Rhys launches new e-zine The Know

Rhys Buchanan was awarded a CALF scholarship in 2015, he has a background in music journalism and is passionate about fighting climate change. Rhys has been mentored by the Guardian's Online Environment editor Adam Vaughan and through the support of the fund has established his own online E-zine called The Know, which brings together is passion for social issues together with his love of music. Here Rhys tells you about The Know...

The concept 

The concept behind the already growing website is to act as a platform for musicians in Bristol and Portland to gain exposure internationally. I feel it’s important for the site to use it’s growing following to discuss important issues such as the struggle of local music venues as well as wider ethical and global issues. Why Bristol and Portland? Both cities are forward thinking in terms of their political values, creative and collaborative scenes and have a focus away from major destinations such as London and New York. It offers us a quirky and unusual base to start from.

The benefits 

It offers us a starting point in two locations which means we have a much bigger reach from the get go. Subsequently this means we can access larger artists and musicians for interviews. (For example a band might be big in England but still emerging in the USA) so we could use tours to get access to them.  It offers us a starting point in two locations which means we have a much bigger reach from the get go. Subsequently this means we can access larger artists and musicians for interviews. (For example a band might be big in England but still emerging in the USA) so we could use tours to get access to them. 
The reaction 
This has already been received very well amongst both scenes and with PR companies. I’ve spoken to The Bristol Post and student radio about it. We’ve had a stage at local festival Dot To Dot Bristol and acted as a judge for Glastonbury Festival Emerging Talent Competition. 
We’re growing at a fast rate and feel a print issue would be a key way in making The Know sustainable going forward through advertising. The first print issue would primarily be distributed in key cultural hubs across Bristol and some in Portland. There is the need to go large to attract advertisers so I feel like a goal of 5000 copies is important to reach. To fund this amount of 32 page magazines will cost approximately £800 through Mixam. I feel that the scholarship would really help achieve this but we could also get some advertising revenue which would lower the cost. 
The Crispin Aubrey Legacy Funding toward the website have been invaluable. It’s given it a professional appearance and enabled me to move it away from being a Wordpress blog to something with hosting and it’s own URL. This was vital to be taken seriously by PR companies and future advertisers. Read The Know Magazine.