August saw the fantastic Pixie Lott guest editing MSN Music for the second Xclusives month. Before we head into September (which features an even bigger act) I thought I’d take some screen grabs. A pleasure to interview, looking forward to the release of her album very soon.
Yesterday, we relaunched our MSN Xclusives brand in the MSN Music channel. Building on the success of our previous shows with The Pussycat Dolls and Sugababes and our great guest editorial work with the likes of Cheryl Cole and Rihanna – we’ve now launched a new monthly format that combines the power of both ideas.
http://music.uk.msn.com/xclusives/
Each month we’ll be publishing an extensive editorial package around a major artist. That means something new for chart fans that they can’t get anywhere else. More artists to be announced very soon.
First up – Kylie Minogue!
Right now you can check out:
· Exclusive Kylie Minogue interview – one of the very few granted to online in the UK
· Kylie Answers MSN User Questions
· And not forgetting our incredible KYLIE MINOGUE DEEP ZOOM!
Hope you enjoy this and let me know what you think.
Our Executive Producer Peter Bale has penned a few mighty words about free content on the MSN portal. I’ve assembled some of our best features we’ve produced recently. Hope you enjoy taking a look.
So the final Big Brother is upon us. Well, almost, if rumours are correct it’ll probably move to online, but in the meantime you can experience it in all it’s final TV glory from tonight on channel 4.
This year we’ve pulled out all the stops on MSN TV to bring you the best coverage in the most exciting formats. Here’s a few below and much more to come. Enjoy!
Exclusive Online interview with Davina McCall
She’s been the face of Big Brother for over a decade; MSN TV talks exclusively to Davina.
Microsoft Photosynth of the new Big Brother house
Big Brother 11 Deep Zoom here
Weekly Video blog with Nasty Nick – listen to out first podcast with Nick here.
And of course don’t forget to check out our Big Brother Reality TV special here for extensive coverage through video, features, blogs, podcasts and, of course, twitter!
So here it is, the new MSN UK homepage. Click here to for a tour round the new homepage, highlighting the new design, functionality, and social media plugins.
Hope you like the new layout – and always up for hearing your feedback.
Previous MSN HP 
New MSN HP
Tour website
Really pleased with this one. Took a lot of organising, but has been executed brilliantly across MSN this morning. Nice interview considering we had to arm our LA reporter with over forty questions from MSN users around the world – but Cameron looks comfortable enough.
Visit the James Cameron MSN Guest Editor special here
To celebrate the launch of our MSN World Cup 2010 special we interviewed Rio Ferdinand to get his opinion on footie scandals and what he’s most looking forward to this summer.
Top sound bite from Rio at the end.
How apt. Video by MSN Photo Editor Anthony Bennison and News Editor Ian Jones.
I have a confession to make – I haven’t a clue about politics. When it comes to issues about crime, immigration, unemployment, my eyes kind of glaze over – although I have developed this neat trick of looking extremely interested should I be sucked into a political conversation by mates or colleagues. It’s not that I just don’t give a damn about the people affected by these issues – it’s just the whole way we discuss these issues, using ‘charismatic’ spokespeople to represent their ‘party’ turns me off completely. We reduce complex issues to sound bites and eventually all we get is the lowest common denominator.
If you had millions in your pocket, how would you make politics interesting? I’m sure you could do it cheaper and with a lot more fun than what we’re currently being subjected to.
Ok rant over. Well, almost.
Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to attend a session with David Cameron and Gordon Brown as they presented their main policies for the UK election in May. Again, my eyes began to glaze over, but what I did appreciate is that these guys are exactly the same as they are on TV. Without a doubt, they are true leaders, it’s just what comes out of their mouth sort of reaches my ears but gets diverted just before accessing my memory database.
I need a way of engaging with politics that is more dynamic, more shocking, more fun and more real. I acknowledge that part of that might mean I need to take the step of actually reading up on the key issues of the moment and educating myself. I’m told I should feel privileged for having the right to vote but what I need is a new way to connect with the debate. It’s just that I haven’t seen this yet.
Just got off the phone to an absolute legend – former Depeche Mode member Alan Wilder and solo ‘Recoil’ artist. Many of you might think his music a little too obscure, but as a hardcore DM fan it was an opportunity not to be missed. I’ll write up the interview next week. For now, here are the questions I asked. Not done an interview in a while, a bit ropey, but got there in the end.
Selected Album
Tour
Random thoughts of an MSN Content Manager. Usually on music, editing at MSN and general entertainment.
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entertainment, editing and MSN
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