Guardian journalist would like to talk to working parents in Manchester

DonnaLFerguson

Hello,

I'm a freelance journalist for The Guardian and have been given permission to post on MSE asking for people to help with a story I'm working on. You can see my name on the Companies/organisations/journalists with permission to post list


I'm writing an article for The Guardian on childcare costs this week.

I'm looking for a case study of two parents with two children, both of whom are not yet school age, who live in Manchester.

I'd like to speak to a mother who is struggling with childcare costs.

- perhaps someone whose entire wage (or most of it) goes on childcare or
- perhaps someone who is only able to work part-time due to childcare costs or
- perhaps you decided to go back to work earlier than you really wanted to for the sake of your career or your finances, and are still struggling due to the childcare costs

You must live in Manchester as the article is a comparison with a similar sized city in Sweden. (I realise this is a bit arbitrary but that's what the Editor wanted!)

You would need to be willing to be interviewed very frankly about their finances, and reveal your income and how much your spend on childcare, and most importantly, to be photographed!

I appreciate this is a lot to ask but if you are willing to speak out about your experiences, please do let me know.

Please email me: donna.freelancer+media@gmail.com with your telephone number and a convenient time to call if you would like to take part.

If you want to check I am who I say I am, you can find me tweeting from @DonnaLFerguson https://twitter.com/DonnaLFerguson or read my articles for The Guardian here: http://www.theguardian.com/profile/donna-ferguson

Thanks for your time and I look forward to your responses. I will credit moneysavingexpert for help I receive in the article.

Tiddlywinks

DonnaLFerguson wrote: »

I'd like to speak to a mother who is struggling with childcare costs.

- perhaps someone whose entire wage (or most of it) goes on childcare or
- perhaps someone who is only able to work part-time due to childcare costs or
- perhaps you decided to go back to work earlier than you really wanted to for the sake of your career or your finances, and are still struggling due to the childcare costs

You must live in Manchester as the article is a comparison with a similar sized city in Sweden. (I realise this is a bit arbitrary but that's what the Editor wanted!)

Arbitrary? You have already decided on the punch line and now just want someone to fit the bill - that's not really investigative journalism is it? Where's the analysis? The figures? That should produce the 'illustration'... not asking for someone to fit pre-determined criteria.

You could just as easily received applicants if asking for a one legged juggler with a pet cat... to illustrate that disabled people love animals and can develop compensatory skills!


One person meeting your requirements does not make a trend...

tomtontom

Ems-Nil-yo wrote: »

Yeah because who is the journalist here? Oh yes it is you Tiddlywinks. How patronising can you be!!

You don't have to be a journalist to know that Tiddlywinks observation is spot on. Journalists should tell a story based on a subject, not make up a story and then find a subject to fit it.

Oli.s

You should seriously consider writing an article on the scam private parking industry which is falling apart rapidly, being challenged by the public, mp's and county court judges, particularly as capita have just bought one of the bigger companies out and are now facing owning a potentially worthless and morally lacking 'business'. Even hospitals are starting to kick them out of their car parks now.

The DVLA should be ashamed that they are prepared to release details of members of the public to these sham companies often under false pretences, big supermarket chains, huge shopping centres and countless retail parks etc are all learning the hard way what happens when you get in bed with these ppc's who are issuing county court claims like they are going out of fashion.

If you want an idea of the underhanded tactics taking place and how the public are fighting back take a look at the parking pranksters blog pages, this would make a great story, a tale of the greedy corporations fleecing the public for years and now the David vs Goliath situation that is unfolding which is on the verge of bringing the whole sham crashing down.

tomtontom

Ems-Nil-yo wrote: »

It is patronising because she is not a journalist and the observation holds no merit. You are the same fool who just called a mental health illness a mental health issue which proves you no nothing. What an idiot.

Looks like it is still the school holidays!

DonnaLFerguson

Whoa... appreciate what you are saying. It's really an article on women who are struggling with childcare costs. So it is an article with an angle but that's because it is a topic I'm interested in writing about. Other people might write other articles that are more questing/open-minded. I'm writing this one.
That's my choice. It's a free country!
Thanks
Donna

whitewing

I really like case studies of how individual families lead their lives and make the decisions that they do. Good luck, OP. Link it in here when you have it published.

PHILANTHROPIST

DonnaLFerguson wrote: »

Whoa... appreciate what you are saying. It's really an article on women who are struggling with childcare costs. So it is an article with an angle but that's because it is a topic I'm interested in writing about. Other people might write other articles that are more questing/open-minded. I'm writing this one.
That's my choice. It's a free country!
Thanks
Donna

Spot on Donna.

And don't be downhearted ; seems like you may already have located two children - just need the two parents lol

Seriously, IMO it would appear that your thread was read in a somewhat blinkered fashion by some members. Whilst such members are of course entitled to their opinion, their comments (albeit posted under veil of obscurity) came across, I believe, as being overly personal.

Any article from a respected publication such as the Guardian would surely be quality checked for accuracy, fairness and objectivity prior to issue.

For my part I sincerely wish you all the best with your search.

DonnaLFerguson

Here's a link to the article:
http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/may/31/costs-childcare-britain-sweden-compare

Thanks for all your help

Voyager2002

Donna: I think there is a need for an article about slimming pill scams, and in particular raspberry ketones (which are banned, but retailers don't seem to have noticed) and African Green Mango (likely to be banned later this month). Lots of information available on this forum, and from the Food Standards Agency.