EMPLOYMENT
March 2021 - to present Freelance writer/media consultant
I am a Jersey-based freelance writer and PR consultant. Among other things, I work as Assistant Editor for the RURAL magazine, a local quarterly magazine which highlights stories and issues pertaining to Jersey's rural community and economy. I've also dipped my toes into local PR consultancy including media and event delivery and strategy.
I am also a published author. My most recent book is 'The Gift of Kindness', written with Debbie Duncan and published in summer 2022 by Authentic Media. See 'Cathy's Books' for more details about this and my other books.
July 2014 - March 2021 - Producer/Presenter at BBC Radio Jersey in the Channel Islands, UK.
During my time at BBC Radio Jersey I worked as a producer and presenter of different shows and programmes. For the last two years of my time with BBC local radio in the Island, I worked as the Communities Journalist, reaching out to the community and helping them to have a voice. That also included encouraging and helping people to record their own stories (particularly important during the COVID19 lockdowns) and working on national initiatives including the Make A Difference campaigns.
For a few years I was the producer/presenter of the Afternoon Show with a show which included loads of great local conversations with local people and personalities. We talked about events and local initiatives, including a Wellbeing Wednesday hour, a monthly Gardening Hour and other initiatives like the BBC Radio Jersey Book of the Month Club which we ran with the Jersey Library.
During my time at BBC Radio Jersey I was also the faith producer for the station, producing and presenting the Sunday Morning Breakfast show, a programme which celebrates the life of the faith community in the island. For a few years I also produced and presented the Saturday Morning show.
April 2011 - June 2014: Writer/author, broadcaster and media consultant:
During this time I authored several books - 'William and Catherine, the love story of the founders of The Salvation Army told through their letters' (Monarch 2013) ; 'Life Lines - two women sharing laughter, challenges and cupcakes' co-authored with Deborah Duncan (Authentic Media 2014) ; 'The Armstrong Girl - a child for sale, the battle against the Victorian sex trade' (Lion Hudson 2015) and 'A Girl with a Mind of Her Own' - the story of Commissioner Gisèle Gowans (Shield Books 2015). More information can be found on the 'Cathy's Books' tab.
Media consultant specialising in faith and charity sector PR and media training, working with a range of organisations and individuals.
PREVIOUS WORK
Media consultant specialising in faith and charity sector PR and media training, working with a range of organisations and individuals. I offer strategic and reputation/crisis management planning and also undertake social media work for some organisations/individuals. Here are a few of the organisations with whom I worked during this time.
Editor Resources Damaris Freelance contract – managing and editing production of church resources for educational trust producing resources to accompany release of major movies
Communications Consultant SPRING HARVEST freelance contract assisting with seeking opportunities specifically for secular media exposure
Media and Communications consultant for Rope (now Project Possible) a small Buckinghamshire-based Christian charity, working in 30 countries on small-scale partnership projects; including social media facilitation
November 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011: Broadcast producer The Salvation Army UK and ROI : Co-producer (with the BBC) of an hour- long radio programme for The Salvation Army, for broadcast on the BBC Local Radio network based on the annual Celebrating Christmas with The Salvation Army at the Royal Albert Hall.
2012 - 2014: Communications/ Media Consultant CROSSING LONDON Communications Consultant freelance contract - creative writing/social media/ media PR as required for this mission organisation and partners
2012 - 2014: Media Consultant Micah Challenge UK/ EXPOSED - Freelance contract - communications management/writing/delivery for the EXPOSED Global anti-corruption campaign. I previously event managed the EXPOSED launch London in October 2012.The campaign culminated in a Week of Action and Vigils October 2013.
Jan -April 2014 :Communications Consultant SHARE JESUS INTERNATIONAL media PR (freelance contract) including work on promoting the Pentecost Festival 2014 (The Biggest Birthday Party Ever)
Scripture Union 2012, 2013, 2014 – Over 3 years I contributed Bible resource notes for the SU’s ‘Closer to God’ daily reading notes.
