Experience
Professional
background
I have many years of experience in newspapers, magazines, books and corporate publications. My previous employers or clients include UK regional, national and international newspapers and my roles have involved almost every aspect of publishing, from sourcing, editing, production (print and digital) and IT training and support. My experience extends to papers in New Zealand and Australia, including working on those titles from the UK. I am currently retired from full-time employment.
Skills
WRITING
SUB-EDITING
PAGE DESIGN
NEWS EDITING
DIGITAL EDITING
IT TRAINING
WEB DESIGN
BLOGGING
Career
Highlights
Pagemasters New Zealand
2007 - 2016
As Production Editor, I was a key participant in setting up a groundbreaking outsourced sub-editing hub in Auckland, New Zealand. I helped with hiring of staff, their induction, training and support, and co-ordinated cross-title coverage of Olympics, World Cups and other major events. I was a freelance world news editor for Pagemasters NZ and then a sub-editor for Pagemasters UK, working on the Daily and Sunday Telegraph.
The Mail on Sunday
1982 - 2016
I worked on and off for the MoS since its pre-publication dummy editions and its launch in May 1982 with the Falklands War at its height, as a results sub-editor, and later deputy systems editor (responsible for training and supporting editorial staff on desktop publishing kit).
The New Zealand Herald
2005 - 2007
My family and I moved to Auckland when I took up a position as a senior sub-editor on the Herald, where I laid out pages and edited stories, including for its weekly Supersport supplement. In 2007, I moved to Pagemasters, owned by AAP, when almost the entire Herald subbing operation was outsourced in 2007.
Derby Telegraph
2016-2022
I worked for Reach plc-owned East Midlands newspapers, based at Derby, on the Derby Telegraph, Burton Mail and weekly Ashbourne News Telegraph before taking redundancy months ahead of retirement.
Early doors...
I began my career on the North Herts Gazette, in Hitchin and Stevenage, as an apprentice reporter. I later worked for the Slough & Hounslow Evening Mail, the Gazette again as Sports Editor before a few years freelancing at The Times, The Mail on Sunday and The Sporting Life.
Globally speaking
I have worked for daily
regional newspapers In New Zealand and Australia, as well as the UK, from Hertfordshire to West London and Devon and now in Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
Education
The Nobel School, Stevenage
1967 - 1973
A technical grammar school. I left with 10 GCE O-levels, and represented the school at football, cricket, cross-country and chess.
Stevenage College of F.E.
1973 - 1975
Qualified with OND in Business Studies, RSA Advanced English Language, RSA Stage 2 Typing and Pitman shorthand.