JANE DIMOND

  
PROFILE:
Highly skilled, versatile journalist with over 30 years’ experience in the British media

• Key skills: Proven ability in reporting, feature writing, interviewing, sub-editing, proofreading, video-editing, public relations and research. Sound news judgement. Experience in print, online and TV journalism. Professional journalist qualification, plus BA (1st Class Hons) in Creative & Professional Writing.

• Communication: Strong interpersonal skills utilised in extensive in-depth celebrity interviews for the national press, persuading members of the public and famous personalities to appear on TV shows, enlisting numerous companies to support a World Cup school fund-raising event and securing celebrity support for a national wildlife campaign.

• Leadership & teamwork: Managed successful production team on two recommissioned TV series; led news-writing team at BBC Ceefax.

WORK EXPERIENCE

FEATURE WRITING (1989 - PRESENT)

TV Times, ‘In The Chair’ weekly interview series (1999 - 2004)
* Devised and wrote long-running ‘pop psychology’ celebrity interview series ‘In The Chair’, exploring true personality behind famous public faces. Interviewees included Michael Parkinson, Ronnie Barker, Jo Brand, Peter Kay, Ian Wright, Ross Kemp and Esther Rantzen.

Woman Magazine (2004 - 2005)
* Launched feature series ‘Woman to Woman’. Subjects included Nigella Lawson and Fay Ripley.

Freelance Feature Writer (1989 - present)
* Won commissions from wide-ranging publications including Company, Spirit and Destiny, Shout!, It’s Fate, The Daily Mirror’s We Love Telly, p.s., Mother & Baby, Reveal, The Express and What’s on TV.

The Sun (1993 - 1994)
* Secured sought-after interviews with tabloid-wary actors, producers and real-life documentary subjects, due to my reputation for integrity. Wrote TV preview and reviews.

TV PRODUCTION AND BROADCAST JOURNALISM

Producer, Thursday Night Live, ITV (1997 - 1998)
* Originated programme ideas for late-night topical debate show, managed team of researchers, structured debate, wrote script and briefed host Andrew Neil and expert panellists.

 Associate Producer & Director, Capital Woman, Carlton TV (1995-1997)
* Produced wide-variety of studio items and directed VT films for daytime magazine show. * Deputised for Series Editor in his absence, thereby leading 15-strong production team.

Earlier TV production experience includes researcher roles on: GMTV, The Chrystal Rose Show and Blue Peter.

ONLINE /DIGITAL JOURNALISM

Chief Sub-Editor, BBC News, Ceefax (1989 - 1993)
* Ran news output: prioritised news stories; wrote headlines; organised world news, politics and home news sections; assigned news reports to sub-editors.
* Demonstrated quick thinking, accuracy, decisiveness and strong news judgment in fast-moving, live news environment.
* Covered tennis matches live from Wimbledon and wrote World Cup match reports.
IPC Magazines (1999-2002)
* Freelance feature commissions for the IPC website unmissabletv.com.

OTHER SKILLS

PR & Media-training: Coached finalists of The X Factor on media relations (2004). Orchestrated publicity campaigns and achieved extensive press coverage for RSWTs Wildflower Week and Bride magazine’s Bride of the Year.
Presenting/reporting: Appeared as entertainments reporter/presenter on Pure (BBC), Backstage (BBC),  Soap Fever (ITV) and Cable Today (United Artists).
Astrology: Formally qualified astrologer. Have written sun-sign columns for Company, Inside Soap and More!, and general astrology features for various magazines.

QUALIFICATIONS

* BA (1st Class Honours) in Creative and Professional Writing, St Mary’s University.
* Certificate in Periodical Journalism: Pass with Credit, London College of Printing (one-year, full-time course accredited by the Periodical Publishers Association and the National Council for the Training of Journalists).

INTERESTS

Wildlife (member of the League Against Cruel Sports, British Wildlife Centre and Greenpeace); Football (founder member of AFC Wimbledon, set up by fans after Wimbledon FC was franchised); Music (including bell-ringing!) and News & Current Affairs.