Mega-zine

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Mega-Zine (or 'Zine) is a page on Digital Teletext, which can currently be found on page 845 via the various ITV channels. 'Zine's contributors are known as Ziners. 'Ziners write in with whatever's on their mind, from discussions about popular bands to anecdotes about what happened to them that day, or indeed anything else that others may consider funny or interesting.

'Zine was formerly a long-running part of Channel 4's analogue Teletext service, and was located on page 382 among the Ace section for children and teenagers (although many 'Zine contributors are older, in body if not in mind). This made 'Zine a strange animal, as it was a sub-page of a Teletext section dealing with popular culture like celebrity gossip and other general mainstream interests of young adults, while the 'Ziners themselves generally abhorred the interests of such "trendies" (as they called them), and had more esoteric tastes.

At different times in its existence, 'Zine has also occupied pages 142 and 182.

It was announced on 29 June 2006 that 'Zine would be ending after over ten years, on 13 July. However, due to popular demand, on 7 July it was announced that 'Zine would continue on Digital Teletext.

Contents

[edit] WLW

'Zine is presided over by a mysterious editor (or editors), known as WLW (the White Line Warrior), because they wrote their responses to letters below a screen-dividing white line. The gender of WLW is a closely guarded secret, although WLW claims to be a gay giraffe. In 2005 and 2006, WLW supposedly had quite a serious obsession with Jaffa Cakes which many veteran 'Ziners loathed, not least of all because newbie 'Ziners often mentioned Jaffa Cakes solely to get printed on 'Zine. WLW now seems to have beaten this addiction.

WLW is said to live with various other mysterious characters: Davord, Lord of Tharg ('Zine's resident monster), Marcel (a monkey), and Mavis and Medulla (two cats). Mabel Mop Lady and Cedric the Sea-Monster were adopted by WLW in 2006, after they were made redundant by the demise of Ace. They all live in WLW Towers, which, despite being located in Fulham (as proven by its postal address, to which some 'Ziners still send letters, sometimes with gifts for WLW and friends), is allegedly an exceedingly big mansion.

[edit] Other editors

Other editors, including the 'Ziners themselves, have been known to take over Mega-zine occasionally, when WLW is away. Notably, in June of 1999, The Artist Formerly Known as Gonzo staged a coup and took over Mega-zine for three weeks. Although 'Zine is presided over by an editor, it relies on viewer contributions to work, so the actual content can vary heavily.

[edit] Guest Editors - 2007

Between 10 December and 31 December 2007, Mega-Zine was edited by various regular 'Ziners who had applied to WLW. Other 'Ziners sent letters to WLW in preparation, who forwarded them on to the appropriate editor. Each guest editor opened his or her edition with a manifesto, before providing replies for four letters. WLW returned from his giraffe-ey holiday on 2 January 2008.

Editors and their allocated days:

Monday 10th December - Squashed Strawberry, Hector's House
Tuesday 11th December - Freshly Squeezed Cynic
Wednesday 12th December - Banana Flavoured Lemon
Thursday 13th December - Vigilante Maelstrom
Friday 14th December - Little Blue Fox

Monday 17th December - Lord Sebastian Flyte
Tuesday 18th December - Junior Minister
Wednesday 19th December - Femme
Thursday 20th December - One Winged Angel
Friday 21st December - The DeLorean That Got Struck By Lightning

Monday 24th December - Insane Jam Sow
Thursday 27th December - Dalek

Monday 31st December - Princess Psycho

[edit] Theme Days

Since April 2008, WLW has been setting various theme days for Mega-Zine letter writers.

For example, 28 April 2008 became an FAQ day. Regular 'Ziners were given the chance to answer some of the most frequently asked (and most hated) questions posed by Newbies; they could choose to answer seriously or in their usual sardonic manner. Some examples included:

  • What does WLW stand for?
  • What does J**f* C*k* mean?
  • Who is Davord?
  • What was that squashed thing in the corner back on analogue Teletext?

On 6 May 2008, the date given as WLW's birthday, 'Ziners were given the chance to send in letters with the theme of birthdays - WLW's, their own or in general - and many rose to the challenge. Some even included cards and gifts for WLW using Mega-zine's postal address.

[edit] Buzzwords

Some words are frequently used in 'Zine letters with the aim of increasing the writer's chances of being printed. These words often start out being used only by regulars but tend to gradually influence newbies as well. They are sometimes filtered out in the same manner as swear words by regulars.

Some past examples include:

  • J*ff* C*k*s - once upon a time, WLW's favourite food. Now taboo.
  • B*ckch*t - BBC Ceefax's more serious version of the 'Zine. Became obsolete during the digital transfer.
  • Eurovision - started in 2007 after Princess Psycho and One Winged Angel revealed their plans to hi-jack Eurovision 2008.
  • Censored - Started by Otsego Munky after some content in his letter was filtered out. Some newbies try to sound mysterious by *censoring* parts of their letters.
  • Debbles - Revealed to be the much-hated childhood nickname of One Winged Angel, based on her real name.
  • Fluffy - A past 'Ziner who does not currently write to Mega-zine. Many newbies drop his name into letters despite it being rather obvious that they have no idea who he actually is; seemingly they just think it's cool to do so.
  • The Brigadier - one of the "legendary" 'Ziners of yore. Again, most newbies don't know him but frequently ask as to his whereabouts.

[edit] Internet fanbase

Several websites have been set up to pay tribute to Mega-Zine, the most used by 'Ziners being a forum called The Vegetable Revolution. This site has come to be an unofficial partner to Mega-Zine, cataloguing old letters and providing the same kind of random chatter that was available on the original Teletext page at its peak. Some well-known Ziners who frequent The Vegetable Revolution include Little Blue Fox, Squashed Strawberry, The DeLorean That Got Struck By Lightning, Paddy Irishman, Lilac Leopard, One Winged Angel and Lord Sebastian Flyte. Most regulars drop in at some point or another.

[edit] External links

  • A Guide to The Megazine - a website created by the 'Ziner Insane Jam Sow. It was one of the first 'Zine websites, and contains the famed 'Ziners List' (a list of the names of every 'Ziner that appeared on 'Zine between August 2001 and August 2005).
  • The Vegetable Revolution - a website and forum frequented by a number of Mega-Zine regulars, past and present, with an archive of letters printed on Mega-Zine.