Niall Seewang

Experience

• 

  The Border Mail

  Feb 2007 - Jul 2010

  Reporter/sub-editor

  After a four-year period of travelling across Europe, America, the Caribbean and Asia, I completed a postgraduate diploma of journalism in Melbourne. It was through that course that I was able to gain my start in the media industry thanks to a cadetship at The Border Mail – a multi-award winning, six day per week regional newspaper. The first stage of my cadetship was as a general news reporter, where I covered breaking news, police rounds, generated stories, contributed music and movie reviews, opinion pieces and feature articles.I quickly graduated to the sub-editors' desk where I subbed copy across all departments and ensured consistency of Fairfax style. The role also involved proof reading, headline writing and dealing with a range of internal stakeholders.In my final 18 months at The Border Mail, I switched to the sports department, where I made my mark as a passionate news gatherer. I generated news, feature and opinion stories on a diverse range of sports, scheduled and developed content, and won a major Cricket Victoria award for my efforts covering the 2009 Australian Country Cricket Championships. Show less

• 

  2AY Albury

  Sept 2009 - Jul 2010

  Radio host

  Having never worked in radio before, this was a role I chased to broaden my skills into a different medium. As co-host of a popular two-hour sports chat show on Saturday mornings, I generated content, interviewed local, national and international sports personalities and liaised with numerous internal and external stakeholders.

• 

  The Age

  Oct 2009 - Nov 2009

  Sports reporter

  Such was my desire to advance my skills, I organised a two-week voluntary work placement at The Age while on holiday at The Border Mail. I generated my own stories and had multiple articles published on AFL, cricket, athletics and cycling, among other sports.

• 

  The Mercury

  Jan 2010 - Jan 2011

  Sports sub-editor

  In 2010 I moved to Hobart to work as a sports sub-editor at The Mercury. Having no prior experience, I had to quickly learn and develop the skill of laying out newspaper pages. As well as layout, this position involved copy subbing, headline writing, picture editing and liaising between different departments and other News Limited publications. I also filled in as sports editor when needed – a senior role that involved liaising with management, driving and developing content and news strategy and delegating duties to reporters, photographers and sub-editors. I also contributed news and feature stories, as well as music reviews. Show less

• 

  Australian Football League

  Jul 2011 - Feb 2016

  SUB-EDITOR and MATCH DAY EDITOR

  As match day editor, I was in charge of managing and developing content for AFL.com.au – by far the largest (in terms of traffic) sports news website in Australia. I liaised with and directed AFL Media reporters, video editors, photographers, sub-editors, designers, external communication professionals, analytics personnel and management. I was responsible for the placement of articles and images, and overall appearance of the AFL.com.au homepage.As sub-editor, I edited copy and pictures for AFL.com.au, wrote headlines (using SEO knowledge), and uploaded and managed online content via the CMS. I also managed content schedules, generated content strategy, liaised with relevant stakeholders, drove news content, and wrote feature and news stories. I also conducted live blogs on some game days.Responsibilities: • Copy and picture editing in a high-pressure environment• Online content management• Content production, scheduling and development• Headline writing using SEO knowledge• Stakeholder relations• Social media• Live blogging• News and feature writingAchievements:• Promoted to match day editor role in 2013• Stand-in Chief of Staff when required. Show less

• 

  Melbourne Renegades

  Dec 2012 - Dec 2014

  Copywriter

  Due to my passion for cricket, in 2012 I accepted a role as copywriter for the Melbourne Renegades during the Big Bash League season, on top of my full-time duties at AFL Media. My duties include writing match previews and match reports, interviewing players, coaches and off-field staff, and liaising with internal and external stakeholders.

