Pat English

Experience

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  Celtic Newspapers

  Sept 1977 - Aug 1980

  • Designer and sub-editor for the sports pages of nine weekly newspapers - Cynon Valley Leader, Rhondda Leader, Pontypridd and Llantrisant Observer, Gwent Gazette, Merthyr Express, Rhymney Valley Express, Glamorgan Gazette, Neath Guardian, Port Talbot Guardian.• This included making editorial decisions and liaising with freelance correspondents. • Completed 16-week pre-entry training at the Thomson Regional Newspapers training centre in Cardiff, including Media Law, Public Affairs and Teeline shorthand (120wpm) exams.• This eventually led to final exams for the NCTJ senior journalist qualification, 18 months later.• Worked as a news reporter in Ebbw Vale for the Gwent Gazette, part of Celtic Newspapers, covering court, local government, crime and all aspects of community news.

  • Deputy Chief Sports Sub-Editor

    Dec 1978 - Aug 1980

  • Reporter

    Sept 1977 - Dec 1978
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  South Wales Echo

  Aug 1980 - Jan 1987

  Assistant Chief Sub-Editor

  • Designer and sub-editor for the South Wales Echo news pages.• Assistant Chief Sub role included copytasting of stories from both the newsroom and agency wire feeds.

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  Western Mail

  Jan 1987 - Aug 1992

  Special Features Editor

  • Working mainly alone, responsible for the design and sub-editing of special advertising features and supplements for the Western Mail.• Liaised with customers and advertising staff. This included writing where needed.

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  Western Mail & Echo

  Aug 1992 - Jan 1994

  Commercial Features Editor

  • Headed up a small team providing content for both the Western Mail and South Wales Echo.• Manager of a small team of designers and sub-editors.• Liaised with customers and advertising staff to produce advertising features and sponsored supplements. This included writing where needed.

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  Western Mail

  Jan 1994 - Sept 2002

  • Responsible for the design and sub-editing of all news and feature pages of the Western Mail, including special supplements, meeting all deadlines.• Responsible for forward planning of the Western Mail's special features, campaigns and supplements.• Manager of a team of designers and sub-editors.• "Stone sub" - checking final pages in the composing room and making any cuts or changes.• Liaised with customers and advertising staff to produce advertising features and sponsored supplements. This included writing where needed. Show less

  • Design and Planning Editor

    Jan 1997 - Sept 2002

  • Supplements Editor

    Jan 1994 - Jan 1997
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  Media Wales

  Dec 2012 - Oct 2015

  • Editor of seven weekly newspapers in South Wales - Cynon Valley Leader, Rhondda Leader, Pontypridd and Llantrisant Observer, Gwent Gazette, Merthyr Express, Rhymney Valley Express, Glamorgan Gazette. Including managing people, editing, sub-editing, designing pages, uploading to WalesOnline, social media, handling reader queries.• Simultaneously Commercial Editor for Media Wales, with an overview of the advertising feature and special supplements operation, hands-on where needed.• Simultaneously Editorial Training Manager with special responsibility for trainee reporters and IT systems training and liaison. Show less • Responsible for development and mentoring of trainee reporters - successfully saw 106 trainee news reporters through their senior journalism exams.• Delivered courses to businesses and charity groups on liaising with the media and writing press releases, at Media Wales and at their own venues.• Acted as judge for Welsh Woman of the Year, IWA Business Awards Wales and Welsh Apprenticeship Awards.• Responsible for planning training and liaising with HR on personal development needs.• Superuser and trainer for IT systems (Tera GN3, Contentwatch, CHP, InDesign, InCopy, CMS, Escenic).• Troubleshooter for all IT systems, plus Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Photoshop, Gmail etc.• Studied successfully for a B Ed in Vocational Training at Cardiff University. Show less • A new role recruiting and heading up a team of two community content curators and a community affairs correspondent to develop user generated content. This included liaising with the public to send in their charity stories, their own art for a gallery, district correspondent news for the Celtic weekly newspapers and photos for campaigns such as bonny babies, Halloween horrors, pet idols, Santa's little helpers, etc.• Simultaneously Editorial Training Manager with special responsibility for trainee reporters and IT systems training and liaison.• Simultaneously Readers' Letters Editor for the Western Mail and South Wales Echo. Show less

  • Celtic Newspapers and Commercial Editor

    Jun 2014 - Oct 2015

  • Editorial Training Manager

    Sept 2002 - Oct 2015

  • Communities Editor

    Dec 2012 - Jun 2014
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  Freelance and Newsquest Newport

  Oct 2015 - Apr 2017

  Journalist and copy-editor

  • Journalist for print and online - writer, editor, copy-editor, proof-reader, page designer, trainer, people manager.• Keen to help with any project after 38 years with Media Wales (formerly Western Mail & Echo).• Superuser and trainer in Editorial IT systems, trainer in communicating with media.• Recently working part-time as a copy-editor with Newsquest Newport, until the closure of the subbing hub.• Areas of personal interest include nature, science, history, archaeology, photography. Show less

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  New Directions Education Ltd

  May 2017 - Oct 2017

  Examination Invigilator and EFL Teacher

  Worked for New Directions Education as an invigilator for Cambridge language examinations and GCSEs. Also a CELTA-qualified teacher of English as a Foreign Language and a senior journalist/editor/trainer.

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  Cardiff Council

  Nov 2017 - now

  Support Officer

  Support Officer in Cardiff Council Highways Department - Asset Management.Responsible for supporting teams of Safety Inspectors and Highway Maintenance Engineers.