Alastair Thompson
Publisher, Editor, Director, Trustee at Scoop Independent News- Claim this Profile
Click to upgrade to our gold package
for the full feature experience.
Topline Score
Bio
Scott Poynton
I worked very closely with Alastair during the whole of 2016. My colleagues and I were setting up a new initiative - Earthworm - within The Forest Trust and Alastair's far sighted strategic thinking and comms expertise was hugely helpful in getting us - and keeping us - on the right track. Alastair was deeply respectful of others' views and brought his own insights to the group in a way that inspired our own thought and innovation. Alastair is passionate about people and about change processes and together we indeed expanded our thought processes and ultimate implementation way beyond where we would have been able to go on our own. I have no hesitation recommending Alastair to any prospective partnership as a strategic, thoughtful, intensely committed and ultimately very human team player. At the end, also as a great friend.
Chelsea Robinson
Alastair is open minded, sharp, strategic and loves to learn. His political nous and knowledge of the role media plays in the 21st century brings societal thinking into every conversation. I have watched Al dedicate time to young people as individuals and youth with ideas and help them on their journey. Generosity is his middle name, from running a solid, nationally recognised business for over 10 years and then giving it away to a collaborative group of new leaders, through to giving away his time to people who need a one-on-one conversation. My favourite attribute of Al is his innovative, future focussed attitude. Always looking for the next inspiration, while being pragmatic and savvy with how the world works today. Thank you Alastair!
Scott Poynton
I worked very closely with Alastair during the whole of 2016. My colleagues and I were setting up a new initiative - Earthworm - within The Forest Trust and Alastair's far sighted strategic thinking and comms expertise was hugely helpful in getting us - and keeping us - on the right track. Alastair was deeply respectful of others' views and brought his own insights to the group in a way that inspired our own thought and innovation. Alastair is passionate about people and about change processes and together we indeed expanded our thought processes and ultimate implementation way beyond where we would have been able to go on our own. I have no hesitation recommending Alastair to any prospective partnership as a strategic, thoughtful, intensely committed and ultimately very human team player. At the end, also as a great friend.
Chelsea Robinson
Alastair is open minded, sharp, strategic and loves to learn. His political nous and knowledge of the role media plays in the 21st century brings societal thinking into every conversation. I have watched Al dedicate time to young people as individuals and youth with ideas and help them on their journey. Generosity is his middle name, from running a solid, nationally recognised business for over 10 years and then giving it away to a collaborative group of new leaders, through to giving away his time to people who need a one-on-one conversation. My favourite attribute of Al is his innovative, future focussed attitude. Always looking for the next inspiration, while being pragmatic and savvy with how the world works today. Thank you Alastair!
Scott Poynton
I worked very closely with Alastair during the whole of 2016. My colleagues and I were setting up a new initiative - Earthworm - within The Forest Trust and Alastair's far sighted strategic thinking and comms expertise was hugely helpful in getting us - and keeping us - on the right track. Alastair was deeply respectful of others' views and brought his own insights to the group in a way that inspired our own thought and innovation. Alastair is passionate about people and about change processes and together we indeed expanded our thought processes and ultimate implementation way beyond where we would have been able to go on our own. I have no hesitation recommending Alastair to any prospective partnership as a strategic, thoughtful, intensely committed and ultimately very human team player. At the end, also as a great friend.
Chelsea Robinson
Alastair is open minded, sharp, strategic and loves to learn. His political nous and knowledge of the role media plays in the 21st century brings societal thinking into every conversation. I have watched Al dedicate time to young people as individuals and youth with ideas and help them on their journey. Generosity is his middle name, from running a solid, nationally recognised business for over 10 years and then giving it away to a collaborative group of new leaders, through to giving away his time to people who need a one-on-one conversation. My favourite attribute of Al is his innovative, future focussed attitude. Always looking for the next inspiration, while being pragmatic and savvy with how the world works today. Thank you Alastair!
Scott Poynton
I worked very closely with Alastair during the whole of 2016. My colleagues and I were setting up a new initiative - Earthworm - within The Forest Trust and Alastair's far sighted strategic thinking and comms expertise was hugely helpful in getting us - and keeping us - on the right track. Alastair was deeply respectful of others' views and brought his own insights to the group in a way that inspired our own thought and innovation. Alastair is passionate about people and about change processes and together we indeed expanded our thought processes and ultimate implementation way beyond where we would have been able to go on our own. I have no hesitation recommending Alastair to any prospective partnership as a strategic, thoughtful, intensely committed and ultimately very human team player. At the end, also as a great friend.
Chelsea Robinson
Alastair is open minded, sharp, strategic and loves to learn. His political nous and knowledge of the role media plays in the 21st century brings societal thinking into every conversation. I have watched Al dedicate time to young people as individuals and youth with ideas and help them on their journey. Generosity is his middle name, from running a solid, nationally recognised business for over 10 years and then giving it away to a collaborative group of new leaders, through to giving away his time to people who need a one-on-one conversation. My favourite attribute of Al is his innovative, future focussed attitude. Always looking for the next inspiration, while being pragmatic and savvy with how the world works today. Thank you Alastair!
