Media coordinator, NCVO, Constructive Voices
I started my working life as a reporter and news presenter on BBC local radio in Cambridge and London. I then worked as a producer on BBC Radio 4's flagship news and current affairs programmes, the World at One and PM, covering major domestic and international events such as Black Wednesday, when Britain crashed out of the ERM, and the release of Middle East hostage John McCarthy.
I took a career break to be a full-time mother and then returned to run communications and campaigns, first for an independent candidate in the London 2012 mayoral election and then for a nascent political party defending the NHS, spanning European and general elections.
I now run Constructive Voices, a project to foster more constructive stories in the media, primarily, but not exclusively, about charities and social enterprises. Constructive Voices aims to change the damaging negative media bias by championing constructive journalism, a solutions-focused approach to news, which gives audiences a more accurate and empowering picture of the world. It is supporting journalists in this by creating a resource of contacts and stories demonstrating how voluntary and other organisations are coming up with solutions to tackle the problems we face as a society. The project is targeting existing journalists and editors and also journalism students. Reaching the journalists of tomorrow is the key to changing the attitude of our media.