Jaynehowarth's Weblog

If you have come across this blog via jaynehowarth.wordpress.com should go to http://www.jaynehowarth.co.uk/

 

Do you want to commission an experienced writer and reliable communicator who listens to the brief and delivers on time and on budget?

Do you want to increase your media profile? Do you wish your flyers, sales literature, brochures, reports and newsletters were professionally-written and proofed?

Do you look at your competitors’ literature and wish you could produce the same, sparkling copy that grabs  – and retains – readers’ attention?

If so, I can help.[picapp align=”left” wrap=”true” link=”term=newspaper&iid=6663326″ src=”2/d/0/4/Newspaper_Company_Stock_8dc3.jpg?adImageId=7918071&imageId=6663326″ width=”234″ height=”162″ /]

I am a UK-based journalist with 20 years’ experience in the newspaper industry, 15  of which were with a daily, regional broadsheet, called The Birmingham Post.

After being made redundant in November, 2008, I embarked on a freelance career and am actively seeking commissions.

Here’s what I do:

Newspapers:

Design page editor, books and travel editor, feature writer and reviewer. Commissioning editor.

News: home affairs correspondent, environment correspondent, newsdesk, general news.

I’ve written everything from 50 word reviews on the latest lipsticks to 2,500 word in-depth profiles on celebrities – or just ordinary people who have really interesting stories to tell.

Travel reviews have been published in newspapers across the country and on website havealovelytime.com . Examples:

http://bit.ly/gy1LA

http://bit.ly/7anFXc

http://bit.ly/6As2u2

http://bit.ly/8tMIke

On the “hard news” side, I have produced top-notch news stories and in-depth analyses on a wide range of subjects over 15 years.

Magazines:

A variety of features in Living, Select, Bella.

Web:

Produced SEO-friendly copy for a major English university as part of a complete overhaul of its website.

News writer on leading health news website, Englemed.co.uk. Examples are here:

http://bit.ly/873BRY

http://bit.ly/78rrYQ

http://bit.ly/84t6wq

Guest blogger on Times Online Schoolgate http://bit.ly/2BAamp

Produced copy for a local business’ website.

Copywriting:

Birmingham City Council’s Chamberlain Awards are one the authority’s main employee events of the year. For the past two years I have been commissioned to interview finalists and write tight copy to deadline for its glossy brochure. I have also written the speeches for the guest speaker at the awards ceremony.

Birmingham City University is rightly proud of its creative communities and I was commissioned to interview academics and write copy for a high-quality brochure detailing the expertise within the faculties. I was also commissioned by the institution to copyedit/write several prospectuses.

PR:

I am regularly commissioned by one of Birmingham’s most long-established and well-respected PR companies to work on innovative media campaigns, writing and distributing releases, writing features for trade magazines and newspapers, as well as producing in-house newsletters for companies.

In addition, I have worked with another Birmingham-based PR company and one in Shropshire.

Undertook a three-month contract at the University of Birmingham press office, producing news stories on academic works.

Appointed temporary publicity officer for The Federation of Children’s Book Groups for its 2009 Red House Children’s Book Award. I generated massive online publicity, as well as exposure in regional, national media and trade magazines.

Literature:

Weekly reviewer of children’s books for The Birmingham Post – a role I have held for more than 10 years. Feature writer, focusing on children’s authors.

Contributor of reviews to Carousel, the publication of The Federation of Children’s Book Groups.

I have proofread and edited books for a small, independent publisher, an author and a continental-based photographer.

Workshops:

I have led many journalism workshops for youngsters as part of the Birmingham Book Festival’s Write On programme, which sends professional writers into schools to engage and excite children about writing. It is great fun and incredibly satisfying.

I am CRB checked.

B2B  experience:

News edited, redesigned and commissioned articles, features and advertorials for a B2B publication.

Versatile as a writer?

Yeas, I am, and I would consider writing on any subject.

[picapp align=”left” wrap=”true” link=”term=juggling&iid=1205077″ src=”b/7/c/c/Circus_Oz_0732.jpg?adImageId=7914436&imageId=1205077″ width=”280″ height=”414″ /]

A juggler of many balls? Absolutely – and I am proud to be able to adapt my style to suit the audience.

A stalwart for correct grammar, my copy is well researched, well written, lively and authoritative.

More importantly for you, as a business wishing to commission an excellent communicator: I come in on budget and on time.

Away from work, I am parent governor at a primary school, with responsibility for literacy and modern foreign languages.

Click on the pages on the right hand side: there are a few articles from the Birmingham Post, which will give you a good idea of my style, as well as other items.

Memberships: NUJ, and the Freelance Alliance http://www.freelanceuk.com/freelance-journalists/jayne-howarth

To discuss work requirements and potential commissions, please contact me via email: jaynehowarth1@gmail.com