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, IPC Media and Age UK.
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 engaging for the user.
If you want someone who understands content strategy, 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’m 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 talk confidently on TV or radio.
In addition, I’m passionate about getting people to use the internet properly and get the most out of their experience, whoever they are.
Skills and specialties
- Content strategy
- Content management
- Social media
- SEO
- Web analytics
- Editing, commissioning and writing for print and online
- Youth, health, family, relationships, entertainment and women’s markets
- Development of ideas and audience propositions
- HTML, Photoshop
- Excellent French and German; good Russian, Swedish and Italian
- User experience development and execution
- Employee representation
Experience
Senior Digital Editor – Age UK
March 2010 – Present
Senior member of the digital team, responsible for editorial strategy on the Age UK website, liaising with internal stakeholders, commissioning content both internally and externally, leading on projects and more.
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 took 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 The Future Laboratory.
Senior Content Manager, IPC Media
August 2007 – September 2009
Oversaw launch, 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 and 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
Whitgift School, 1983-1990
3 A Levels, 2 AO Levels, 2 O Levels, 8 GCSEs
