My life in work

I have spent the last few years in the world of digital media – successfully delivering user-focused creative solutions in-house for the likes of AOL and IPC Media.

I am an articulate communicator who always wants to make the client happy and believes that the consumer experience can be improved: I like to think I know what does and doesn’t work online and how to make sites sticky.

If you want someone who knows SEO, UX, web trend analysis, how to write for the web, an experienced blogger, someone who is well-versed in content management tools and much more, then I’m probably your man.

I am also an experienced online and print journalist in a variety of subject areas, and can turn my hand to writing and editing about pretty much any topic. I’ve done the whole editing and commissioning content, I’ve managed budgets and small teams, am commercially aware and can even go on TV or radio to talk up projects successfully (no, I’m not posting my showreel).

I’m also very passionate about getting people to use the internet properly and get the most out of their experience, whoever they are.

Skills and specialties

- SEO
- Web trend analysis
- Editing, commissioning and writing for print and online
- Youth, entertainment and women’s market
- Development of strategic editorial and business plans
- HTML, Photoshop, Knowledge of a variety of CMS
- Very good French and German; good Russian, Swedish and Italian

Experience

Senior Digital Editor – Age UK

March 2010 – Present

I run the Age UK website, leading on editorial strategy and being a key part of the digital set-up of the organisation.

Age UK is the new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged.

SEO and Social Media Expert/Content Specialist

September 2009 – Feb 2010

I take on any job, large or small in the digital space, be it editing, consulting or just plain writing, working for clients such as DCSF (Department, Children, Schools and Families), AOL and Future Laboratories.

Senior Content Manager, IPC Media

August 2007 – September 2009

Oversaw content management and future development of mass-market women’s website goodtoknow.co.uk. Was member of a company-wide steering committee to improve the in-house CMS, plus trained magazine journalists on how to upload content to the web.
Specifically managed the development of the health, family, sex & relationship areas, drove the site SEO focus, undertook daily trend analysis via Omniture, plus expansion of user-generated content and video.

Senior Editor, Youth, AOL UK

November 2004 – August 2007

Operational lead for AOL’s Youth offering and manager of the programming team, which kind of means I’m “down with the kids”. Did deals with Planet Cook and Cartoon Network to enable content on the site. Also responsible for strategic and programming plans, product development and integration as well as delivery against performance and revenue targets and making the internet fun!

Launch Editor, Eleven, AOL UK

August 2006 – February 2007

Developed the proposition for an was the launch editor of Eleven, the women’s coffee-break area on AOL UK, containing a fun mix of celeb gossip, games, fashion and funny videos
I was the programming lead and main partner liaison, brokering deals with Mr Paparazzi, helping to build an instant success with a large, engaged audience (more than 500K unique visitors and 3m page views in the first six months)

Freelance Writer/Editor

March 2003 – April 2005

Provided freelance cover at Commissioning and Features Editor level on magazines, such as Radio Times, New Woman, 3am magazine, new!, Mizz, Wanadoo’s icircle.co.uk
Wrote articles for a variety of magazines: Glamour, Marie Claire, Company, Zoo, bliss, 19, Sainsbury’s and many more
Was part of the small award-winning team behind the BBC’s Songs Of Praise magazine

Editor, Emap

January 1999 – March 2003

Features Editor – more! magazine (2001-2003)
Managed a team of three writers
Commissioned and edited the features content for the fortnightly title

Chief Sub Editor/writer – LOOKS magazine (1999-2001)
Edited the entire monthly magazine
Enabled the smooth-running of the magazine’s entire production, from raw copy, through to pre-printing stage
Wrote regular style and celebrity-based features

Chief Sub Editor,Two-Can Publishing

October 1997 – December 1998
I was the glue that held together the weekly Young Telegraph newspaper and fortnightly magazine Disney’s Big Time.
This involved, among other things, editing and writing, and interviewing some of the top pop acts of the day, including 5ive, 911 and B*witched

Editor, The Publishing Team

July 1996 – October 1997
Responsibilities included editing a variety of customer magazines, for companies such as Sky, House Of Fraser, Alliance and Leicester and Flightbookers. I wrote, commissioned and edited copy, liaised with clients and pitched for new business

Education

The University of Sheffield, 1990 – 1994

BA, German & Russian: I also studied Swedish, Spanish and Polish and spent every waking hour not devoted to my course, holed up in the student newspaper office