Experience

Newsquest Media Group Ltd

• Newspaper Publishing
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Senior content editor

  • Jun 2020 - Present

  Content editor with responsibility for the online and print output of the Helensburgh Advertiser, the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter and the Clydebank Post. I manage a small team of reporters across those three titles, allocating resources where required to maintain and improve the quality of our print and online news services and increase audience numbers and engagement. I'm responsible for leading the engagement with external contributors - freelance reporters and photographers, outside columnists and so on. I still do news writing to provide cover during staff absence. Show less

• Group content editor, Clyde Weekly Press

  • Mar 2018 - Present

  Content editor responsible for the Helensburgh Advertiser's print, online and social media content, overseeing a small team of two reporters and doing a bit of reporting too. I also provide content editing cover on Newsquest's other Clyde Weekly Press titles (Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter, Clydebank Post, The [Paisley and Renfrewshire] Gazette, Barrhead News, and the Paisley People).

• Senior reporter

  • Jun 2016 - Mar 2018

  Senior member of the reporting team on the Helensburgh Advertiser newspaper, writing for print and web across the full range of local newspaper topics - hard news, features, interviews, council, court and more. Occasionally provide material for the Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter and the Clydebank Post too.



Johnston Press

• United Kingdom
• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Editor, The Buteman

  • Aug 2002 - Apr 2016

  As the senior member of the news team at the longest-established local newspaper in the Argyll and Bute area, I was responsible for writing and/or overseeing all content published in a 24-page weekly printed newspaper and up to 35 local news stories published each week (including weekends) at www.buteman.co.uk. My own written output included news reports, feature articles, profile and interview pieces, arts and culture previews and reviews, and sport reports. I was also responsible for instigating and monitoring social media interaction between The Buteman and its readers. My work also included taking photographs, editing and prioritising submitted copy, proof-reading, creating online video and slideshow content, laying out pages for print, liaising with management and customers, creating plans for each print issue of The Buteman, organising events to raise the newspaper's profile in the community such as election hustings, and taking ultimate responsibility for all the print and online material published under the newspaper's name. I led a major increase in The Buteman's online presence to the point where the paper was among the best performing titles in the Scottish stable of its publisher, Johnston Press, in terms of year-on-year online audience growth. I also led the development of additional digital content on our site over the last year or so through the provision, for the first time, of video and slideshow material. My online role involved the creation and/or oversight of at least 35 new online stories every week and optimising copy – including headlines and article text – to grab the attention both of online readers and internet search engines. This work involved continuous daily use of the Atex content management system and InCopy and InDesign programmes. My role also involved building and enhancing our network of contacts through regular discussions with key stakeholders, including political and public figures as well as readers and advertisers. Show less