Experience
-
Scoop Independent News
-
New Zealand
-
Internet News
-
1 - 100 Employee
-
Publisher, Editor, Director, Trustee
-
Jun 1999 - Present
I founded, developed and have led management of the business from its creation in June 1999 till now. In 2015 the company restructured itself by incorporating a charitable trust (The Scoop Foundation for Public Interest Journalism) - and vested the publishing assets of Scoop into charitable ownership..
-
-
Trustee
-
Sep 2015 - Present
The Scoop Foundation is the result of a 12 month project - Operation Chrysalis - which converted a the 16 year old privately owned Scoop Independent News publishing business into a new kind of news business held charitably for the benefit of the people of New Zealand. The Scoop Foundation Trust Board was formed in September 2015.
-
-
-
Human Brain Project
-
Belgium
-
Research Services
-
1 - 100 Employee
-
Digital Communications Content Coordinator
-
Oct 2020 - Jun 2021
Responsible for leading the communications task in a multidisciplinary team, including digital comms, website, scientific communication content and social media.
-
-
Communications Work Package - Acting Leader
-
Apr 2020 - Oct 2020
After leading the planning effort for communications efforts in the final three year phase of the Human Brain Project in 2019 from April 2020 became the acting leader of the Communications & Outreach work package - comprised of four teams and 17 team members in four locations, Austria (Outreach & Education), Geneva (Partnering and Communications) , Julich (Media Communications) and Madrid (Innovation). I handed over the WP to a new Chief Communications Officer in October 2020.
-
-
Digital Media Content Coordinator
-
Oct 2018 - Apr 2020
The Human Brain Project (HBP) is a journey of discovery into the inner-sphere, a massive collaborative effort to "compute" the Human Brain. The HBP is an EC DG-Cnect Funded Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Flagship research project which runs till March 2023. I work in the project coordination office as a member of the projects communications team, and am responsible for looking after the humanbrainproject.eu website, and social media channels.
-
-
-
Freelance, self-employed
-
Switzerland France & UK
-
Specialist Digital Communications & Media Consultant
-
Mar 2016 - Oct 2018
Freelance consultant based in Bretagne, France working for various organisations in Switzerland, UK and France. Specialisations: 1/ Digital communications, product, marketing and content strategy for corporates & news organisations. 2/ Implementation of distributed decision making within businesses and organisations using the Loomio. 3/ Online engagement strategy, Freelance consultant based in Bretagne, France working for various organisations in Switzerland, UK and France. Specialisations: 1/ Digital communications, product, marketing and content strategy for corporates & news organisations. 2/ Implementation of distributed decision making within businesses and organisations using the Loomio. 3/ Online engagement strategy,
-
-
-
Earthworm Foundation
-
Switzerland
-
Environmental Services
-
200 - 300 Employee
-
Digger
-
Mar 2016 - Dec 2016
Earthworm.net is a story sharing adventure to inspire and empower people working to create conditions in human society for life to flourish. I have joined Earthworm.net team to assist with communications. Earthworm.net is a story sharing adventure to inspire and empower people working to create conditions in human society for life to flourish. I have joined Earthworm.net team to assist with communications.
-
-
-
Enspiral
-
New Zealand
-
Civic and Social Organizations
-
1 - 100 Employee
-
Fellow - LifeHack Flourishing Fellowship
-
May 2015 - Sep 2015
-
-
-
Straight Furrow Newspaper
-
Wellington Region, New Zealand
-
Editor Straight Furrow Newspaper (NZ)
-
Jul 1996 - May 1999
I edited the fortnightly newspaper which had a circulation of 90,000 copies and was distributed to every rural delivery address in New Zealand. I departed when the newspaper was sold. I edited the fortnightly newspaper which had a circulation of 90,000 copies and was distributed to every rural delivery address in New Zealand. I departed when the newspaper was sold.
-
-
-
-
Feature Writer
-
Jan 1995 - Jul 1995
I wrote investigative in-depth feature articles (5000-7000 words) as a senior feature writer. I wrote investigative in-depth feature articles (5000-7000 words) as a senior feature writer.
-
-
-
National Business Review
-
New Zealand
-
Online Audio and Video Media
-
1 - 100 Employee
-
Investigative Reporter
-
Dec 1993 - Jan 1995
I reported on corporate fraud, tax evasion and corruption in high places. I went on to become a Press Gallery reporter where I wrote about politics and business. I reported on corporate fraud, tax evasion and corruption in high places. I went on to become a Press Gallery reporter where I wrote about politics and business.
-
-
-
The Dominion Post Newspaper
-
United States
-
Newspaper Publishing
-
1 - 100 Employee
-
Reporter (Arts, Courts, Features, Investigatons)
-
Jul 1989 - Dec 1993
Police, culture, politics, weather, captions and investigations notably the coverage of the Renshaw Edwards legal fraud case which saw $30 million lost. For coverage of this case I won several senior reporting prizes including the Jubilee prize for investigative reporting and the Westpac Business Journalist of the year award. Police, culture, politics, weather, captions and investigations notably the coverage of the Renshaw Edwards legal fraud case which saw $30 million lost. For coverage of this case I won several senior reporting prizes including the Jubilee prize for investigative reporting and the Westpac Business Journalist of the year award.
-
-
Education
-
1992 - 1999
Victoria University of Wellington
BA/LLB, Law, History -
1987 - 1987
University of Canterbury
BA, Maths, Philosophy, History -
1984 - 1986
Linwood High School
University, Entrance
Community
