Experienced award-winning journalist ready to provide top quality copy across all sectors

Deputy Head of Content for the Colchester Daily Gazette which was the best performing regional daily paper in England and the third best in the UK in 2017. I am also Deputy Head of Content for six associated weekly titles including the award-winning Essex County Standard. This year, we have been shortlisted in the Newspaper Society's Making a Difference national awards for the best community campaign for our work on the Cancer Centre Campaign, a £3.25 million appeal to build a new cancer centre at Colchester Hospital.

Responsible for compiling the Daily Gazette and ensuring high standards are maintained throughout. I lead and co-ordinate a team of journalists, photographers and sub-editors to ensure tight deadlines are met while reacting efficiently and calmly to the ever-changing news agenda.As a specialist news writer, I cover major issues including high profile interviews ranging from interviewing Prime Minister David Cameron to exclusive prison interviews with Jeremy Bamber who is currently serving a life sentence in a high security prison after being convicted of the murders of five members of his family. I also led community campaigns including the 100,000 Smiles campaign, which raised £100,000 for a new play area for a school caring for children with special needs, the £100,000 Hope on the Horizon project to create a garden at the Help for Heroes recovery centre in Colchester and the £3.25 million Cancer Centre Campaign for a new cancer centre at Colchester Hospital.I worked with the mother of Cassie McCord, a 16-year-old student who was killed by a driver who just three days earlier had been asked to surrender his driving licence following a previous accident. After Cassie was killed, I worked with her mother, Jackie, for the introduction of Cassie's Law. The campaign collected 46,000 names on a petition which was presented to Government. It agreed to change the law to allow police officers to ask for the immediate suspension of a driving licence where the driver was considered unfit.

My role involved compiling and news editing the Essex County Standard, an award-winning newspaper with a partisan readership who feel a great sense of ownership for the title. I was also the chief reporter and secured exclusive stories and insightful features on a weekly basis despite the competition from strong daily and regional titles.

Co-ordinating news coverage for a four edition daily paper and ensuring the quality of reports. Working to tight deadlines and in conjunction with editors and other Newsquest titles.

Covering major stories including trials at the Old Bailey, High Court and Court of Appeal as well as local and general elections, breaking news and community campaigns.

Coverage of major stories for the Harwich area, news editing two weekly titles and leading a team of reporters.

General news reporter covering court, council and breaking news stories.