The First Post is not your average daily magazine. You don’t find it on your doorstep when you wake up and step outside to get the first bit of fresh morning air. No one tries to hand it to you while you’re rushing to the subway station on your way to work. You can’t buy it from the corner store across the street.

You can only find the First Post on the web, and once you find yourself browsing articles on this online news source, you will discover the variety of things you know you won’t see anywhere else. From the sensational articles written by the First Post specialist writers to the “picture of the day” and the unique videos, the First Post brings you the latest news, politics, arts, short films, opinions, and much more in the most colorful and entertaining way.

Below is our interview with the First Post's Mario Tilney-Bassett.


F.A: Can you tell us a little about the history of First Post, how it was formed, and what its mission is?

F.P: The First Post (www.thefirstpost.co.uk ) is a free and independent daily online news magazine - a place to find out what the news means and a place to read about the issues of the day in short, informative articles. The First Post aims to distil the masses of information available online into accessible content and in addition to at-a-glance daily news and sports newspaper summaries, readers can expect controversial opinion from every part of the political spectrum and a sideways look at the arts and modern life.

F.A: I see that your articles are very sharp, brief, and they envelop many different topics. What makes First Post different than other online magazines and newspapers?

F.P: The First Post is designed to save your time by keeping you up to date with current affairs in as few words as possible. Many news-based sites are merely the by-product of newspapers or broadcasting organizations; some are nothing more than a series of links to articles on other sites. We commission all our articles exclusively, in a style tailored to the Internet.

F.A: Can anyone contribute to First Post, or do you have your own reporters who do the research and write the articles?

F.P: Our political opinion has been described as 'ill-defined' and even 'all over the place'. This is what we want to hear! A scroll through our list of contributors will show you the vast range of writers whom you can read here. They cover many different areas of expertise, live in many countries and occupy many different positions on the political spectrum, but they have in common an ability to provoke thoughtful debate.

While we tend to rely on our own regular specialist writers, anyone can contribute if they have interesting information or a good story to tell.


F.A: In addition to your article section, you also have a substantial video library that consists of trailers, short films, etc. What are your opinions about cinema on the web? How is online promotion and distribution helpful for the filmmaker?

F.P: Short films work really well on the web. Long films don't. People don't have the time. At The First Post our short films tend to be between 1 minute and 3 minutes long although there are exceptions. We provide a platform for young, emerging filmmakers who would otherwise not find an audience for their work. We make sure the film is seen in the best possible picture quality to a large, dedicated following. We include a short biography about the director which sits alongside the film in our 'About this Film' page which includes their contact details so that interested parties from the industry can make contact direct.

F.A: Do the films in your video library go through elimination once they are submitted? Or do you welcome all kinds of films?

F.P: Although we are keen to see all kind of films, those submitted go through a rigorous elimination process. We pick the best material from the net and present it for you. We don't show anything that might incite racial hatred or that is too sexually explicit. Nor do we accept excessive swearing or gratuitous violence. What we are looking for is great story telling encapsulated in a short film of no more than 3 minutes that would be worthy of broadcast on terrestrial television.

Animation works particularly well, so much so that we run an online animation film festival every Christmas. Last year's (2007) included 27 of the best animated films we saw during the last twelve months, advertising guru Patrick Collister's choice of the top ten animated ads, a tribute to Raymond Briggs' classic, The Snowman which celebrated its 25th anniversary and one to watch: Aardman rising star, Luis Cook's multi-award winning short film, The Pearce Sisters. We have clips and stills from both. www.thefirstpost.co.uk/animation

F.A: Since you're an online daily magazine, can you name some essential features of the new media that work for the benefit of the artist who contributes to it and the viewer who learns from it?

For the artist, speed and immediate access to a vast world wide audience, as well as near immediate critiques, responses and comments from the viewer. For the viewer, the ability to broaden their horizons, watching, reading and learning about new subjects and being in a position to see their feedback having some impact.


For more information about the First Post, please visit www.filmannex.com/TheFirstPost

Interview by Eren Gulfidan