Five years on and we’re still doing what we love: sharing great YouTube content.
Since its launch in April 2014, TenEighty has become a staple within the UK YouTube sphere, and we couldn’t be more thankful for all the love and support over the years. It’s crazy to believe that the magazine Teoh Lander-Boyce started as the result of a university assignment has turned into what it is today, and we have you, our readers, to thank for that.
A lot has happened on YouTube over the past five years and we’ve been there to cover it all. From the grand opening of the YouTube Space London and 2017’s Adpocalypse, to sharing our favourite Zalfie moments and exploring brand deals, we’ve covered it all. We’ve also been where the action is, from Summer in the City to this year’s VidCon London. Heck, we’ve even travelled to Canada for Buffer Festival!
Throughout this time, we’ve built quite the team of YouTube fans who are just as passionate about online video as we are. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve asked team members, both past and present, to share with us their favourite memories from the past five years. It’s safe to say things got a bit emotional.
Teoh Lander-Boyce, Founder & Co-Editor: “As if we’ve been doing this for five years? What started out as a final project, as part of my university degree, has lived on; publishing hundreds of articles a year; with a loyal and dedicated team of volunteer contributors; becoming a trusted part of the UK YouTube community.
“Highlights? The numerous times the website crashed in the early days after a big YouTuber tweeted one of our articles. Breaking stories that mattered to the community. Selling our physical magazine at Summer in the City [and] seeing that same magazine in the YouTube store in Kings Cross. But more than anything: seeing our team flourish, writing articles that they truly care about and, in some cases, going on to bigger and better careers outside of TenEighty. Thank you to everyone – past and present – who has been part of our journey. We couldn’t have got here without you!”
AJ Brinnand, Co-Editor: “I’m constantly amazed by the team who come together to make our vision for TenEighty a reality. When Teoh asked me five years ago to help with his university project and offer some advice on social media, I had no idea how far it would take us. In the last five years, I’ve personally had the pleasure of developing the brand, expanding our team and have covered stories from across the community. I’m very grateful to everyone involved for dedicating their time and skills to making a TenEighty what it is today.
“Much like I said on our first birthday, here’s to the next five years!”
Clare Fitzgerald, Columns & Pulse Editor: “Writing for TenEighty has honestly been the best (nearly) five years of my life. When I tweeted back in 2014 to ask if I could join the team, I didn’t realise I’d not only be gaining journalism experience, but a group of friends who I’d now be lost without. The past few years have been filled with lots of laughs and cool opportunities, as well as quite a few busy nights, and I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. TenEighty is in my heart and soul, and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for it or its writers. (Well, maybe not anything, but you know what I mean.)”
“My favourite memory would definitely be getting to cover Buffer Festival over the past couple of years. As I’m based in Canada, I’ve never been able to attend Summer in the City or any other YouTube event, so to be given the privilege to cover something in my own backyard is pretty neat… Also, this past year’s festival was the first time I’ve ever worn high heels and it’s safe to say I’ll never wear them again.”
Mar Beveridge, Head of News: “I applied for TenEighty at a time where I hated my job and wanted to have a creative side project. Three years on, I have met some amazing people and have had incredible experiences. I have learned so much here, and I’m so proud of how far everyone on the team has come. [I] love this little weird internet family of mine.”
Louise Griffin, Former Spotlight Editor: “I remember being chucked into the deep end as a panel reporter at Summer in the City, just a month after joining TenEighty. Three years later, this lil’ magazine has gotten me a full time job as a journalist, a bunch of friends and the most bizarre sticker collection you could imagine. (Cheers, Daniel.)
“TenEighty has given me some pretty cool opportunities, but some of my favourite memories are us just doing our thing in the press room at SitC, surrounded by stickers and snacks, before going out and getting messy in the evening. Here’s to another five years, and always remember: ‘We’re all tops here at TenEighty’.”
Jamie Rogers, News Editor: “I’ve always been more into British YouTube than American YouTube, who knows why. Because of that, I’ve been following TenEighty since the beginning. (I almost paid $30 for the Jack Howard and Dean Dobbs cover to be shipped to my house.) In 2016, I started writing for TenEighty. This was my first writing gig, and because of it some of the most amazing experiences of my life have happened.
“Through TenEighty, I’ve realised my passion for writing and have gone back to school for it. I’ve made some amazing friends and the most amazing memories (shoutout to that night at Dinerama), and I’ve launched my career in an industry that I love. My life wouldn’t be the same without this magazine.”
Poppy Dillon, News Editor: “It feels like years and years since I first met Teoh and applied to become a news writer for TenEighty! For me, the biggest highlight has been working with so many talented writers while I was News Editor, then Spotlight Editor, and watching them improve their skills and do amazing things. It has been intense at times, but it’s always been worth it.
“Teoh and AJ have somehow managed to build this super supportive group of volunteers who all really care about keeping this magazine going. TenEighty has given me great career opportunities, experiences (like chairing the Art and Gamer Stereotypes Panel at SitC 2017) and a community of the loveliest pals I could ask for.”
Rory McDonald, News Editor: “Working on TenEighty has been an amazing experience! It is such a supportive and welcoming environment; every single one of the people involved are kind, funny and ready to share what they know. It has been such a joy to work and learn with the team and now go on to help others produce amazing work.
“Some of my favourite memories are of new writers gaining their confidence and becoming great writers. I can’t wait to see who else joins our team and contributes their unique skills to the magazine.”
