Ping! - the Public Interest News Gateway - supports independent community journalists by creating new revenue streams, helping to create a more sustainable and diverse news ecosystem.With Ping! regional and national publishers can access rich local content from every region of the UK on demand from hundreds of professional independent community journalists.This daily flow of regional, multimedia content is provided by Independent Community News Network’s 100+ members - reputable, quality-assured reporters embedded in their communities filing the very best in local news. Despite the decline of traditional print media, the public’s appetite for local news remains strong. This has created a gap in the market for quality and trustworthy sources of independent community news. Ping News is bridging this gap by providing a platform for independent community journalists to share their work with regional and national publishers. This ensures that news that might otherwise go unreported is given the attention it deserves.Designed and built in partnership with ICNN and Bristol-based web app development company Omni Digital, Ping! enables regional and national publishers to stay up-to-date, access unique or trending stories, be more engaging and deliver more to audiences.With content accessed using Ping!, publishers can drive more traffic, generate more clicks and ultimately grow revenue.

Based in a fast-paced newsroom, I manage and coordinate the delivery and production of all SWNS features content for the national and regional media, including local newspapers, magazines, TV and radio. I was quickly promoted to this role after proving myself as a reporter and writer for SWNS.Key aspects of my role include:• Managing and working within a team of writers in offices across the country• Building relationships with a very extensive list of contacts from every national newspaper, many regional newspapers, TV and radio shows• Setting up and managing SWNS’s own digital real-life magazine, Real Fix. As well as producing engaging digital content, I coordinate the brand’s social media presence, and after implementing a clear strategy I have gained 50,000 organic followers and developed an engaged community in just over a year.• Developing and implementing strategies and campaigns to proactively place news and features in line with media trends• Managing strict budgets and carrying out a range of administrative and HR-related tasks• Liaising with and reporting to key stakeholders and syndication partners• Leading a range of projects, including working with a large publishing house to rework the content and economic strategy to bring it in line with the fast-changing media landscape • Writing and editing copy for a wide range of media platforms (my portfolio includes cuttings from almost every national newspaper & magazines)

My role included sourcing, pitching and writing news stories and features for the national media, including newspapers, magazines, TV and radio. As well as proactively offering news and features content, I was also involved in planning proactive media campaigns for certain clients.I worked closely with press officers at charities, hospitals and police forces across the country to negotiate and deliver coverage. I regularly exceeded sales targets and was proud to establish fruitful relationships with new contacts across a variety of media platforms.

After SWNS partnered with Custard, an online PR agency, I coordinated all campaign-led PR content for the agency’s range of clients.After establishing carefully planned campaign strategies, I focussed on gaining coverage in local and online newspapers and achieved targeted traffic from niche publications. This position enabled me to demonstrate a clear understanding of the role of digital, particularly social media, in successful communications.