CV

Present Position / Professional Profile

I am currently freelancing at ITV Westcountry in Bristol, working on production and sub-editing shifts for the various news programmes. I have also returned to on-screen reporting and am covering both serious stories and lighter feature pieces.

During the last year l also formed a radio consortium for Bath, comprising the former MD of HTV, Quidem Radio chief Steve Orchard & Ralph Bernard and former GWR boss Simon Cooper. I've also joined Crown Media to work on their armed forces training exercises and was a royal correspondent for the breakfast show on Brisbane radio station 4BH covering the Royal Wedding in April.

For almost 10 years I was employed as a Producer / Director at Daybreak / GMTV, where my main responsibilities included writing, Avid editing v.t.’s, voicing reports and GMTV promos, producing live O.B.’s and much of our factual /entertainment output in a fast turn-around environment.

I've also shot special items with DV Cam, including undercover hidden camera, & directed drama reconstructions for ‘Crime Week’. During a secondment to a two month ‘live’ house renovation series I managed a team of over 20, including talent, ( designers / presenters ), and budgets.

Other highlights I’ve really enjoyed include 5 holiday films in South Africa & Namibia, including wildlife filming twice in '02 & '06, and a special feature in Hawaii. I've been ‘acting’ Senior Producer in charge of GMTV’s Newshour, (6-7am), and had stints as News Intake Editor. I also covered the Israel / Lebanon war in Beirut, and narrated a series for Discovery Life channel, called 'Life Coach'.

In 2009, following plans by the DCMS for IFNC's,  I formed the only west country consortium of its kind, comprising media professionals and business leaders to explore possibilities for local multi-media cross platform news provision. Devoting my spare time to the project, I drove the group, managing regular meetings, recruiting a chairman and several major south west business partners in newspapers and tv media production. I also steered the group in meeting with agencies like Ofcom and the Government. More recently, I have also become a sessional and visiting lecturer in media studies at Bath Spa University and The University of Worcester.  I have also trained young offenders in radio production at Portland Y.O.I.

Previously…

At BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat I was on-air as a Senior Broadcast Journalist in Entertainment News. I produced / presented for Radio 5 Live - including Breakfast / Nicky Campbell Show, Ian Payne / Kevin Greening, Drivetime. At Radio 1, I reported on showbiz stories for Newsbeat, Jo Whiley / Drivetime and the Backstage and Top 40 programmes.  In BBC News I originated ideas, produced & wrote daily entertainment bulletins for 5 Live, Radio 1 & Radio 2’s Steve Wright Show, liaising with programme teams, editors and music / media industry figures, often handling breaking stories.

I confirmed 'Live 8' for BBC News with a Midge Ure exclusive on 6 Music - & also broke news of John Peel’s death on the station. In the final days of ITV regional programming, I was presenter and asst. producer of a weekly entertainment magazine show, The Pleasure Guide, at HTV West, Bristol. This involved studio presenting, location filming and doing items for HTV News.

As an 80’s teenager it’s fair to say I'm a bit of an expert on 1980’s music. I was also at the heart of the 'indie' music scene in Liverpool during the '90's, breaking several bands on-air, and covered major news stories as a tv reporter across Merseyside.

Skills

Journalism, interviewing, television and radio presentation, (incl. autocue) / producing / single cam directing, DV cam, team-leading, interpersonal, initiative and survival skills, touch-typing, windows, digital editing (radio / tv); Avid newscutter, RCS, Dalet. BBC systems: Adobe Audition (Cool Edit Pro), DCart, ENPS, GMTV- i News / full driving licence, no endorsements.

Accomplishments

Voice-over journalist for 'The Economist' global podcast 2010.

War coverage of the Israel / Lebanon conflict July 2006 - Produce / direct Richard Gaisford & film refugees living in Beirut park - survive attack & kidnap by Hizbullah elements.

( GMTV Special Projects Dept)

Great Escapes, South Africa & Namibia 2007, GMTV’s holiday features- 5 films.
Maui, Hawaii- ‘Dreams Come True’, produce / direct a family living the dream.
Hand Over Your House, 8 week live interactive house renovation and VT inserts, managing a team.
Crime Week producer / director, drama reconstructions of serious crime involving local police forces.
Eamonn’s Africa, 2 weeks wildlife filming and lives from Shamwari in S. Africa.

( Accomplishments cont/d )

Sessional and visiting lecturer in media studies at Bath Spa University and The University of Worcester.

Training young offenders in radio production and presentation at Portland Y.O.I.

News;
Special film-making projects on DV Cam for GMTV- incl. undercover drugs filming in Brixton and regular self-shooting on stories.

Network radio news / entertainment presentation, BBC Radio 1 / 5 Live / 6 Music.
Radio 1 exclusive - get Brian Harvey to reveal Daniella Westbrook’s in rehab in USA - front page Daily Mirror.
Confirm Live 8 for BBC News with Midge Ure exclusive - break news of John Peel’s death to 6 Music.

Television production / presentation for ITV, GMTV- live OB production.

Developed music industry reputed and loyal following in North West on ‘indie’ music show at Radio City and Crash FM, Liverpool during late 1990’s- "The Third Degree."

Numerous radio and tv rock documentaries and specials.

Audition for Big Breakfast, Planet 24, Dec. 1993.

UK’s youngest member of a consortium to win a radio station license- IBA in 1988, Orchard FM - Somerset. Launched station as first voice on-air, Nov 1989 and key part of on air launch team for over 2 years.

 

Unique Broadcasting

Unique, ( UBC ), Numerous development projects / Interviews & production for ‘The Real Michael Jackson’ doco with Clive Anderson for BBC 5 Live, 2001- 05’.

Discovery Life, narrator for series, 'Life Coach', 2002.

Eagle FM, Bristol, Saturday mid-morning presenter / producer, Nov ‘99- March ’00. Guests, phone-ins, chat & music.

ITN, HTV West Current Affairs, Summer ‘99.

Liverpool Echo, freelance features, ‘99.

BBC World Service, London, features and showbiz interviews, ‘93- ‘95.

Western Gazette, Yeovil, Somerset, rock columnist, ‘91 / ‘92.

Special Features - Radio & Television

Great Escapes, South Africa & Namibia 2007, GMTV’s holidays features— 5 films.

The Real Michael Jackson doco – BBC Radio 5 Live, 2004, Unique.

‘Hand Over Your House’ – GMTV interactive live house renovation, undercover drugs investigation, Crimestoppers Week / Eamonn’s Africa, Brit Awards, DV reports- GMTV.

Radio1 / 5 Live Madonna OBs, Q Awards broadcast, Royal Yacht Britannia OB (TV). Hillsborough Justice Concert OB, (radio). Documentaries: Fleetwood Mac in Las Vegas (networked ILR ‘90), Producer Nile Rodgers in New York, Glastonbury Festivals ‘92-‘99, Bosnia Airlift documentary.

Qualifications & Training

GMTV

- Avid Newscutter edit training, Pinewood Studios, Bucks, one week, January, 2009

- Hostile Environment Training Course & first aid, ( certified ), Centurion, one week, March 2007.

Health & safety training, legal refresher - 2004 / 2008.

BBC News - Health & Safety Training Course and exam, January 2001.

Mirror Group Newspapers journalism and legal training, Summer ‘97.

BTEC Higher National Certificate in Public Administration, Distinction,Taunton.

Seven ‘O’ Levels, including English grade A, Huish Episcopi School, Somerset.

Interests

Music ( singing in band ), Egyptology, writing, reading, travel, gigs & films, skiing, gardening.

 

Top of page