This is one of those rare occasions where I feel I need a disclaimer for a post. And here it is:
Between March 2007 and March 2008 I worked for Shiny Media, briefly as a freelancer and then as the full-time deputy editor of major title Shiny Shiny. At no time did I have any financial or editorial disputes with the company, and I left to challenge myself in a more marketing-orientated role specifically in the charity sector, not because of any problems at Shiny.
I’m not going to link to articles about Shiny’s demise. I understand that there are people who are upset and unpaid – I suspect the folks in charge do not blame them for their anger. But I’m not linking because I left over a year ago and their disputes are none of my business.
The only reason I’m writing about Shiny at all, in fact, is because I’m hoping that if people are looking for dirt they will instead find talent. These are some of the fine people I had the privilege to work with who are talented, hard working and lovely individuals. They would be an asset to any editorial team. So if you’ve come here looking for Shiny mud, try taking away some treasure instead.
Abi is, I must admit, a friend of mine from further back than Shiny (although I didn’t know she worked there until after I was offered the job and she didn’t know it was being offered to me – t’Internet’s a small world, folks). She has excellent experience as both an online and print journalist, having worked for alternative fashion publications and turning her hand to her passions at Shiny by writing about green issues on Hippyshopper and all things hand-made on CraftyCrafty. She also contributed to wedding blog Bridalwave – always one of Shiny’s top five sites in stats – ultimately taking the role of editor for the last 8 months, as well as working on a number of fashion sites. Visit her site above or follow her on Twitter.
Fashion queen Iso was a busy bee, editing men’s fashion site Brandish, contributing to and then becoming deputy editor of major Shiny title Catwalk Queen and regularly modelling the looks for the latter! Brilliant at tongue-in-cheek humour and extra helpful if you want to translate anything into French, she was always a pleasure to work with. Click the link above to follow her on Twitter.
Dan started as an editorial assistant on Tech Digest just as I left, and quickly became editor upon the departure of Kat Hannaford to T3. I kept reading Tech Digest mainly because of his writing, which is highly engaging and amusing. He’s a gift to any blog about tech or football. Check out his Linked In profile by clicking the link above.
MOKUSKA 
Aw, that’s a really nice and generous post Alex. I never had any beef with Shiny during my time there, although I’m saddened by and shocked at how badly some of their writers have been treated since. And I’d also like to point out that you could do a lot worse that employ some of their other former staff members… (Ah yes, that was a blatant and unforgiveable hint. Sorry – a girl’s gotta eat!) xx
Hey Diane – totally forgiveable hint! You go for it, and I invite any other former Shinies to plug their best if they’d like to.
Of course I’m interested in Shiny’s future because I was once a part of it and they kindly gave me a job when I had little experience because they liked my writing style. I figure the most important thing right now though is getting those writers paying their bills… Like you said, a girl (or boy) has gotta eat.