Patel, left Nang! to pursue other projects. Assistant editor, Kamillia Kasbi, took charge. Her first issue is due in late April, early May.
Aldgate
Aldgate was the eastern most gateway through London Wall leading from the City of London to Whitechapel and the east end of London. Aldgate gives its name to a ward of the City...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Aimed at 14-21 year olds, the magazine is free and is distributed at sixth forms, colleges, universities, libraries and Connexions
Connexions
Connexions is a global repository of educational content provided by Rice University. The entire collection is available free of charge, and students and learners alike can explore all the content they desire....
centres in the London area on a quarterly basis. In December 2006, Nang! was presented with one of the prestigious Philip Lawrence Awards
Philip Lawrence Awards
The Philip Lawrence Awards were created in the UK in 1997 to reward outstanding achievements in good citizenship by young people aged 11 to 20...
for services to the local community.
Background
Nang! magazine was created in summer 2001 as a course on Tower Hamlets Summer UniversityTower Hamlets Summer University
Tower Hamlets Summer University is a British charity in the Tower Hamlets area of London which offers independent learning programs for people from 11 to 25 years of age...
’s (THSU) summer courses. The course was completely funded by big businesses and other charitable organizations and featured a small group of aspiring journalists who came together to create a free magazine that would paint a positive picture of the youth in east London. Featuring local artists and celebrities, the magazine achieved a strong following in the Tower Hamlets borough. A professional journalist worked with the youngsters to create a magazine relevant to the youth in Tower Hamlets.
For the 2003 course, THSU brought freelance journalist, Adeline Iziren, on board. Iziren had previously worked on The Voice
The Voice (newspaper)
The Voice is a British national weekly tabloid newspaper owned by the Jamaican publisher, GV Media Group, aimed at the British Afro-Caribbean community. The paper is based in the London Docklands and is published every Monday.-History:...
newspaper and was a regular contributor to the Education and Careers section in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
. She had also had extensive experience in helping groups of young people to create their own magazine.
The magazine continued to grow and soon distribution increased to include the Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
area and most of east London.
Quarterly publication
Following the release of the 2005 summer issue, THSU announced that it had secured funding to publish Nang! quarterly. The newly created team was made up of a combination of new faces from the 2005 issue and old faces from previous issues with Divina Glah as editor.The first quarterly issue, published in January 2006, featured hip-hop magician, Dynamo, on the cover and included an interview with local MC, Professor Green, and a feature on Pride of Britain winner, Ashley Huxley. The magazine received positive reviews for its style and relevance to its audience.
The success of the Winter issue was outdone by the release of the hugely popular Spring 2006 issue. The issue featured a world exclusive interview with former England Head Coach, Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson , in Sweden commonly referred to just by his nickname Svennis, is a Swedish ex-football manager. From October 2010 to October 2011 he managed Football League Championship side Leicester City....
, just before the World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, as well as MOBO winner
MOBO Awards
The Music of Black Origin Awards, established in 1995 by Kanya King MBE and Andy Ruffell, are held annually in the United Kingdom to recognise artists of any ethnicity or nationality performing black music....
, Sway DaSafo
Sway DaSafo
Derek Andrew Safo is a Ghanaian British musician who uses the stage names Sway DaSafo or Sway. He is signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik record label and he is also a producer, establishing DCypha Productions.-Childhood:...
.
Two more issues were released in 2006. The Summer issue featured interviews with rapper and beatboxer, Killa Kella, and X-Men
X-Men (film)
X-Men is a 2000 superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics characters of the same name. Directed by Bryan Singer, the film stars Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Anna Paquin, Famke Janssen, Bruce Davison, James Marsden, Halle Berry, Rebecca Romijn, Ray Park and Tyler Mane...
star, Ian McKellen
Ian McKellen
Sir Ian Murray McKellen, CH, CBE is an English actor. He has received a Tony Award, two Academy Award nominations, and five Emmy Award nominations. His work has spanned genres from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction...
. This was followed by the Autumn/Winter issue featuring Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria
Eva Jacqueline Longoria is an American actress, best known for portraying Gabrielle Solis on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives...
.
Re-launch
In summer 2006, the decision was taken to revamp and re-launch the magazine to a smaller age range, whilst increasing distribution to include the whole of LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The revamped Autumn/Winter 2006 issue was released with Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria
Eva Jacqueline Longoria is an American actress, best known for portraying Gabrielle Solis on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives...
of Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
on the cover. For the first time, Nang! magazine contained paid advertisements signalling a move away from amateur journalism towards a professional youth magazine.
Financial troubles
Despite the popularity of the magazine, its future was put in jeopardy by lack of funds for 2007. The Winter 2007 issue was cancelled and much of the team resigned due to the uncertainty. Six months later, the magazine returned with a new team and new look headed by former editor-in-chief, David Gordon.2007 : Guardian Student Magazine of the Year Award
On 22 November 2007, Nang! magazine was given The Guardian Student Magazine of the Year award.2007 : TalkTalk Innovation Award
Nang! magazine was recognised for its technological ambitions. A cheque for £2000 was awarded as well as free broadband for a year by TalkTalkTalkTalk
TalkTalk is a pay television, telecommunications and internet service provider company headquartered in London, United Kingdom...
.
2007 : BT Seen And Heard Award
Nang! magazine was rewarded for its positive image in East London by the BTBT Group
BT Group plc is a global telecommunications services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest telecommunications services companies in the world and has operations in more than 170 countries. Through its BT Global Services division it is a major supplier of...
Seen And Heard Awards.
2006 : Philip Lawrence Award
On 6 December 2006, Nang! magazine was presented with one of the Philip Lawrence AwardsPhilip Lawrence Awards
The Philip Lawrence Awards were created in the UK in 1997 to reward outstanding achievements in good citizenship by young people aged 11 to 20...
by Sir Trevor McDonald
Trevor McDonald
Sir Trevor McDonald OBE is a Trinidadian-British newsreader and journalist. He had a long career as a news presenter with ITN...
and the Home Secretary, John Reid
John Reid (politician)
John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan, PC is a British politician, who served as a Labour Party Member of Parliament and cabinet minister under Tony Blair, most notably as Defence Secretary and then Home Secretary...
, at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Created in memory of the murdered headteacher by his widow Frances Lawrence, the awards celebrate the achievements of youth groups and organizations in their local area. Nang! and seven other winners each received cheques worth £1,000.
Rebranding
In 2007, the magazine sought to rebrand itself in order to increase its appeal. While more serious content, such as the Politics section, has been introduced, 2007 has seen an increase in celebrity features and fashion. Interviewees vary, from Michael HowardMichael Howard
Michael Howard, Baron Howard of Lympne, CH, QC, PC is a British politician, who served as the Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition from November 2003 to December 2005...
to Lethal Bizzle
Lethal Bizzle
Lethal Bizzle, also known as Lethal B , is a Ghanaian British rapper. His songs are known to satirise modern Gangsta rap; much of the humour comes from the adoption of hip-hop style and language...
to the editor of The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
.
The re-designed website will be launched in September, the first of many new initiatives planned for late 2007 and 2008.
In January 2008, after leading the magazine to four awards in 12 months, the successful duo of editor-in-chief, David Gordon, and creative editor, Sanoobar Patel, left Nang! to pursue other projects. Assistant editor, Kamillia Kasbi, took charge. Her first issue is due in late April, early May.
External links
- Nang! section of Futureversity website