e: adam (at) adamesmith (dot) co.uk
li: uk.linkedin.com/in/adamsmithuk
PERSONAL PROFILE
After three years reporting on trademarks, domain names, business and brands for a niche B2B magazine and website, I am now studying for my MA in science journalism at City University. I aim to break exciting science news and write in-depth features across a number of fields. I continue to write about domain names and related corporate strategy.
Over three years I was instrumental in developing the voice and strategy of a dynamic niche law magazine and making waves among its readership. As the first on-staff reporter, I established and sustained a distinctive style. I wrote our social media and SEO strategy – which now draws thousands of new readers – and continue to develop both print and online products. I represented the magazine at events, spoke at seminars and conferences, broke major stories, designed surveys and forged hundreds of contacts around the world, in multinational corporations, government agencies and NGOs.
I am a member (and former trustee) of a small charity and a freelance communications consultant. I follow politics, science and technology, the media, take full advantage of London’s music scene, and contribute to local and arts-focused publications in regular columns and blogs.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
The Register
January 2012 – present
As editorial intern at the UK’s biggest tech/sci site, I am writing science news stories and conducting a large-scale investigation involving FOIs and buckets of data.
BBC (science radio unit)
December 2011
I set up items for the flagship science programme Material World, broadcast to over one million listeners per week, through research, interviews, coordinating guests and writing script segments. On The Life Scientific, I conducted research for one episode and convinced the producers to let me research and write recommendations for how to develop this new programme.
New Humanist
October 2011 – present
I conducted an audit of the magazine’s science coverage, producing a 35-page report that evaluated content and contributors, and made recommendations on how it could be adapted and improved. At the magazine’s week-long series of comedy/science events, Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People, I captured video and audio content with performers and scientists that received 28,000 views/listens within three weeks.
WORLD TRADEMARK REVIEW
SEPT 2008 – SEPT 2011
Reporter
Writing an average of 4,500 words per week, I covered international developments in trademark law and the related commercial activities of companies. For the print magazine, I wrote two long features per issue and to the website and daily email newsletter I contributed news and analysis in the form of a popular blog. My strong angles and distinctive style helped to differentiate us in a competitive marketplace and attracted positive reader feedback. Duties included attending conferences, sub-editing, commissioning articles, liaising with and meeting international contacts, conducting interviews, researching trends, developing feature ideas and co-hosting an awards ceremony. Audience: senior trademark lawyers in companies and law firms.
SEPTEMBER 2010 – PRESENT
Communications consultant (freelance)
Since Autumn 2010 I’ve been working with a small tech-based service provider to build its position in the marketplace better by writing and helping to deploy an effective social media strategy, rewriting the website and contributing to the website redesign.
NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND
AUGUST 2009 – PRESENT
Contributer, blogger, reviewer
I blog about the fringe theatre scene, write arts features and conduct interviews with authors for this creative arts newspaper and website. I also write theatre reviews for local website london-se1.
LAWCAREERS.NET
APRIL 2007 – SEPT 2008
Assistant editor, journalist
Writing features, conducting interviews and sourcing and writing news stories for a legal careers website and its weekly newsletter (20,000 subscribers), as well as producing editorial content for several print publications and providing proofing and editorial support. Audience: law students.
ROUGH GUIDES (PENGUIN), LONDON
OCTOBER 2007 – PRESENT
Freelance proof-reader
Most recently I worked on the new edition of the Rough Guide to Evolution. Duties include marking up proofs of the entire 200-page book, adhering to a strict house style with different subheads, colours, formats, symbols, typefaces and sizes – and tight deadlines.
ROUTLEDGE
JUNE 2006
Freelance editorial advisor: providing one-off audience input to a new Routledge publication
ROUGH GUIDES (PENGUIN)
APRIL – JUNE 2006
Marketing/editorial intern: work experience, writing for the Rough Guides website
TRENT EDITIONS PUBLISHING
SEPT 2005 – JULY 2006
Editorial intern: part time, providing market knowledge and input to editorial decisions
PLATFORM (STUDENT MAGAZINE)
SEPT 2003 – JUNE 2006
News editor: writing, editing, commissioning, providing editorial direction and working with the BBC to republish Platform material on the BBC Nottingham website (including mine)
CHARITY WORK
AFRICAN PRISONS PROJECT (APP)
DEC 2007 – PRESENT
Trustee, fundraising and communications manager
Member, formerly trustee
My voluntary involvement with APP began by writing and editing copy for the website, newsletter and flyers. During my two years as trustee, I coordinated 20 UK volunteers, wrote funding applications, give public speeches, made strategic and recruitment decisions, and helped to raise over £100,000. For example, I organised the production, promotion and distribution of an album by death row inmates and coordinated an African music fundraiser with bands, food and activities, generating press at every turn.
EDUCATION
2011 – 2012 CITY UNIVERSITY
MA Science Journalism (degree expected)
2003 – 2006 THE NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY
2.1 BA (HONS) English with Cultural Studies
SKILLS
COMMUNICATION
My writing style is clean, tight and alive with natural creativity. Through interviewing senior corporate figures around the world my verbal communication skills are of an equally high standard. Having worked for several organisations, I have a keen grasp on how to deliver complex, often technical, messages to diverse audiences and have an excellent understanding of how to use social media to engage with readers.
ORGANISATION
I prioritise a heavy workload and meet deadlines. At WTR, I organised interviews and comments from contacts in every major time zone in order to write news stories for a daily e-newsletter. I have also run to weekly and bimonthly publication schedules.
TEAM WORKING
I thrive in a collaborative environment, so I had a direct say in WTR’s growth, such as planning then implementing our engagement with readers via social media. I also ran a cross-company initiative over five titles with distinct audiences on how to improve our use of social media.
IT
Full Microsoft Office proficiency; LinkedIn; Twitter; SEO; blogs; working knowledge of Quark, InDesign and Dreamweaver; well practised in CMS.
INTERESTS
Reading and writing, travel, science, technology, genetics, evolution, the environment, space, the media, hiking, London, theatre, folk and country music, drums, feminism.
