Become a Pestiside Contributor/Informant

Here at Pestiside we know that good journalism is more than just editors dispatching reporters to cover what they think may be promising stories. Instead, it's about encouraging you, the reader, to keep us informed of the news as it happens.

Heard of something you think we should cover or comment on, whether national scandal, office gossip, store opening, product launch or party? Let us know by writing us at tips - at - pestiside.hu. You can also send pictures to the same address, though please don't send us lots at once, or giant, multi-megabyte ones.

Want to tell us something confidentially but are afraid we will blow your cover? Don't worry – as long as you say so, we will take your secret to our grave. Promise.

Just to prove how committed we are to our sources, we are offering this delux spy camera to the contributor/informant we judge the most productive and reliable in the period between now and December 31, 2004. The camera, which is worth approximately Ft 50,000, will be awarded in the second week of January, 2005, and features the following hair-raising features:

• 2.0 megapixel Super HAD™ , providing excellent image quality in shadowy areas while making almost no noise;
• rotating lens housing, which allows you to take professional-quality pictures in restaurants and other public places, without being noticed by the people you are photographing;
• ultra-fast start-up time, so you won't miss any incriminating shots;
• burst mode, allowing for the capture of fleeing subjects and other fast-moving objects;
• playback zoom, to better hone in on the evidence;

Given that special attention will be paid to those who risk getting themselves in trouble with their employers, friends or family to provide us with juicy leads, Pestiside reserves the right to keep the identity of the winner secret. But there is going to be a camera, and we are going to give it away. Promise.

We are also on the lookout for a small number of researcher/translators for work that actually pays money, though there is not that much work, and not that much money.

Finally, if you like what we're doing, write us a note and let us know. Maybe we'll include you among the testimonials we will be featuring on our pages. And if you don't like what we're doing, let us know, too: we may not yet be too old to change!

UPDATE: We're happy to announce that the winner of the 2004 contributor/informant award has agreed to come forward and reveal her identity. Stay tuned for an announcement of the 2005 snitch sweepstakes, and in the meantime, well, send us a tip!