Sam Tonks

Skills

My work over the last four years has enabled me to gain many skills both directly in the field of journalism as well as in the retail and professional services sectors.

Within journalism I have experience of using many digital platforms and software including:

• Adobe – Photoshop, Audition, Premiere Pro and InDesign
• Microsoft – Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook
• Social Media programmes – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, You Tube, Linked In, Soundcloud, Procurious, Spredfast, Slack, Trello, Buffer
• Hosting services – WordPress, Blogger, London Stadium CMS, Burli audio scripting system, Pulse

Over the course of my sports journalism degree I have completed modules in Media Law, Shorthand, Public Relations as well as Production Journalism, Sports Broadcasting and Professional Sports Writing. I have a Shorthand speed of 60 wpm

Industry Skills

I have worked for Next Plc in a retail environment, Bloom Ltd a c£50m professional services company providing consultancy to the Public Sector and more recently ITN, London Stadium, Rotherham Football Club, Express and Star and Staffs Live, the digital media platform for Staffordshire University.

These roles have taught me many varied skills including working to deadlines; presentation and interviewing skills; research and analysis; online live event blogs; leadership of teams; customer services skills, reporting and commentary on both live and pre-recorded events.

 

 

Give Me Sport – Junior Social Media Producer

• Create and edit video content for social channels, from UGC compilations to original content features and interviews.
• Come up with creative engagement posts for socials, including reacting to live sport events on Twitter platform and with photo/video content on Instagram & Facebook
• Reach out to influencers and athletes about working on projects with GMS
• Collate stats on video performance to assess best performing topics/trends and style of video

London Stadium- Media Assistant

• Writing content on events at London Stadium, such as IAAF World Athletic Championships and West Ham United fixtures for their website.
• Using my social media skills to supply pictures and videos for their various social media platforms.
• Interviewing athletes before and after events, gathering vox-pops from spectators.
• Working to strict deadlines to upload content, relevant news and stories in a busy sporting environment.

LiveWire Sport – Social Media Producer (Freelance)

• Managing output and creating posts for Premier League and Fantasy Premier League social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
• Using Spredfast, Tweetdeck and Slack to organise posts, monitor numerous feeds simultaneously and work alongside colleagues and with Premier League productions team
• Create content ideas for social media platforms and writing copy for posts
• Assist in running of Premier League Matchday Live Blog, using Pulse

ITN– Event Logger

• Watching, analysing and reporting on events at the Rio Olympics from ITN’s Newsroom in Kings Cross, London.
• Taking briefs from TV editors on newsworthy stories to look out for and reporting action throughout the day on online logging system.
• Commuting from Colchester to the newsroom daily to work within a professional news environment has enhanced my journalistic skills.
• Use of ITN logging software

 

Input Media- Event Logger

• Watching and reporting on coverage of the French Open 2018
• Analysing and reporting coverage of Champions League group games 2018/19
• Communicating with production team to help co-ordinate highlights packages
• Use of IPD logging software

 

Express and Star- Newspaper Assistant – Grass Roots Sport

• Produced copy to deadlines in busy regional newspaper office
• Created new ideas for articles including published articles online
• Interviewed Managers and Players via telephone and email
• Researched background information for the Sports Journalism team as well as for my own articles
• Published work in Express and Star

 

Four Four Two- Content Assistant

• Created new ideas for digital editorial staff
• Developed content for submission to magazine editorial team
• Researched background information for feature pieces
• Designed Football Quiz on Messi’s Champions League Goal Record published online March 2018

 

Talksport- Researcher

• Research backgtound information on guests for Presenters on ‘Hawksbee and Jacobs Show’
• Contacting guests and guests agents to book time slots for the following week shows
• Research background statistics for topics of discussion scheduled for the shows
• Use of Burli system to compile lists of audio clips for use on the ‘clips of the week’

 

Love Sport Radio – Social Media assistant

• Clip interview audio from Burli and use Canva/Headliner to produce Twitter posts
• Research and put together topic pieces for presenters, e.g. Five Things about Eden Hazard
• Ring guests to check availability in advance of shows
• Put forward segment ideas to Head of Content, read one live on ‘Love Sport Drive’, discussing social media reaction from fans in Baku for Europa League Final

Rotherham United Football Club- Content writer – Matchday Programmes

• Research content for matchday programme
• Write background articles on away team coaching staff for publication
• Liaise with RUFC Press Office to coordinate publication of articles to deadline

 

Bloom Ltd – Marketing Assistant

• Created social media platform for professional services and procurement company
• Developed Twitter feed and ‘who to follow’ guide for Marketing team
• Event management including organising flyers, programmes and company collateral
• Proof read and edit content  for Company website
• Data analysis for Company Managing Director on Linked In contacts