Here’s what I’ve been doing with my life
September 2014 – present
Owner-operator, Interesting Media
April 2013 – September 2014
Deputy Editor, Cambridge News. Second-in-command leading a team of 45 journalists and ancillary staff delivering print and online content to an audience of 450,000 people a month.
October 2009 – April 2013
Head of Magazines and Features, Cambridge Newspapers. Leading a team of 12 journalists and designers, I was responsible for all features content in the Cambridge News and associated titles, plus a portfolio of award-winning, high quality monthly magazines. Having taken over managing editorship of the existing Style, Cambridgeshire Journal and Grand Arcade magazines, in 2010 I launched entertainment monthly CB – named UK Regional Magazine of the Year at the 2012 Newspaper Awards (for which Style and Journal were also shortlisted).
For the Cambridge News, I oversaw all features content, including daily centre spreads, news backgrounders, columnists and commercial features, and edited three weekly pull-outs – What’s On, a 7-day arts and entertainment guide, Living, a 12-page lifestyle supplement, and TV Week, a 32-page television viewing guide, plus a range of special publications.
April 2005 – October 2009
Features Editor, Cambridge News. As above.
December 2001 – April 2005
Features Editor, Reading Chronicle. Wrote, designed and edited Weekender arts, entertainment and lifestyle magazine. In 2004, I was promoted to Deputy Regional Head of Features for the whole of Trinity Mirror Southern, managing a team of writer/subs providing 300+ feature pages per week to more than 50 newspapers across London and the South East.
April – December 2001
Freelance journalist. Writer, sub-editor and editor for national and local newspapers, magazines, websites and corporate publications.
November 1999 – April 2001
Launch Editor, Basingstoke Observer. Editor of start-up weekly newspaper in Basingstoke, Hampshire.
November 1998 – November 1999
Freelance journalist. Writer, sub-editor and editor for national and local newspapers, magazines, websites and corporate publications.
January 1996 – November 1998
Deputy Editor, Bracknell News. I was also News Editor until October 1997.
January 1994 – January 1996
Reporter, Reading Chronicle
I am also a regular freelance writer for a number of magazines, newspapers and online publications.
Awards and testimonials
Some things people have been nice enough to give me (some of them even came with a cheque)
- Columnist of the Year – 2020 UK Regional Press Awards
- Columnist of the Year – 2012 EDF Energy Media Awards (East of England)
- Columnist of the Year – 2010 EDF Energy Media Awards (East of England)
- UK Regional Magazine of the Year (CB) – 2012 National Newspaper Awards
- The Quality Award (Cambridge Magazine and Features team) – Iliffe News and Media Awards, 2011
- Also shortlisted for Columnist of the Year, UK Regional Press Awards 2013 and Highly Commended for Columnist of the Year, 2008 EDF Energy Media Awards (East of England). Style and Cambridgeshire Journal magazines shortlisted for Magazine of the Year, 2012 National Newspaper Awards
… and some things people have been nice enough to say about me
“I have to say this – you really have the touch. You make everything sound funny and wise” – Andy Martin, University of Cambridge Department of French
“Intelligent, balanced, well-written piece” – Professor Richard Dawkins
“Best article I’ve ever read about the band” – Steve Hogarth, Marillion
“Mostly accurate” – Hugh Bonneville (hey, you can’t win ’em all)
Interesting Media 