In my teenage and student days I worked as a delivery boy, a dishwasher, a hotel porter, a labourer, an office clerk, a pastry cook, a postman, a scaffolder, a waiter, and even as a greyhound kennelhand.
Since 1996: Director, The MediaWise Trust (formerly PressWise) Journalism ethics charity providing free professional advice to members of the public with complaints about the UK print and broadcast media; engaging in public debate of media ethics and regulatory issues; producing, information, research and training in the UK and internationally on related issues; working with British Council, European Commission, International Federation of Journalists, Media Diversity Institute, OSCE, UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR, World Health Communications Associates, and WHO.
1986-95 & 1981-83: Freelance journalist & media consultant Contributor: Andersonstown News; Broadcast; City Limits; Daily Mirror; The Guardian Independent on Sunday; Irish Post; The Journalist; London Evening Standard; New Statesman; The Observer; Private Eye; Sunday Times; Time Out; UK Press Gazette; The Voice; Western CommerceNational, regional and local news, current affairs & arts (public service & commercial radio & TV) Canada, Eastern Europe, France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, UK & USA
Clients included: ACTT; Amnesty International; Arts in Communities Action Network; BETA; BECTU; Broadcasting Consortium (now The Media Trust); Campaign for Press & Broadcasting Freedom; Community Radio Association (now Community Media Association); Ann Clwyd MP; Further Education Staff College; GMWU; Labour Party; Matthew Trust; NALGO; National Council for Civil Liberties (now Liberty); National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO); NUJ; NUPE; Musicians Union; Oxfam; Clive Soley MP; UNISON
Special commissions: Organiser, Amnesty International UK Human Rights Forum (1993); Organiser, Special Parliamentary Hearings on Press Freedom and Responsibility (1992); Co-ordinator, Public Service Broadcasting Campaign (1989-90); Opposition Front Bench Advisor, 1990 Broadcasting Act (1989-90)
1983-86: Senior Information Executive Greater London Enterprise Board handling: RInternal communications; National & international media & parliamentary relations; Research & production of corporate videos & publications; PR, marketing & media training for small businesses, workers’ co-operatives & international Trade Fairs; Project advisor on media investments.
1979-81: Co-Founder &- Editor & Company Secretary East End NewsPaid-for local weekly, run as workers and readers co-operative. Raised capital; managed staff of 14; supervised 50 trainees; promoted ethnic minority journalists (led to creation of The Voice, Britain’s most popular Black newspaper)
1979: Senior Reporter East Ender (Stratford, Newham)
1977-79: Senior Reporter East London Advertiser/Dagenham Post
1972-77: Youth & Community Worker, Tower Hamlets Social Services
1972 : England Secretary, Student Christian Movement. Co-ordinating activities among radical Christian students at UK universities.
1971-72: Director, Warehouse D Project, Wapping. Youth & community development scheme on the St Katharine Dock, Wapping, East London
1970-71: Founder & Community Leader, Tunbridge Wells Cyrenians Residential project for homeless and young offenders.
1969-70: Secondary School Teacher Misbourne County Secondary School, Great Missenden, Bucks (i/c Religious Studies and Creative Writing)
