UK music title Q Magazine is planning to offer mobile coverage of the 2004 Glastonbury music festival, as well as the newspaper produced on site.

Q is an official media partner of the Glastonbury festival, Europe's biggest outdoor music festival, held in Somerset from 25 to 27 June.

"We're looking into more interactive ways of delivering content to readers," said Martin O'Gorman, web editor for Q Magazine.

"I like the idea of content that people can use when they are there."

Last year the Q website published news and images produced by an on-site team over the festival weekend. This year, the web team are looking at providing a WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) service that would allow users to view a smaller, simplified version of the Q web site.

The team is also planning an image gallery where users can upload images from the festival direct to the Q site. Content is likely to be sponsored due to the high production costs involved, and Q is discussing the options with well-known mobile phone companies.

An on-site team of 22 work on a 64-page Glastonbury Review and a 16-page daily newspaper from three broadband-equipped Portakabins behind the festival's main stage.

Members of the editorial team are selected for their ability to write and produce quickly to meet the daily deadlines - and ensuring the team can enjoy some of the festival every evening.

"We have to work our arses off. Last year the picture editor never worked less than a 14-hour day," said Jon Bennett, editor of the Q Glastonbury Review.

"But my view is to get it wrapped up and get out as soon as possible.

"You can't make a magazine that's representative of Glastonbury if you are sat in a Portkabin."

See also:
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story903.shtml
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story901.shtml
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story875.shtml
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story871.shtml

Related articles:
http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/glastonbury

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