Jan– Aug 2012: Media consultant More Than Gold Working with More Than Gold Communications Team on regional media for Get Set training tour (Spring 2012) Prayer Relay (Summer 2012) and as part of the More Than Gold Olympics Media Centre (July – August 2012)
June 2011 – June 2012: Project manager The Salvation Army UK and ROI Project manager/co-author of ‘Portraits: A Month in the Life of The Salvation Army’ (published May 2012), a high quality hard back image led book featuring pictures from across The Salvation Army UK's world and work.
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT
June 2006 - March 2011: Head of Media The Salvation Army UK and ROI
- Managed and headed Press and Web team at the church and charity organisation covering the UK and Republic of Ireland – including responsibility for managing and directing a team of national and regional press officers and web professionals
- Responsible for delivery of Salvation Army messaging and delivery of media campaigns through media and web, working closely with Salvation Army personnel and units to develop communications plans and ensure effective delivery
- Responsible for liaising and working with external PR agencies and partner agencies and charities on joint media campaigns and messaging, including identifying partner opportunities
- Developed and led on proactive and reactive messaging and media delivery, including crisis management
- Supported and delivered campaigns including online fundraising and awareness raising campaigns
- Developed and managed specific campaigns including the national Christmas Present Appeal to support Salvation Army churches and communities across UK to raise gifts for distribution in local communities
- Achieved consistent and quality coverage in national, regional and target publications
- Regularly worked with national and regional programmes to place spokespeople for news and current affairs and feature programmes (examples – BBC Radio 4 ‘In Business Programme’, BBC Radio 4 ‘ Sunday Worship’ programme, BBC Breakfast, Daybreak, GMTV, BBC Radio 2 Prayer for the Day etc)
- Worked with and developed ideas with producers and broadcasters to create opportunities for The Salvation Army
- Worked and networked with national, regional and other significant media, church and communications contacts resulting in an excellent contact database
- Responsible for effective media monitoring and data delivery to senior Salvation Army leadership
- Responsible for aspects of press and web budgets including ensuring financial prudence – consistently negotiated significant reductions and deals on outsourced services
- Responsible for planning and delivering strategic change management within The Salvation Army press office - part of the Communications Service
- Represented The Salvation Army at high level including membership of national church and third sector bodies – Churches Media Council (now the Church and Media Network) More than Gold (Olympic and Paralympic) Communications Planning Group, Hadleigh Farm Olympics Mountain Bike Venue PR planning group and many more
Training
- Developed, managed and delivered in-house Salvation Army training courses and packages in Media Awareness, Reputation Management and Crisis Management. Working with external providers, responsible for ensuring trained spokespeople including undertaking ad hoc training and coaching for The Salvation Army UK and ROI
- Represented The Salvation Army as trainer for other charities and at high level third sector conferences
Radio Presentation and Production
- During my time at The Salvation Army, I wrote and and presented BBC Radio 4 ‘Prayer for the Day’ on two separate occasions – this entails writing and recording 6 two minute ‘thoughts’ which are transmitted at 5.50am Saturday and Monday-Friday on network BBC radio.
- Worked with BBC Local radio to produce annual recording of Celebrating Chrismas with The Salvation Army, edited highlights of the annual Christmas Concert from the Royal Albert Hall, played out across the local radio network. Produced in conjunction with BBC/ World of Sound 2005 - 2012
TV / video Production
- Worked with in-house Salvation Army video unit to advise and occasionally produce films and campaign videos
PR for record label / album launch
- Working with Universal Records, ran media PR campaign for the Together album featuring the International Staff Band of The Salvation Army (2008) – a £1m record contract resulting in major broadcast and print media opportunities
General Presentation
- I regularly presented and compered events including concerts - over the years these have included several Salvation Army Gospel Arts Concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall, Awards Evenings (eg Social Services Awards evening 2011) and at the annual Salvation Army ROOTS conference. I was also invited to compere and present for other external groups and charities
March 2004 – March 2007 : Regional Communications Co-ordinator, The Salvation Army UK and ROI
- Working within The Salvation Army press team, I was the co-ordinator for the regional communications team which was developed into the national and press team which I later headed up as Head of Media.
