Edward McConnell92 Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3BB

Mobile: 07450 279195 ~ Telephone: 01622 686940Email: ed_j_mcconnell@hotmail.com

Senior Reporter and Columnist at the award-winning Kent Messenger. Press Association trained journalist with a passion and talent for writing in all forms and across all mediums. Graduate in History and Politics from Lancaster University.

Key Skills

NQJ qualified reporter and columnist with almost three years experience of a busy and at time stressful news room.A nose for a story and an alternative angle. The devil, and often the story, is in the detail.Works well independently and as part of a team, quickly adapting to new situations and succeeding. Maintains a cool head under pressure – able to resolve conflicts with readers, subjects of articles and between

colleagues.Good sense of humour and a highly professional attitude leading to excellent communication and strong office

relationships.Highly proficient with IT, with research and social media as a particular strength.Accomplished communicator – both orally and written – with the ability to adapt content and language to meet the

needs of any brief and/or audience.Experienced producer of online content and creator of blogs with a wide knowledge of blogging platforms.Great at sourcing and developing stories – concise news writing style and strong interviewing skills.A strong knowledge of SEO and Google Analytics, with the ability to use such tools to maximize the potential of

content and web pages.Large and varied portfolio of print and digital work.Strong customer service skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate and liaise with customers.Highly able team member and leader, developed through many years of playing rugby.

Education/Qualifications

January – June 2014 – Press Association – multimedia news journalism training course (NCTJ-accredited)NCTJ exams in: production, law, current affairs, reporting and 100 wpm shorthand. Additional training in video production and digital journalism.

2010 – 2013 – Lancaster UniversityBA (HONS) HISTORY & POLITICS 2:1Dissertation – Al-Qaeda no longer poses a credible existential threat to the West…

2003 – 2010 – Oakwood Park Grammar School, Maidstone GCSEs – 10 B grades including Maths and English and two C gradesAS LEVELS – History – AA LEVELS – Government & Politics – B, Philosophy & Ethics – B, English Language – B

Full, unblemished UK driving licence

Career History

The KM Group

Senior Reporter and Columnist (June 2014 – Present)Placement (February – May 2014)

The KM Group is a Kent-based family-owned multimedia company operating local newspapers, a radio station, a television department and a website.

Responsibilities –

A three-month placement at the Kent Messenger, Maidstone, was followed by the offer of full-time employment, which I grabbed with both hands.

Sourcing and writing articles by getting out on patch, nurturing contacts, sitting through hours of court and council sessions and crafting FOIs.

Interviewing a huge variety of people, from legal high addicts to Nigel Farage.Turning mundane press releases into engaging copy.Writing a column for the paper every fortnight, covering topics from the Data Protection Act to Brexit.Interviewing candidates for the role of editorial apprentice, a position the company takes great pride in.Receiving the award for paid for weekly of the year (above 20,000 circulation) at the Regional Press Awards 2016

and doing my bit to make sure all that free wine didn’t go to waste.

Westgate Communications PR Assistant (August – September 2012)Westgate Communications is a PR, design and communications company working for a variety of companies across a variety of sectors.Responsibilities – A two-month unpaid placement at Westgate Communications. Printing and proofing a large amount of client specific coverage.Constructing and updating a number of media lists.Using industry specific software, such as Gorkana and Durrants.Research for a number of events and areas.Communicating with clients and media outlets in regard to press releases and events.

Circle Housing - Centra Contact Services Advisor (March 2010 – Present)Centra are responsible for the administration and out-of-hours repairs for a number of local councils and housing associations across the country. Responsibilities – Making calls to contractors and passing on relevant details.Taking calls from tenants regarding repairs, logging the relevant information and advising colleagues and clients of

the process from there on in.

Equinity Lloyds TSB Data Entry Clerk (July – September 2011)Equinity is responsible for data amendment and entry for a number of high profile clients. On this occasion the specific role concerned transferal of loan accounts. Responsibilities – Entering and amending financial data for Equinity on behalf of Lloyds TSB.

FM Conway Ltd Receptionist (August 2010)FM Conway Ltd is a company responsible for delivering various services within the fields of transportation, building and open spaces. Responsibilities – Taking calls from a number of colleagues and clients and passing them on to the relevant department or individual.Data entry and paper work including faxing and postage.

Other Information

Interests: Travel, writing, reading, rugby union, comedy, nature, current affairs, television and cinema

References:Denise Eaton – editor – Kent Messenger – deaton@thekmgroup.co.uk and 01622695666Lesley Bellew – freelance journalist – lesleykbellew@gmail.com