August 2008 to date: Freelance journalist, consultant and editor.
I write and edit features for national newspapers and magazines, based in North Yorkshire. My work has appeared in the Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Sun, The Independent on Sunday, Marie Claire, You, Best, Woman, Company, Yours, Fabulous and most other national magazines and supplements.
 

May 2007 to September 2008: Launch editor of Fabulous magazine.  Co-devised the concept for Fabulous then recruited and managed a team of 22 journalists to produce a contemporary new woman’s weekly supplement with a circulation of 3.5 million, on a launch budget of £16 million. The magazine is now the award-winning supplement to The Sun on Sunday. I was shortlisted in the 2008 British Society of Magazine Editors’ Awards for the Fiona McPherson New Editor of the Year. Fabulous won Highly Commended for Launch of the Year
 

January 2002 to May 2007: Freelance contributing editor and feature writer.  Contributing Editor to First, Closer and Grazia on the launch of all three titles. Other clients included Elle, Eve, Marie Claire, Closer, Sunday Mirror, The Mirror, Woman, You magazine, The Daily Record and The Herald. Head of Features at the Press Association 2004-2005.
 

May 1999 – January 2002: US-based freelance feature writer in California. Wrote human interest stories for newspapers and magazines in Britain.

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October 1998 – May 1999: Features Editor, Daily Record, Mirror Group Newspapers, Glasgow.

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September 1997 – October 1998: Associate Editor, Woman magazine.

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September 1995 – September 1997: Features Editor, Woman magazine.

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May 1994 – September 1995: News Editor, Company magazine, National Magazine Company.

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August 1990 – May 1994: Feature writer, Daily Record, Mirror Group Newspapers, Glasgow.

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June – August 1990: Freelance feature writer with the Daily Express.

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March 1990 – June 1990: Travelled through South East Asia and Australia, filing features to Hong Kong publications.

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May 1988 – March 1990: Feature writer then News Editor of Hong Kong’s biggest English language newspaper, The South China Sunday Morning Post.

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June 1987 – May 1988: Feature writer with the Hong Kong Standard daily newspaper.

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October 1986 – July 1987: Senior news reporter with the Yorkshire Evening Press, York.

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August 1984 – October 1986: Deputy news editor then a sub-editor on the Redbridge Guardian, Essex.

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August 1982 – August 1984: Reporter on the Goole Times.

 

TEACHING AND GUEST SPEAKING

• I have run workshops in journalism and freelance writing for the University of Hull’s BA Honours students.

• In August 2009 I co-taught Arvon’s Journalism course at Lumb Bank.

• I volunteer for a local charity, going into primary schools to help improve children’s reading skills.

• I have taught adult literacy

 

SKILLS
100 wpm shorthand with National Council for the Training of Journalists; 60wpm typing speed, NCTJ exams in central government (credit), local government (distinction) and law. Full UK driving licence. Done local and national TV and radio interviews to promote stories and brands. Speak some French and German.
 

FURTHER EDUCATION
2006-2009: Master of Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Hull. Won the inaugural 2007 Philip Larkin Prize for the most promising creative writing student.
2004-6: Certificate in Creative Writing, University of Hull.
1978-1981: King’s College, University of London: BA (Honours) in English and Related Literature (class: upper second).
 

EDUCATION
1971-1978: Goole Grammar School. Nine GCE O’levels including Maths and English. GCE A’levels: English (grade A), French (B) and German (C). Special Paper in Literature: Distinction.
 

INTERESTS
Creative writing, photography, playing the acoustic guitar, independent cinema.