- Worked with national press officer on significant media and campaigns including an award winning Anti-Gambling Campaign focused around the new gambling law (2005)
- Copy writing, presentations, training
- Many of the duties undertaken as Head of Media (as above)
2003 - 2004: Head of Media, Evangelical Alliance UK
- Headed up media unit for major national Christian umbrella organisation
- Responsible for delivery of media for EA UK, working with senior church and EA leaders and other major stakeholders to deliver proactive positive media and effective reactive media
- Working with churches and Christian and faith groups to deliver campaigns as appropriate, including the Hope Campaign (2003/4) as part of the Values Engagement campaign
- Crisis and reputation management
- Working with national media to deliver media, offer spokespeople to major broadcasters (examples - BBC Question Time, BBC Radio 4 Thought for the Day, BBC Radio 4 Moral Maze, Beyond Belief )
2002 - 2003 : Granada Media (London Television studios) : ITV Network Dept – Producer, ‘Ultimate Questions’ (ITV1 debate programme Series 2)
2001 - 2002 : Head of Broadcast Home TV : local news-based free-to-air TV station on a restricted service licence, for Hertford and Ware
2000 - 2001: Granada Media (London Television studios) : ITV Network Dept – Producer ‘Ultimate Questions’ (ITV1 debate programme Series 1)
1999 - 2000: Anglia Television : ITV Network Dept – Producer ‘Sunday Morning’ (ITV1 magazine programme)
1998 - 1999: Anglia Television : ITV Network Dept - Associate Producer and Presenter ‘Morning Worship’ (ITV1)
1993 - 1998 : BBC Look East (based Norwich covering the whole of the Eastern Counties) : Breakfast News Presenter, reporter and news producer. Documentary presenter and producer. Outside broadcast presenter
1991 - 1993: Channel Television (ITV for the Channel Islands now called ITVChannel) : Daily nightly news ‘anchor’, outside broadcaster presenter, reporter, news and series producer in Jersey in the Channel Islands.
1989 - 1991 : BBC Jersey : Local radio producer, reporter and radio/TV presenter
1987 – 1989 : Channel Television : Local television reporter and TV newsreader
1982 – 1987: Jersey Evening Post : Local newspaper reporter
FREELANCE - additional information
Broadcast : In addition to the substantive work outlined above, I’ve worked consistently as a freelancer including TV production, training, freelance journalism and other writing, including interviews and articles for magazines and other outlets. During my broadcast career, I latterly worked predominantly as a freelancer. Apart from my substantive work (above), I also worked on other short term contracts, regional and national television series and documentaries involving researching, producing, directing and script writing for a range of regional and national programmes – BBC and commercial. I worked with independent companies for commissioned programmes. My last main work as a producer for ITV was in 2005 (holiday leave taken to produce an episode of ‘Mosque’ – a co-production ITV / Pilgrim Productions Canterbury Ltd.) I have also done a great deal of voice over work over the years, including for Salvation Army films during my time with the organisation
Training : Over the years I have also undertaken production training projects, presentation master classes (media and general presentation) and general media / pr training on freelance contracts
Writing : Freelance writing for secular and religious press (newspapers and magazines) for adults and children on-going; creative writing
EDUCATION
1979 -1982: Bath University: BSc Social Sciences 2:1 Hons
1978 - 1979: Highlands College, Jersey : HND Business Studies
1976-1978: St Julian’s School, Newport Gwent : 3 A-Levels: English, History, French ; 1 S-level : History
1972- 1976: Imani School, Thika Kenya : 9 GCE O-Levels : English, History, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, French, Art/History of Art
Original Articles. Constant-Content.
