About

I have worked as a journalist and content editor for more than 15 years, with experience in both the online media and newspaper industries. My areas of expertise include content management, live blogging, SEO and social media and working to tight deadlines under pressure.

Teaching responsibilities

I work for one of the most innovative and successful Journalism programmes in the country and my responsibilities include effectively teaching and facilitating learning on a range of Journalism subjects and modules - as well as ensuring that knowledge from research and scholarly activities informs and enhances learning and teaching.

Professional interests

I am interested in the evolution of regional news outlets in light of recent digital and technological developments, together with the impact on the way journalists tell stories. This also extends into exploring the different digital storytelling tools accessible to reporters and challenging traditional interpretations of what "news" and "reporting" is.  

Research interests

My research currently focuses on features of regional journalism in 19th-century Britain and how provincial newspapers contributed to the sense of regional identity in Victorian towns and cities. I am currently working towards my PhD in this area, specifically, the development of a tabloid culture in provincial publications during this period. 

I am also interested in making connections between aspects of Victorian journalism and features of modern-day reporting, both in print and online, as well as transformations more widely in both the media industry and journalism education. 

Membership of professional bodies

• Executive committee member of the Association of Journalism Education (AJE) committee
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy 

Qualifications

• MRes Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Derby
• BA (Hons) History, University of Derby
• PGCHE, University of Derby 
• NCTJ qualifications in Newswriting, Shorthand, Law and Public Affairs
• NCE qualification in Journalism

Recent conferences

• 'Entrepreneurialism in Digital Journalism Education: the niche model' - a talk with colleague Suzanne Nelson for the Innovate Panel at the Association for Journalism Education (AJE) Summer Conference, Edinburgh Napier University, June 2023
• 'Sensationalism in the provinces: Tabloid culture and the construction of local identities in the late 19thC British regional press' - a paper given at the European Society for Periodical Research (ESPRit) 11th International Conference, Leeds Beckett University, June 2023
• 'Sensationalism in the provinces: tabloid culture and the construction of local identities in the late nineteenth-century British regional press' - a paper given at the Crossroads of Modernity symposium, University of Sheffield, May 2023
• 'The -opolis' phenomenon and urban-industrial identity in nineteenth-century Britain' - a paper given at the Urban History Group Conference, Robinson College Cambridge, March 2022

Experience in industry

I worked at the Derby Telegraph for 10 years in a variety of different roles, including sports reporter, senior reporter, health correspondent and assistant digital editor.

I then worked at the Liverpool Echo as a digital night editor, helping to organise and publish live, daily content on its website, with a particular responsibility for weekday evenings and weekends.

For many years, I have been responsible for working with different editorial departments to keep the website and apps up-to-date; helping prioritise and create content for the evening and weekends; using social media to promote content and engage with readers; ensuring content is search-engine optimised, and live-blogging key news and events on a regular basis.