CV
A full copy of my CV can be downloaded here . Please see a summary of my CV below.
Summary
- A PR professional with one year’s experience as an Account Executive with expertise in social media.
- Qualified journalist and published writer in two national, five regional newspapers and other websites.
- Experience working as an administrator, editor and researcher, with strong communication and management skills and a willingness to learn.
PR/Social Media Employment
Champion Communications - Account Executive
June 2011 – December 2011
- Clients: Buffalo Technology, G Data, JCA, Consumer Choices, PEER 1 Hosting, NetApp
- B2B – Digital, media, technology
- Clients: JCA.tv, Buffalo Technology, G Data, OnApp, PEER 1 Hosting, NetApp.
- Secured coverage for Buffalo in Shortlist, Zoo, What Hi-Fi, PC Gamer and What Digital Camera.
- Secured coverage for G Data on The Register, SC Magazine, V3, Digital Spy, The Fonecast.
- Secured coverage for JCA in TVB Europe, CSI, Broadcast, C21 and Rapid TV News.
- Organised and ran a pub quiz evening with attending journalists for JCA.
- Created/Developed Champion Engage, the businesses social media division and managed client briefs.
- Produced company testimonial videos, written case studies and other promotional collateral materials.
- Managed the development and implementation of the current company website.
- Produced two PRCA award entries both of which resulted in the company being shortlisted.
- Daily contact with the media, weekly press release writing and continual reporting back to all clients.
MacLaurin Media – Account Executive/Social Media Executive
May 2010 – April 2011
- Clients: Chemist Direct, Simon Moyes, Bambuser, Zig Zag Productions, MIO2012.
- Daily reading of broadsheet, tabloid and middle market newspapers, trade magazines and online news portals to ensure a wide and balanced perspective on the days main news stories
- Established/Built a social media presence for the company across a range of platforms including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Bambuser, LinkedIn
- Managed all copy/imaging updates to the company website including regular blog writing
- Established a monitoring system for measuring web analytics and analysis of SEO performance
- Led and oversaw development changes to the website to improve functionality and search performance
- Managed multiple client Twitter and Facebook pages simultaneously, increasing engagement on all. (Chemist Direct Twitter, Chemist Direct Facebook, Simon Moyes Twitter)
- Produced weekly/regular health blogs/articles on medical and pharmaceutical issues.
- Promoted Simon Moyes’ blog to the first page of Google and pushed monthly hits to over 500.
- Regular press release writing for trade and consumer TV, technology and classic music stories.
- Secured coverage for Bambuser and MIO2012 on suitable trade and consumer news websites e.g. The Fonecast, Wide World, Crescendo, Classical Music Magazine.
- Produced corporate business documents in Power Point.
- Edited a video showreel using QuickTime Pro on behalf of Jamie Murray Wells.
- Negotiated advertising deals in UK and international classical magazines.
- Built up strong relationships with the sales teams at Haymarket, BBC and Rhinegold Publishing.
- Produced monthly client reports, meeting briefs, update emails and action pointsFacilitated interviews between national press journalists and celebrities at client events like the NTAs.
Journalistic Employment – National Press
February 2008 – November 2009
The Independent – Education Desk Assistant/Contributing Editor – Business Schools Supplement (5-months)
- Independently researched information on all AMBA accredited business schools in the UK and Europe.
- Collated information from all university’s and re-wrote existing profiles so they were fully up-to-date.
- Wrote a bylined editors introduction explaining the changing trends in the market over the past year.
- Collated data sent from all comprehensive and grammar schools on GCSE/A-Level results day.
- Telephoned admission offices at universities to check status with clearing process.
- Sourced/Co-wrote a page lead story for the Independent on Sunday on issues at Manchester University.
- Researched and updated subject profiles in the online A-Z of university degrees including interviewing multiple former/present students about their time on their respective courses for additional insight.
The Sunday Times - Regional News Editorial Assistant (6-month freelance contract)
- Administered progress of all changes/revisions to the pages on the three regional issues of the paper.
- Circulated all completed pages to editors for approval and ensured changes where implemented.
- Liaised with the production team/photo desk to ensure the different production deadlines were met.
- Subbed copy for the comment and business pages, inputted corrections to the arts and listing pages.
Work Experience
June 2009
The Sunday Telegraph
- Assisted with research for stories on the MPs expenses scandal and helped process data for a story on knife crime, which was published in print and online with an author by-line.
- Contacted all government departments for information for multiple MPs expenses stories.
The Guardian
- Sorted through MPs expenses documents for all major parties to source stories for the news desk.
Online Experience and Published Writing
Thomson Reuters
July 2009 – May 2010
- Assisted the online team with researching and developing resources, blogs and Twitter accounts for all major political parties, figures and commentators for an aggregated content platform.
- Monitored social media traffic on election night for the May 2010 General Election.
- Assisted with the research and implementation of other political led stories including website rotation to ensure maxim exposure to the websites audience.
Inthenews.co.uk
July 2009 – July 2010
- Produced a weekly TV review every Monday, summarising the previous weeks TV highlights.
- Attended private film screenings to write movie reviews and produced occasional album reviews.
Wide World Magazine
June 2009 – Present
- Pitched and researched a range of sport and travel news stories/features including Space Tourism.
- Sourced products to test from a range of PR companies for gadget and sport product testing features.
Broadcast
April – May 2009
- Wrote news articles, TV reviews, technology focuses and blogs published in print and online.
- Assisted the editorial team with research and organisation for other larger features.
Regional Press (Work Experience)
Average of 3 news articles/features published per week, plus multiple picture stories and online video content.
- Reading Evening Post (18th August 2008 – 12th September 2008 and 5th January – 16th January 2009)
- Bristol Evening Post (29th December 2008 – 2nd January 2009)
- Cambridge News (5th December 2008 – 9th December 2008
Student Media Experience/Volunteering
September 2005 – August 2009
- Sub Editor/Designer for a daily newspaper at the Wings 2009 Scout/Guide Camp.
- Elected member to the RUSU Student Trustee Board – Represented the student voice on campus.
- Writer promoted to News Editor/Designer at Spark* (University of Reading Student Newspaper) leading a team of 15.
- Award-winning presenter and Head of Development/Training at Junction 11 (University of Reading Student Radio).
- First student editor of ‘The Eagle’ – Bedford Modern School Magazine, leading a team of 30.
Other Employment
January 2010 – May 2010
ExamFox Ltd – Website Copywriter/Marketing Assistant/Office Admin
- Ran technical tests on software and tracked the development progress with the development team.
- Wrote concise copy for the website relevant for the audience and made web changes via the CMS.
- Directed designs/concepts for promotional videos, interviewed potential tutors and handled sales calls.
Education/Qualifications
City University, London - PG Diploma in Newspaper Journalism with Merit
Sept 2008 – June 2009
The University of Reading, Berkshire - BA English – Grade 2:1
Oct 2005 – June 2008
Bedford Modern School, Bedfordshire – A-levels: Business Studies (A), English (B), History (D) AS-level: Information Technology (B)
Sept 2003 – Aug 2005
