Changing media horizons: Barry Pickthall elected Chairman of the YJA

Barry Pickthall, new YJA Chairman © PPL

Barry Pickthall, the former yachting correspondent to The Times and Sunday Times newspapers, has been elected Chairman of the Yachting Journalist's Association which represents the interests of some 250 specialist media from as far afield as Australia, Caribbean, China, Europe, Gulf States, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and USA.

Barry takes over during challenging times for marine media with both the number of traditional magazine titles and circulation figures dipping, pay rates stagnating and the demand for copyright free pictures and footage on the increase.

It is not all bad news. Web sites and digital advertising are flourishing and demand for good video footage on the increase. TV viewing is also changing fast with viewers becoming much more selective over what they watch, using catch-up services rather than video recorders to view programmes they miss.

"The sport, and the way we present and watch it, is changing so fast that unless we adapt, we run the risk of being side-lined altogether." Says Barry Pickthall. "Journalists not only need to be masters of the pen, but produce good image and video content to promote what they have written, and for photographers and video cameramen, the role is reversed."

Events like the America's Cup, Volvo Ocean Race and Vendee Globe are counting on web visitors much more than column inches, and the immediacy of stories has become prime. Readers still like the look and feel of books and magazines but are looking to these for reflective and how-to stories rather than up-to-the-minute reports.

Colleges and universities are churning out new media graduates like never before and our role must be to encourage them to develop these skills and give them the experience that will lead to jobs in the future. With this in mind, YJA members are being invited to provide valuable work experience for graduates, and the Association will be promoting their work in a competition to encourage budding media stars to get themselves in print.

In another major initiative, the YJA is also planning to introduce a new competition to promote the work of existing members to a world-wide audience.

The YJA has also refined its membership rules to allow Advertising and PR executives within the marine industry to join as associate members in order to widen the sphere and influence of the Association.

Membership of the Yachting Journalists' Association costs £40 per year and includes an Internationally recognised Press Card, a listing on the YJA website highlighting your specialist skills and contact details, and many other benefits.

www.yja.co.uk