
Journalist/PR in Hanoi
Cameroon

Journalist/PR in Hanoi
Cameroon
My 18-year career started in journalism before a move into public relations. I've also held the positions of marketing manager and communications manager for large local public sector organisations and more recently worked for a major local authority as a public affairs and press officer.
I've had two stints as fundraiser with VSO - the first in Hanoi and more recently in Cameroon.
I am delighted now to be back in Vietnam and have already taken on a couple of projects including working for a local news website and freelancing for English language publications.
I am a long-term blogger and am increasingly using social media tools and techniques in my day-to-day work.
In particular, I enjoy working with NGOs to advise on how best to build relationships with donors and partners using blogs, Twitter, Facebook and other online tools.
(Public Relations and Communications industry)
September 2009 — Present (3 months)
A catch all title for my freelance "business" which includes various freelancing - journalism, editing, writing and social media for NGOs.
(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)
September 2008 — September 2009 (1 year 1 month)
COPAAP is a Cameroonian NGO that works to provide access to HIV/AIDS treatment for poor rural communitities in Cameroon's North West province.
It puts in place health volunteers to look after people living with HIV/AIDS as well providing locally available screening and even local income generating businesses to pay for the fight against the disease.
My role has elements of traditional, grant-based fundraising, as well as elements of social media that I am putting in place to boost transparancy, profile and interntional donors.
This is a VSO placement.
(Government Agency; Government Administration industry)
October 2007 — September 2008 (1 year )
Newcastle City Council's first public affairs officer. Working out of the Communications Department and also assisting in the Press Office, my role was to develop a "good news" narrative for the Council.
From there the aim is to communicate that to key individuals both locally and nationally.
In addition, I put together a plan to help the Communications Department adopt and use new social networking tools.
(Non-Profit; 51-200 employees; Hospitality industry)
September 2004 — December 2006 (2 years 4 months)
I spent 27 months in Hanoi Vietnam as a VSO volunteer. I worked as a fundraising and public relations manager.
(Public Relations and Communications industry)
June 2003 — August 2004 (1 year 3 months)
My clients included local development company One North East, Durham County Council and Government initiative, New Deal for the Community. In addition I helped set up a local organisation called ICCQ in Blyth, Northumberland as part of the Government’s Neighbourhood Pathfinder initiative. As had been increasingly the case throughout my career I was focussing more and more on regeneration and local development. During my time self employed my work included managing design projects, copy writing, media relations and branding consultancy.
With ICCQ I also enjoyed community based work aimed at raising the profile of the initiative locally and gaining local support and involvement from the population of Blyth.
(Public Relations and Communications industry)
January 2003 — June 2003 (6 months)
(Public Relations and Communications industry)
April 1999 — May 2002 (3 years 2 months)
(Public Relations and Communications industry)
June 1998 — April 1999 (11 months)
(Public Relations and Communications industry)
December 1996 — June 1998 (1 year 7 months)
(Newspapers industry)
April 1993 — December 1996 (3 years 9 months)
(Newspapers industry)
January 1992 — April 1993 (1 year 4 months)