Quinn Rose, News Editor: “Favourite moments: 1) When I’m applying for a job and have to explain how and why I write for a UK-based online video magazine, and then spend 15 minutes talking to the interviewer about YouTube and why TenEighty is so great. 2) Every time I get to feature a relatively new or unknown creator in an article, and then seeing their genuine surprise and delight on social media about their hard work being recognized.”
Beth Jefferies, News Editor: “Writing for TenEighty has allowed me to remain a part of the YouTube community and to continue using my platform to create and write. TenEighty has also allowed me to create lots of friendships and interact in a professional manner with a variety of creators. My favourite memories are my first article being in the 2018 [physical] magazine, hitting a year with TenEighty, and becoming an editor.”
Christy Ku, Features & Interviews Writer: “Joining TenEighty has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life. I would not be who I am today without this family of absolute nerds. (We once spent an evening watching all Phil is not on fire videos.) It’s helped me professionally, in terms of skill building, experience and being an interesting thing to talk about in job interviews. It’s also built me as a person and made me realise I’m capable of more than I thought I was.”
Liam O’Dell, Features Writer: “Writing for TenEighty has helped me get closer to the YouTube community and meet some amazing people along the way. I’ve interviewed the legendary Hank Green, danced to ABBA in the press room at SitC, and laughed at old-school Daniel Howell and Phil Lester videos during the weekend of VidCon London. Oh, and I’ve made a whole load of puns along the way – sorry, everyone.”
Dennis Fang, Pulse Writer: “For uni, we had to make a social media campaign, and wanting to get into the YouTube scene, I started a [magazine] about small YouTubers, called 144p. One day, I wanted to write for the real thing instead, and emailed Teoh.”
Image Credit: Dave Bird
Bob Leak, Pulse Writer: “I’ve been writing for TenEighty for almost two yers now, in both News and Pulse. My absolute favourite article I’ve worked on is the YouTube Community Reacts to VidCon London 2019 piece I wrote after attending the event with the magazine. After an absolutely chaotic weekend, I suggested it to Mar, who immediately encouraged me to write it. The TenEighty team are endlessly supportive people [both] within and outside the magazine, and I feel lucky to have such a unique view of the YouTube community by being a part of the team.”
Nafisah, Columns Writer: “Writing for this magazine is one of my favourite things to do. It’s allowed me to make new friends [and] write about some of my favourite content creators. Everyone is incredibly supportive, which I appreciate so much. Everyone I have spoken to has been a delight. I only wish we got to meet more.”
Emma-Louise Smith, Spotlight Writer: “From the get go, I knew TenEighty was the publication I’ve been longing for. It was witty, passionate about its subject matter, honest, education and [filled] to the brim [with] hardworking people who wanted to be involved just because they love writing. It instantly felt like the TenEighty writers were my kind of people, and after meeting several of the team already I’ve never felt happier to find so many wonderful people like me who are encouraging and continue to inspire me to be a better writer and a better person. Writing for TenEighty is truly a dream come true and a real honour.
“Those occasions where the creators you’ve written about acknowledge or seem to enjoy the thing you’ve written just adds [to] that extra feeling of, ‘I must’ve done a fantastic job with this one,’ and that someone else outside our circle has read it, I always feel that it’s been worthwhile. Also, having to explain to people what TenEighty is when I tell them I write part-time never gets old.”
Pagen Hall, News Writer: “Writing for TenEighty is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time and this year I finally had the guts to do it. Somewhere in my bedroom, there’s a physical copy of the magazine with Carrie Hope Fletcher on the cover. I already knew TenEighty existed, but when I bought that at SitC one year, that’s when I wanted to write for them. I’ve reconnected with the YouTube world – so much so [that] I’m the local ‘YouTube professional’ with my friends at uni – and it’s opened up lots of opportunities for me. [My] favourite memory, apart from my first article going live, was attending the bit messy (although very fun) VidCon!”
Jasmine Greene, News Writer: “Having gone from an avid reader of TenEighty to one of their writers is something I’m immensely proud of. I remember buying my first physical copy of TenEighty at SitC 2015, and every year after that visiting the TenEighty stand to ask what it took to be a writer, but I never had the courage to apply until this year! I’ve always loved writing, and I’m studying journalism at university, so writing for TenEighty meant I’d have the opportunity to merge my passion for YouTube with the field I want to progress in. It’s been a wonderful time so far and I’ve met some amazing people because of it!
“[My] favourite memory [is] finding out I’d been accepted as a writer having wanted to do it for so long and, of course, the moment my first article went live!”
Kelly Anne, News Writer: “It has been an honour to have been working with so many great people and writing with an organisation I have been following for years! I have never met so involved and welcomed into a community, and being able to share my passion for YouTube with people all around the world is the cherry on top! My favourite memory was finding out I [had] become a part of the team, and when my first article went live! The support I have (and continue) to gain has been overwhelmingly positive, and I cannot wait to see what adventures arise in the future with TenEighty!”
Thank you to our readers!
We want to take this opportunity to thank you, our readers, for your continued love and support. Whether you’ve read the articles on the site, shared them on social media, purchased a physical copy of the magazine at Summer in the City or supported us on Patreon, we wouldn’t be where we are without you all, and for that we thank you.
To celebrate our fifth birthday, we’ve reflected on our favourite parts of TenEighty, and now it’s your turn! Using thing hashtag #TenEightyFive, share the articles and stories that provoked a response in you, retweet any images from TenEighty that you’ve loved, and let us know what you want to see us cover in the future.
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