Address: Flat 3 Woodleigh Court, 9 Branksome Wood Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH2 6BU.
Telephone: 01202 553765 (home) 07790 914578 (mobile)
Specialist Areas
Writing, Website Manager, Press Officer, New Media, Sports Industry
Personal Profile
I began publishing journalistic material for the web in 1998 jointly launching an independent sports website and was signed up by Chrysalis Media in 2000 for a pioneering network powered by football365.com.
In 2002, I became Web Site & Press officer at AFC Bournemouth gaining six years experience in media relations and website managementwhile combining my job with freelance work for the Bournemouth Daily Echo and creating websites for small businesses.
In 2008 I joined Hampshire County Council as a Media Communications Officer where positive or neutral media coverage for my portfolios was consistently above 90 per cent.
I am also a competitive runner and club captain of a successful Bournemouth Athletics Club squad.
Work Experience
November 2008 to April 2010:Media Communications Officer, Hampshire County Council
- Effective proactive and reactive media handling in a fast paced sensitive environment with tight deadlines.
- Enhancing the authority’s reputation through effective and targeted media campaigns.
- Developing media centre web pages focusing on:clear presentation; easy navigation;embedding audio and visual material.
- Creating the official County Council Twitter feed and providing web based and technical support to other press officers.
- Writing press releases, statements and letters and responding timely to media enquiries.
- Preparing publicity campaigns, media events and photo calls.
- Monitoring local and national news, acting upon it where necessary and creating quarterly media evaluation reports.
- Providing media support and assistance at external events including the New Forest Show.
- Working with a portfolio inclusive of: IT; Trading Standards; Property; Economic Development; Sport; Culture; Countryside; Rural Affairs.
- Providing media relations advice and information to senior officers and elected council members including the cabinet.
- Writing press releases, dealing with local and national media on a day-to-day basis and on match days.
- Maintaining and updating the website using new media to enhance the club's online profile and to creating interactive services with video and audio capabilities suitable for the broadband era.
- Working with departments to ensure campaigns and messages reach target audiences.
- Project managing two major redevelopments of the website to keep pace with customer expectations and web capabilities.
- Increasing website visitor numbers and creating a loyal customer base willing to make repeat purchases.
- Managing the national press at Rio Ferdinand’s Manchester United debut and a visit of Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe MP.
- Providing communications support to high profile professional footballers.
- Commentating on matches for the club’s online subscription service.
- Writing athletics reports for the Bournemouth Daily Echo.
- Creating websites for small commercial companies.
- Management of the Rivals.net Euro 2000 website for the French national team.
- Management of the Rivals.net AFC Bournemouth fan site.
- Sourcing and writing journalistic content for the web.
- Awarded best football website in the inaugural Rivals.net network awards.
Higher education:PortsmouthUniversity
Diploma of Higher Education in Interactive Media Management
Further education:BournemouthGrammar School Sixth Form
A-Level passes in Maths, Business Studies & Geography
Secondary education:BournemouthGrammar School
GCSE Grades A-B in twelve subjects including Maths, English, English Literature & Science.
IT Skills
- Competent user of Microsoft Office packages.
- Comfortable with HTML, Content Management Systems and Dreamweaver.
- Able to create and edit audio, images and video.
I have proven team building qualities through my time as club captain of Bournemouth Athletics Club and Team Manager for Dorset's road running and cross country squad. My individual successes include a 2 hour 31 minute Marathon at London in 2010 which underlines a high work ethic and discipline to achieve.
I have also been responsible for promoting Bournemouth AC online through helping to develop the club website and using social media tools such as Twitter and YouTube to enhance its online presence.
My role at Dorset Athletics has involved being on the organising committee of the county road race league, which holds twelve events throughout the year attracting around 1,000 runners.
Outside of running I enjoy swimming, cycling, films, music and comedy in addition to being a black belt in karate.
References & Examples Of My Work - Available upon request