Head of News and Digital
Daily Dispatch
Total years of experience :26 years, 6 Months
Manage all news and investigative reporters as well as the diaries for a daily newspaper and drive thee news agenda, including long-term strategic planning to grow the newspapers reader revenue, daily sales, and subscriptions.
Manage all operations; including administration, technical oversight, innovative monetization, digital strategy, advertising, reader-based revenue, production, social media content and community management, and editorial content for DispatchLIVE as well as Times Media Community Newspapers
Oversee all editorial content, from writing to video and podcasts, for DispatchLIVE's properties across various app, web and social media platforms.
Manage all operations; including administration, technical oversight, innovative monetization, digital strategy, advertising, reader-based revenue, production, social media content and community management, and manage editorial content for DispatchLIVE as well as Times Media Community Newspapers
Infrastructure management, traffic growth, development and actioning of digital strategy, ideation, maintaining visual quality standards, optimization of revenue initiatives across Tiso Blackstar's Eastern Cape digital platforms, comprising more than 30 online properties, as well as designing or implementing new websites, apps and online campaigns, including all social media channels.
Completely rebuilt and updated the DispatchLIVE website (www.dispatchlive.co.za).
Built new websites for Tiso Blackstar Group Community Newspapers including Talk of the Town (www.talkofthetown.co.za), The Rep (www.therep.co.za) and GO! & Express (www.goexpress.co.za).
Administered websites for HeraldLIVE, DispatchLIVE, Talk of the Town, The Rep, GO! & Express and respective monetization campaigns.
Designed and copy edited for the Daily Dispatch and Saturday Dispatch print editions.
Our multiple-ward winning company provides a team to the Qatar Foundation to produce their various publications.
I am responsible for the production these publications and the English and Arabic teams carrying out all, sub editing, layout, design, translation and proof reading as well as ensuring that high standards are maintained at all times and deadlines are always met. This also includes the creation and updating of a comprehensive style guide.
We publish in both Arabic and English and all our publications must meet various levels of client approval.
The Daily Dispatch is the Eastern Cape's largest paid-for daily broadsheet newspaper, with a weekend tabloid edition, Saturday Dispatch and a highly successful website, Dispatch Online.
Both the newspapers and website have won multiple awards for defining the country's highest standards in publishing, design, photography and journalism, both in print and online.
As Digital and Graphics Editor I directed or created all graphics used in the print editions and online and was responsible for the editing of the website, as well as managing the online content management system (CMS), creative interactive content, live video streaming, and all social media and community engagement tools such as Facebook and Twitter.
I directly oversee the News Editor, Production Editor, Sport Editor, Creative Director, Chief Designer, Sales Manger, National Sales Manager and other assistant and section editors.
My responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Oversee the publication's editorial and advertising production.
Responsible for artistic direction of the newspaper.
Directly administer and run the newsroom.
Oversee the news, editorial, advertising and feature content of the publication.
Oversee and manage the printing.
Managing the news desk.
Managing the newspapers brand and social media exposure.
Marketing the newspaper.
Overseeing the newspaper's distribution.
Overseeing the sales and marketing heads.
Assigning stories to journalists and overseeing the story creation process.
Writing and editing headlines. Editing copy of important stories, front page leads and features.
As Online Editor I manage the newspapers online presence and web content.
Controlling and managing the newspaper's book reviews while receiving all review copies and maintaining relationships with publishers and running promotional campaigns and competitions.
Manage quality control and oversee all design and copy/sub editors.
Developing a unique style guide.
Manage design of all advertisements and advertising features.
Oversee photographic desk and editing.
Manage and run the entire training programme for both production and staff and journalists.
Overhaul the newspaper's design, branding and image.
Supervise designers and copy editors to maintain design and style standards.
Create and maintain a working style guide for both designers and journalists.
Manage staff hiring and recruitment as well as discipline.
Conducting staffing interviews.
Managing editorial and production budget.
Manage satellite branches and news desks.
Copy edit.
Design.
Marketing.
I am the Managing Editor and Online Editor of the province's largest circulating weekly newspaper.
I directly oversee the News Editor, Production Editor, Sport Editor, Creative Director, Chief Designer and other assistant and section editors.
The newspaper is four years old and since my appointment it has won numerous prestigious awards. I have also managed to drastically reduce costs and greatly improve on deadlines.
My responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Oversee the publication's editorial and advertising production.
Directly administer and run the newsroom.
Oversee the news, editorial and feature content of the publication.
Oversee and manage the printing.
Managing the news desk.
Assigning stories to journalists and overseeing the story creation process.
Writing and editing headlines. Editing copy of important stories, front page leads and features.
As Online Editor I manage the newspapers online presence and web content.
As Books Editor I control and manage the newspaper's book reviews while controlling all review copies and maintaining relationships with publishers and running promotional campaigns and competitions.
Manage quality control and oversee all design and copy/sub editors.
Manage design of all advertisements and advertising features.
Oversee photographic desk and editing.
Manage and run the entire training programme for both production and staff and journalists.
Overhaul the newspaper's design, branding and image.
Supervise designers and copy editors to maintain design and style standards.
Create and maintain a working style guide for both designers and journalists.
Manage staff hiring and recruitment as well as discipline.
