Krysten Booth Interview
Interview with Krysten Booth, Editor-in-Chief TNT
What do the initials TNT actually stand for?
The News and Travel – although these days the brand TNT is a lot more than that. We do recruitment, sport and a lot of London lifestyle stuff so it's grown beyond that - but that was certainly how it started. We're actually celebrating our 25th birthday this year.
And how did you fall into the magazine?
I came to TNT a little under 3 years ago. Like most Aussies, Kiwis and South Africans I came over to travel and I was staying with a friend in Oxford. It happened in that roundabout way where someone knows someone who works at TNT, so I got in touch, did a couple of freelance shifts and then I was in the right place at the right time when an opening came up. I stepped in on the Subs bench, worked in that position for six months, then went into the Deputy Editor's job when an opening came up. I became Editor in July last year.
What's the most random and mind boggling article - ever to cross your desk?
We had an article a few weeks ago from one of the staff writers – Trevor Paddenburg, about the London fetish scene. That was pretty shocking. It was really well written and he did a good job in getting the story because there's a little bit of leg work involved in being allowed to come along and write about it. From how he described it – you walked in and there were a dozen couples or so, just going at it. In my head these places just involved whips, chains and a bit of fun – but then I suppose these people were having fun.
You're on an island with a gun that only has one bullet in it. Your company for all eternity is Jordan (Katy Price), Peter Andre and a pack of rabid dogs. What do you do with the bullet?
What would I do - if I wasn't going to get in trouble? I'd hope the animals are all one sex and aren't going to reproduce. Katie and Peter have already made that mistake. I'd shoot Katie and hope Peter would run to her aid, only to be mauled by the dogs!
This is a question I ask all my interviewees. When you're stuck in an airport or a train station or wherever you are on your travels - what top five books would you like to have with you in order to pass the time?
- 1. TNT Magazine!
- 2. True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey
- 3. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
- 4. The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
- 5. The BFG by Roald Dahl
Lonely Planet or Rough Guides?
I'm definitely a Lonely Planet guy.
I recently interviewed Peter Moore and we were chatting about how the biggest danger to travel writing is how travel writers, like Paul Theroux, become jaded and disenchanted with the journey. What would your advice be to aspiring travel writers when it comes to avoiding this?
I think the biggest thing you can do is to talk to locals. For me anyway – that's where you get your angles from. The best articles are always the ones that have quotes from someone at the destination - because it gives you a feeling of authenticity from the start.
You've got to know your publication and who you're writing for. I think a common mistake is that people assume their readers know a lot more about the destination than they actually do – so they don't want to go over the obvious. That's where the tricky bit comes in. Writing enough information that's useful and relevant but without being patronising. You don't necessarily want it to read like a guide book – you're trying to inspire people and encourage them to travel to a destination that you've been to.
I was reading in a recent issue how Kath and Kim is being developed in Florida and is set to star Selma Blair among others. Do you think the concept will work - so far away from Fountain Gate and Melbourne?
That's the thing – it's such a unique dynamic with those two. I don't think it can be replicated anywhere. The funny thing about that is how the original didn't work in the states but it did work over here.
Who'd win in a fight if you have Kath and Kim in one corner and Kylie and Jason in the other?
Kath and Kim for sure because they live in the suburbs. They've probably seen a few fights down at Fountain Gate. Kylie's got a bit of spunk about her but I'm not sure about Jason.
I'm going to be interviewing Rodney Harrex from Tourism Australia in the next few weeks. Any burning questions that you'd like an answer to?
I'd be interested to know what they do to get young Australians to explore their own countrY. A lot of the Australians over here certainly haven't seen much of Australia. Most of them have been to Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane but there's still so much to explore. I don't think I've ever seen a campaign like this targeted at that age.
A lot of the articles I put out there prove to be popular when the emphasis is on escaping London. What are your favourite breakaway destinations and why?
I'm all for getting around in the UK because there's heaps to do. I've been to Oxford, the Cotswolds, Rye and Chichester. In terms of weekend breaks I love Berlin, Paris is great and Bruges is a pretty little town.
What exciting developments can we expect to see from TNT over the next twelve months?
We've always got a few things on the go. The biggest thing we're looking at now is our website development. There are a lot of resources being put into it and a lot of effort. There'll be a lot more content which will hopefully be more relevant online. Obviously we know we're trusted with travel and jobs in the magazine - so now we're going to try and bring that to the same standard online.
We're also having a winter travel show this year so that'll be a good one. It'll be an opportunity for people to plan their trips away over the winter period – and won't be limited to snow and skiing.
With the new laws coming in about working visas in the UK – how hard do you think Aussies, Kiwis and Saffas will be hit by the changes?
For the South Africans it doesn't look like good news. It appears that they may not qualify for working visas. Basically that rules a lot of them out, unless they can get what used to be a Highly Skilled Visa before they leave home. That requires not an insignificant amount of money and not an insignificant income – that you can prove. That's bad news for South Africans and everyone else as well. We'll have to wait and see. Hopefully this one won't come to fruition - but that's what they're talking about at the minute.
For the Australians and the Kiwis – it's a bit of a mixed bag. It's not good for the people who are currently here because basically the working holiday scheme at the moment means you can come for two years but only work for twelve months. So that's a bit of a pain – it used to be that you could come for two years and work for the full two years.
Twelve months isn't long enough because by the time you get yourself here, get settled and get a job, twelve months is gone. But the new changes mean that the Aussies and the Kiwis will be able to work and stay for the two years so that's great news for people coming over.
Now for people at the moment who are looking to change to a Highly Skilled Visa it's not good news because you have to go home to do it, it's expensive, applications are anywhere up to about £750 and you could be paying an agency to help you out - so it could be double that. You're looking at maybe £1500 and you've got to go home – there's the expense of the return flight so that's another £1000. You've got to be at home for the application process which can take up to six weeks – so there are a lot of hurdles to jump over. The people who are going to do that will have to be very committed and I'm a bit fearful that it'll scare some people off.
Basically the problem is that the people who are currently here are the ones who have been stuck in the middle.
Just before we, finish what's the most useful advice you can offer to ex-pats, intent on settling in London?
I think you need to accept London for what it is. One of the biggest mistakes is to compare London to where you come from. There are so many great things about London and then there are things that aren't as great as back home, but this is a fantastic city and it's wonderfully diverse. That's what I love about it and when you open your eyes to that diversity it makes it easier to settle in. It also reminds you of why you're here.
It sounds so simple and basic, and perhaps even irrelevant but I still love the fact that I go to the shops and when I walk home I'll hear six different languages. I think it reminds you of the fact that you're part of something bigger and it's something to enjoy.
And finally on more of a lighter note – what are you looking forward to on telly tonight?
Every night bloody friends is on television and inevitably you end up watching it. I won't say I'm looking forward to that but I can guarantee that'll be on in our house at some stage this evening.
- Rob Savage
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