About me

Four things you might want to know about me

  1. I love social media, and how it opens up so many opportunities for getting yourself heard – and hearing what people are saying. This is why I’ve now got more than 14,000 people following me on Twitter. The page I help run for Brighton and Hove News has more than 20,000 likes . Can I do the same for you?
  2. I am a member of journalism.co.uk’s first j-list – a list of journalists “helping to build the future of journalism and the news media” – you can find me in between Ben Goldacre and Heather Brooke.
  3. My background is mainly in local and regional press, and its sheer variety means I am now a highly versatile writer. Everything from restaurant reviews to interviewing grieving relatives of the London bombings, liveblogging meetings, events and protests to researching Sussex’s rudest placenames.
  4. My proudest moment is probably when a photo I tweeted of Nick Cave helping a German unicyclist juggling with fire was named Popbitch’s Nick Cave spot of 2012.

For a more traditional overview, here’s my CV:

Skills

  • Producing and editing lively copy, quickly and accurately
  • Social media, SEO, content management
  • Excellent organisational and managerial skills
  • Html, CSS, various CMS, WordPress, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, video editing

 

Employment History (journalism)

January 2015 – present. Brighton and Hove News, editor and director

  • Writing news and features for www.brightonandhovenews.org
  • Managing the company’s accounts, website, social media and other administration

August 2014 – December 2014. White Label Consultants, journalist and social media PR

  • Managing clients’ corporate Twitter accounts
  • Writing press releases
  • Writing copy for corporate websites, programmes and newsletters
  • Writing successful awards entries

February 2009 – July 2014. Brighton Argus, web editor

  • Managing content on website, including breaking news
  • Designing microsites for special supplements, campaigns etc
  • Co-ordinating and commissioning user generated content
  • Managing a wide range of successful social media accounts on a variety of platforms

June 2007 – February 2009.  Croydon Advertiser, news editor

  • Managing team of up to 12 reporters
  • Responsibility for both print editions and website

November 2005 – June 2007. Southend Echo, senior reporter

  • General news reporting for paid-for daily paper
  • Deputising on newsdesk
  • Lead video reporter

March 2005 – November 2005. Evening Standard, casual reporter

  • Part of the reporting team covering the July 7 and July 21 London bombings

February 2003 – November 2006. South London Guardian/Surrey Comet series, reporter

  • General news reporting for lively weekly papers in Epsom, Wimbledon and Sutton

July 2002 – January 2003. Lambeth Local News, freelance features writer

  • Writing reviews and features for free bi-weekly paper

January 2001 – April 2002. ICG Media Group, staff writer

  • Writing online news and print features for journal covering microchip manufacture

February 2000 – January 2001. StepStone, production co-ordinator

  • Supervising a team uploading online recruitment listings

 

Qualifications and training

2008 Management training (including appraisals, employment law) Northcliffe Media
2004 NCE Darlington College of Technology
2003 NCTJ Preliminary Certificate noSWeat Journalism Training
2000 RSA II Desktop Publishing (Quark Express) Southend Adult Community College
1999 BA (Hons) English (2:1) University of Reading
1995 A-levels: English (B), Economics (B), History (D) Westcliff High School for Girls
1992/3 GCSEs: 7As, 2Bs Westcliff High School for Girls

 

Other employment and work experience

  • May 2005 – February 2006. noSWeat Journalism Training, shorthand tutor
  •  May 2002 – January 2003. Lambeth Borough Council, complaints department project co-ordinator
  • October 1999 – January 2000. Southend Borough Council, homeless department administrative support
  • October 1999. Essex FM, newsroom work placement
  • March 1999 and September 1999. Crown FM, news editor (for month-long station broadcasts)

 

Interests

I play the flute well, and the guitar badly. I often wish it was the other way round as guitars are (marginally) more acceptable to get out in company.

I am a Regretsy level crafter.

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