Conducting staffing interviews.
Managing editorial and production budget.
Manage satellite branches and news desks.
Copy edit.
Design.
Marketing.
Oversee the newspaper's editorial and advertising production.
Oversee and manage the printing.
Writing and editing headlines. Editing copy of important stories, front page leads and features.
Act as Managing Editor in his absence.
As Online Editor I manage the newspapers online presence and web content.
Manage quality control and oversee all design and copy/sub editors.
Manage design of all advertisements and advertising features.
Oversee photographic desk and editing.
Overhaul the newspaper's design, branding and image.
Supervise designers and copy editors to maintain design and style standards.
Create and maintain a working style guide for both designers and journalists.
Conduct staffing interviews.
Manage production budget.
Copy edit.
Design.
Assisted various publications and businesses on a freelance basis in various areas including brand management, art direction, sub-editing, design, and in the setting up of online portals for the publications.
Dispatch Media (Johnnic Communications/Avusa) - Senior Sub-editor/Page Designer
(both copy and layout)
Top table copy editing and design and layout of front and feature pages.
Write headlines.
Design of all newspapers and any supplemental publications as well as branding and concept development.
Development to completion of Dispatch Media Intranet website.
2003- August 2005: July 2006: Johnnic Community Newspapers, Eastern Cape - Layout and copy Sub-editor.
New product designer.
As Chief Sub Editor I oversaw the production of eight weekly and monthly newspaper titles ranging from community newspapers to niche market publications in sport, lifestyle and agriculture. Writing of headlines for lead stories.
I was also Books Editor for the group.
I also supervised the editors of the various newspapers and in their absence stood as acting editor.
I have also been well published in publications covering a broad spectrum of specialist areas.
Product champion - Vibe magazine development.
Writer, reporter / journalist and photographer for various publications contributing to titles across a broad spectrum including business, sports, news, agriculture and tourism.
I have overseen several newspaper designs, redesigns and branding including all graphic design roles of the following newspapers: Daily Dispatch, Mdantsane Dispatch, Talk of the Town, The Queenstown Rep, Eastern Cape Today, Grahamstown This Week, Agri, Agri Review, Backswing Golf, Good Bowling and more.
2003: Johnnic Community Newspapers - Journalist / Photographer / Sub Editor.
Writing articles and taking photographs for several publications withing our group ranging from stories covering business to sport, agriculture news and lifestyle.
Layout of newspaper pages.
Copy/sub editing pages.
As a journaIist, have been published in the following publications among others:
Agri Review, Agri, Algoa Sun, Backswing Golf, Daily Dispatch, EP Herald, Ilizwi, Indabazethu, Grahamstown This Week, Go! & Express, Queenstown Representative, Talk of the Town, Our Times, Sunshine Coast Living, Eastern Cape Today and various niche publications.
Fletcher Media's Top300, Impumelelu and Top300 Empowerment - Project Coordinator.
Coordinating publication projects and overseeing the sales teams of the two publications.
Advertising Sales and marketing.
Outdoor advertising sales and marketing.
2001: Hilltop Solutions (IT Recruitment company) - IT Specialist Recruitment Consultant
Finding client company vacancies and matching them to suitable, qualified personnel while building and maintaining a candidate database.
2000: Digital Reality (Internet Service Provider) - Sales Manager
Managing sales team for both on-site and telesales as well as closing large clients and marketing the business.
Developing client relationships.
Manage restaurant including hiring and administration of staff, monitoring and ordering stock levels.
Administering staff rosters and overtime schedules.
Controlling Petty Cash and floats.
Reconciling cash.
Overseeing quality and ensuring restaurant food standards are maintained.
Attending to any issues as they arise.
Interacting with customers and the public.
Managing media, marketing and advertising campaigns.
Even management and recruitment of top-level entertainment.
2000 - Present: Various journalistic and editing short courses and skills development training (details below) Additional short courses (non certificate) Online, Multimedia Five Steps to Multimedia Storytelling Multimedia Reporting: Covering Breaking News Online Project Development: Part 1 Online Project Development: Part 2 Broadcast Journalism and Trauma Telling Stories with Sound Frontline Editors Introduction: Understanding Leadership Styles Writing Headlines for the Web: Design, Graphics, Type Colour in News Design Converting to Tabloid Mario Garcia on WSJ Tabloid Design Typography for News Design Diversity Handling Race and Ethnicity Editing Cleaning Your Copy Coaching Tomorrow's Journalists Get Me Rewrite: The Craft of Revision Handling Horrible Images Math for Journalists Same-Sex Conversation about Coverage Ethics Introduction to Ethical Decision-Making Journalism Freedom of Information Journalism and Trauma News Sense: The Building Blocks of News Leadership, Management Anatomy of a Newspaper: Understanding the Business Dealing with Difficult Conversations: A Guide for Managers and Others Lousy Listeners: Better listeners are better leaders. News, Improved: Strategies for Change Media Audiences, Convergence: New Habits of News Consumers Photojournalism Best of Photojournalism: What Makes a Winner
1997: B.Journ degree at Rhodes University - 1st year.
1996: Matriculated with full exemption and both academic and cultural colours from Kingswood College, Grahamstown.
