kensomuse – a complete revamp featuring new writers: YOU

There were a couple of reasons why kensomuse was started back in March 2012. A distraction from the usual hustle and bustle of life. A place to catalog kenso’s own thoughts. But chiefly was because there were some reviews on some magazines which kenso disagreed strongly – particularly when the models in question were models kenso personally own and drive regularly.

A voice – an avenue – a channel was required and no public automotive forum would suffice.

And that was how it came to be. kensomuse was set up as an alternative automotive review site that’s written by a regular person for the regular person. This is a mandate that has held true even till this day.

 

Setting up an automotive site

– is easy. Come up a fancy automotive related name that’s not taken. Register a domain under your name and pay the yearly fee (or free if you’re going for a blogsite). Congratulations, you’re now the proud owner of an automotive site.

Next up is to create content for the site. kenso ranted about some sales and service issues, wrote about the cars he owned and some test drive experience at road shows. This is also easily done and you probably find a dozen sites set up by equally passionate car nuts doing so, hoping to make it big as the next Paultan.org.

From here on is what differentiates a serious auto site from regular bloggers out there. If a blogger thinks all it takes is to write in and/or call manufacturers for media cars and expect to be entertained, be prepared to be disappointed. Print and TV media are always given priority (oh, not forgetting that ONE blogger who’s topping everyone now) and there’s a finite number of test cars running around. Each time a test car goes out, it costs money; not only in terms of the car’s running cost and opportunity cost of prioritising one media over another, but also the risks associated to the drive (stone chips, crack windows, scratched paint, accidents). Manufacturers and distributors have to constantly vet the people they give their cars to, some of which base on the following criteria:-

• number of eye balls this particular media attracts (which is kind of a chicken-or-egg thing since without cars to write about content, how does one attract eye balls)
• quality of articles produced (angle of article, grammatical errors, wrong facts pulls one’s standards down)
• how urgent or timely the articles are being produced (especially for new car launches)
• how responsible the media is when using the test car (accidents caused by own negligence are grounds for bans)

Oh, it doesn’t hurt to apply the occasional carry-some-balls PR talk but kenso is too dense for that.

It wasn’t always easy. Sometimes being thick-skinned and keep knocking on doors isn’t enough. Everyone, and we believe this includes Paul Tan himself had to go through the struggle of being recognised in a field dominated by print media, some of whom belittle and scoff at bloggers; considering them no more as half-baked writer wannabes. Poison letters in the industry is common.

The point is, one needs OPPORTUNITY and how quickly the site grows (or not) depends on how best one makes use of it.

kensomuse got it’s first break by winning a contest organised by Naza Kia when the Kia K5 was first launched. Which then allowed us to write about an outstation drive article. Which then opened the gates to all Kia and Peugeot model. Which then built the portfolio of kensomuse to expand to other manufacturers that occasionally provides test units for reviews.

 

kensomuse 2.0

2015 represents a bigger opportunity for online media compared to 2014. More car events, more test drives, more marketing budget for online channels. This means more opportunity for us all.

kensomuse believes that diversity in writing should be nurtured and allowed to flourish. Fresh perspectives, different styles of writing. As they say:-

“There is no review that’s a wrong review”

Everyone has their own opinions and it’s up to the readers to decide what resonates with them. Much like how food reviews cannot cater to everyone’s taste.

It is with great pleasure that we introduce Phase Two in our quest to provide alternative news and reviews.

We want to share the opportunities open to kensomuse with any aspiring writers (old and new) who wants a taste of automotive journalism.

But before that, let’s address the elephant in the room first: there is no pay/salary involved for any contribution. Those following kensomuse would know we don’t have any advertorials and any costs involved running & maintaining the site is borne out of personal pockets. Not that kenso is complaining; the journey has been amazing so far.  We’re going to operate much like how Malaysian Insider doesn’t pay any reader’s articles.

What we do offer is this:-

• A voice to have your views/comments heard and an avenue for healthy discourse
• An opportunity to build your own network of contacts should you decide one day to create your own automotive site
• Some sharing of ideas on how to improve writing skills. We’d probably do a monthly meet up among all writers and share opinions. No one, not even kenso is not immune to constructive criticism
• A chance to attend press events including new vehicle launches
• An opportunity to sample and review test drive units

 

 

Why are we doing this?

 

• We believe in empowerment and proliferation of new blood in the industry. Everyone should be given opportunity, assistance and encouragement.
• Writers have a chance to build their own portfolio and can serve as a CV of sorts to other media in evaluating their credentials.
• We want everyone to have FUN so there’s no contracts. You’re free to do anything you wish but we hope you’ll remember how kensomuse provided a stepping stone for your eventual success.
• We want to be a Jalopnik, where you’re not content to being called a “commenter” in other people’s review and have a clear opinion of your own that’s as long winded as kenso can be sometimes.

 

We welcome

• anyone who’s keen to be an automotive writer (or any writer who’s got strong opinions on any topic related to automotive). Full time or part time, doesn’t matter. (Pssst, we also maintain anonymity if you’re a full time automotive writer wanting to say something but your full time job doesn’t allow you to)
• anyone who’s keen to be an automotive photographer (amateur or connoisseur)
• anyone who has a strong interest in cars in general (wait, that kinda qualifies anyone who reads this blog, doesn’t it?)

 

We won’t lie, as much as FUN is a priority, there will be hard work involved. As mentioned earlier about the vetting process of automotive companies, we will also have a process of vetting serious writers from those who write with their occasional-free-time-once-in-a-blue-moon (whom we also welcome). We will evaluate and tier writers based on their abilities and commitment and give due recognition to them as they build their reputation in the industry. And we strongly discourage favoritism. Worse case scenario, we do lat-ta-li-lat-ta-li-tam-pom to see who gets to drive a test car for the weekend.

Just joking. There will be a system to consider who gets to drive which and just because kenso is the founder, it doesn’t mean he’ll get that Mercedes AMG model if it’s offered. The whole process will be merit based.

 

What do I need to do to sign up?

 

Sign up? Nothing. No contract.

But if you’re keen to explore, start with an article so that we can see how best we can work together. Write about the car you own or drive regularly. There is no format. Just write it in a manner as if you’re introducing your significant other to your family members who’s staying overseas. Oh, and pictures! Angle, composition and overall editing will also be taken into consideration in the tier system.

Sent your article(s) to:

kensomus3@gmail.com

 

Please do be fair that, like American Idol, not everyone is cut out for their passion, no matter how talented they think they are. We would promise you that we will reply every single entry sent to us.

 

Here’s a tip: We’re NOT an award winning blogsite but we’re proud of what we do and the people we need to prove ourselves to is not a panel of judges sitting on a pedestal somewhere with a glass trophy to offer; we write from our hearts and we write for us all. So don’t write in a pretentious manner. Write true to your nature and let the article flow …

 

 

See you soon!!