• 

  ESPN

  Feb 2016 - Mar 2021

  Associate Editor, ESPN Australia & New Zealand

  ***From March-October 2018, I led the editorial team as interim Senior Editor while the company recruited for a permanent hire. During this time, I managed the editorial staff and directly liaised with key leaders across the ESPN global network. I also led coverage of live events, the recruitment of editorial staff, worked closely with ESPN marketing, sales and finance departments and managed our team of freelance writers and producers.***I joined ESPN Australia/New Zealand ahead of the launch of espn.com.au, helping establish the platform as one of Australia's leading sports news websites. As associate editor, I play a leading role in the planning, creation, scheduling and publishing of content for espn.com.au and several global ESPN editions. Every day, I communicate with key international and domestic stakeholders to ensure unparalleled, 24/7 coverage for sports fans across the globe. In this expansive and demanding role, I help manage a small team of journalists, freelance columnists and content producers. I organise espn.com.au's editorial roster and contribute to the local content budget, ensuring our resources are best utilised for covering major local and international sports as well as managing espn.com.au and global editions.Responsibilities: -Editorial strategy-Online content management-Content production, scheduling, development and analysis-Headline writing using SEO knowledge-Copy and picture editing in a high-pressure environment-Social media production-Stakeholder relations-Building rosters-Live blogging-News and feature writing Show less

• 

  Catapult

  Mar 2021 - Sept 2022

  I joined Catapult Sports to lead the company’s written and audio strategy across two platforms – catapultsports.com and the recently acquired scienceforsport.com. I managed a team of expert freelance contributors from across the globe, turning complex, scientific information into engaging, easily digestible content. I established a rigorous editing process, wrote editorial and marketing copy and led strategy for SEO, social media and podcasting. I also worked closely with company leaders in areas such as business development, product and technology, partnerships and acquisitions, and represented Catapult at industry events.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES-I established professional-level writing and editing standards, managing a team of external freelancers to turn complex, scientific information into engaging, easily digestible content.-I wrote and edited short-form, feature and marketing copy.-Management of SEO research and strategy.-Development of a holistic content strategy, incorporating video and social media.-Management of Science for Sport’s weekly podcast.ACHIEVEMENTS-Expanded the freelance team from 8 to 18, more than doubling written content output.-In a company first, led the development of educational training plans for sub-elite athletes. This involved managing a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders across multiple timezones, while working within a strict budget and timeframe.-Promoted to Senior Content Editor after 12 months. Show less

  • Senior Editorial Manager

    May 2022 - Sept 2022

  • Content Manager

    Mar 2021 - May 2022
• 

  Healthy Male

  Nov 2022 - Jul 2023

  Content Lead

  I was recruited by Healthy Male to lead content strategy and production, working with medical professionals and academics to turn complex health information into content everyday men and boys can understand. On a daily basis, I was involved in writing, editing, online content management, SEO research, social media, EDM production, and managing external agencies. I also led content production for Healthy Male’s twice-yearly magazine and Annual Report, helped develop a podcast strategy, secured successful PR opportunities, and advised Healthy Male’s public-facing experts on external media interviews. Show less

• 

  Zero Digital Sports

  Aug 2023 - Aug 2024

  Podcast Host

  For more than a year, I worked on a long-form video podcast series: AFL Team Builders. The inspiration came from the build of the Tasmanian AFL team, and the early employees tasked with building a club from scratch. Then it dawned on me that each AFL team (and the people who helped build them) would have had similar stories to tell.Featuring inaugural CEOs, presidents, coaches, board members, and star players, the eight-part series went behind the scenes with the people tasked with building the clubs that joined the then-VFL as it expanded beyond the confines of Victoria.During this process, I interviewed ~25 high-profile AFL figures who were involved with the launch of the Sydney Swans, West Coast Eagles, Brisbane Bears, Adelaide Crows, Fremantle Dockers, Port Adelaide Power, Gold Coast Suns, and GWS Giants.Once the interviews were finalised and transcribed, it was time to write scripts to tell the story of each club's early years in a fluent and engaging manner. After that, the Zero Digital Sports team got to work with asset hunting, clipping, cropping, transitions, animation, cutaways branding, and post-production to transform the series' audio into an appealing and polished video podcast.The final product was launched in mid-2023, and is available on all the major audio podcast platforms, as well as YouTube. Show less

• 

  Science for Sport

  Aug 2023 - Oct 2023

  Editor
• 

  The Conversation Australia + NZ

  Mar 2024 - now

  Editor, Sports & Society