A Fledgling Journalist’s Archive…

CV

Contact Details

Available on request

Skills

Journalism

  • Reporting
  • Research
  • Interviewing
  • Sub Editing
  • Feature Ideas
  • Online Journalism
 Interpersonal

  • People management
  • Networking
  • Good industry contacts
  • Teamwork
Software

  • MS Word
  • MS Excel
  • MS Powerpoint
  • MS Publisher
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Audition
  • Quark Xpress
  • HTML
 Miscellaneous

  • Database management
  • Adaptable writing style
  • Teeline shorthand (80wpm)
  • Camera operation
  • Video and audio editing
  • French and Russian (basic)
  • Clean driving license

Journalistic Work Experience

December 2008 – Present Intent Media (Hertford): Staff Writer, MCV

  • Researched and wrote a range of articles, including news stories, features and previews, to meet a weekly deadline.
  • Researched and wrote daily news stories and published them on the publication’s website.
  • Represented the magazine at a series of press events.
  • Interviewed a variety of industry representatives, from developers to managing directors.
  • Carried out photographic assignments.
  • Contributed to feature planning.
  • Dealt with a range of publishers and PR companies over the phone in order to gain information, artwork, screenshots and other assets.
  • Dealt with a variety of retailers to gain interview comments, prices and other information.
  • Updated and maintained release schedules.

July 2006 – November 2008 SKEP Media (London): Staff Writer, In Stock Magazine

[Originally a temporary internship that became a period of freelancing, finally developing into a full-time position in November 2007]

  • Researched and wrote a range of articles to meet a monthly deadline. Also met fortnightly deadlines when required.
  • Researched and wrote daily news stories and published them on the publication’s website.
  • Represented the magazine at a series of press events and trade shows, including conferences, presentations and conventions, both home and abroad.
  • Interviewed a variety of industry representatives, from developers to managing directors.
  • Carried out photographic assignments.
  • Contributed to feature planning and the magazine’s redesign.
  • Dealt with a range of PR companies over the phone in order to gain information, artwork, screenshots and other assets.
  • Updated and maintained release schedules.
  • Updated and maintained issue database to keep track of the team’s remaining workload and allow for easier flatplanning.

September 2006 Future Publishing (Bath): Staff Writer, Official PlayStation 2 Magazine

[One week internship]

  • Researched and wrote a number of articles to meet a monthly deadline, most of which were published in following issues of Official PlayStation 2 Magazine and Official PSP Guidebook.
  • Wrote a variety of article types, including news stories, reviews and a regular feature. Listed as a contributing writer in magazine credits.
  • Acquired screenshots from a variety of games.
  • Tested preview and review code for a number of games in order to gather screenshots and write reviews.
  • Altered pages using InDesign.
  • Checked validity of reader entries for magazine competition.

January 2006 Future Publishing (Bath): Staff Writer, PC Gamer

[One week internship]

  • Researched and wrote articles to meet a monthly deadline, five of which were published in the following issue of PCGamer.
  • Wrote a variety of article types, including previews, features and opinion columns.
  • Installed two new computers in the office.
  • Installed and tested preview code for a number of games.

June 2001/July 2003 The Essex Chronicle Series Ltd (Chelmsford): Editorial Assistant, The Essex Chronicle

[Two one-week internships]

  • Researched and wrote a number of short articles to meet a weekly deadline, most of which were published in the following issues of the Essex Chronicle.
  • Researched and wrote the credited back page lead story for the Dunmow edition of the Essex Chronicle, and a credited page of three articles in the Essex Chronicle’s entertainment supplement, Go!
  • Updated weekly wedding lists.
  • Conducted phone interviews with local organisations and residents.
  • Accompanied and assisted photographer at local schools.
  • Accompanied reporter to County Council meeting and Chelmsford Crown Court.

Other Work Experience

August 2006 - November 2007 Tesco (Chelmsford): Team Leader

June 2003 - August 2006 Tesco (Chelmsford): Checkout Operator

September 2002 - January 2003 WHSmith (Chelmsford): Sales Assistant

July 2001 Vickers Timber (Brentwood): Apprentice

Education

2004 - 2007 Middlesex University/Harlow College: BA Journalism

  • Achieved a First Class degree in BA Journalism.
  • Achieved a First in 12 out of 18 modules, including Specialist Journalism, Magazine Journalism and Editorial Processes, Magazine Production and Design, Online Journalism and Video Journalism.

1997 - 2004 Hylands School

  • A-level: English Literature (A); History (B); Media Studies (B); Biology (C)
  • GCSE: English Language (A*); English Literature (A); Double Science (AA); Maths (A); French (A); History (A); Design & Technology: Graphic Design (A); Religious Education (B); Statistics (C); Information & Communication Technology (C); Russian (C)

Additional

  • Currently editor-in-chief of a weekly Nintendo podcast, responsible for organising a team of four and editing each episode.
  • Maintain a blog, Games Journalism Or Bust! (www.gjob.co.uk), archiving my work and commenting on developments in the industry.
  • Helped to set up a Chelmsford Borough Council youth website and contributed as a film and game reviewer for three years.
  • Oversaw the creation of Hylands School’s first student newsletter.
  • Achieved Bronze Duke Of Edinburgh Award.
  • Long-running member of the Scout Association, currently Assistant Scout Leader.

References

Available on request