Allan McLachlan B.A

 

Allan McLachlan - Professional Summary:     

I am looking for a full time, temporary or part time position in an editorial post preferably in a fast moving post-print environment. I am particularly eager to be involved with a brand that is experimenting with new formats for delivering editorial and multimedia content, such as, for example, for the iPad and similar devices.

 

I have a lot of experience as a journalist and an editor, working first as a trainee reporter on Scottish local newspapers, then becoming a specialist magazine writer and editor.

 

Having worked on a very broad range of publications over the years, I can tailor my copy for a general mass market as well as for very specific groups. Over the past three decades I have worked on music titles – including market leaders NME and Metal Hammer - aimed at young people - as well as consumer magazines such as Yours and Take A Break which target older, predominantly female readers.

 

I have experience of writing corporate press releases and liaising with other print and broadcast journalists. Through long experience I know what makes an effective and clear press release and what merely wastes paper and postage. In an era of information overload, I know that I can identify the sort of news story that specialist, local and national newspaper and magazine journalists are interested in and communicate this to them accordingly.

 

As an editor I am have demonstrated skills in organising information into coherent articles, making decisions as to what is essential and what is filler. As a published author, I am adept at reducing large quantities of research and data into lucid publications that get all the necessary information across to the reader.

 

I am a confident public speaker and have a lot of experience of addressing internal and public meetings, preparing and delivering presentations using MS Powerpoint as well as overhead projectors and flipcharts. I am familiar with Microsoft Office Access and can use it to create databases as well as to access information. I have worked with computers for years and am enthusiastic and adaptable user.

 

I have excellent experience as a writer and editor both in print and online titles. Recent clients have included Bauer publishing's Total TV Guide as well as The Sun's TV Mag.

 

I am a first rate sub editor, a meticulous fact checker and a very fast and efficient content manager.

 

As a successful freelance journalist and editor, it is essential that I am highly organised and an efficient manager of my time. I am a good team player, and I am equally at home working largely on my own, setting and achieving my own goals within the context of the organisation's needs.

 

Having launched new magazines and websites as well as repositioning existing publications, I am used to working as part of a management team. I have even chaired working groups, ensuring that everyone understands the issues that we are dealing with and is able to respond and contribute to the development of large and small projects.

 

Both Future Publishing and IPC Media are Equal Opportunities employers. I have been involved in the recruitment of staff with both companies over the past 15 years and understand how Equal Opportunities monitoring works as well as its value to an organisation.

 

As with many freelance and full time positions I have held, I appreciate that it is usually necessary to work outside of the contracted hours in order to get the job done. I am also available to travel abroad and within the UK as the needs of the organisation dictate.

 

Allan McLachlan - Professional Experience:     [

Freelance work

2007-present

Writing and sub-editing work for print and online clients including

 

Esquire

That’s Life

Yours.co.uk

Health & Fitness

Healthy For Men

Take A Break

Your Money

The Sun TV Mag

Total TV Guide

The Quietus

Metal Hammer

Classic Rock

DVD Review

Total Film

Fortean Times

Music Week

Playlouder

Bizarre

 

Future Publishing

2 Balcombe Street

London NW1 6NW

020 7042 4000

2002 – 2007

 

2003

 

News Editor, Metal Hammer magazine

 

Commissioned, researched and wrote news pages in rock monthly

Built up team of regular contributors

Was responsible for budgets and payments

Subbed, proofed and approved pages for print

Updated website daily

Moderated forums

Was involved in relaunch of website, posting of original audio visual content and creation of regular podcasts

Was part of team that saw circulation almost triple in five years

 

Contributing Editor, Bang magazine

 

Temporarily took over running of music monthly

Put new staff into place

Oversaw redesign and overhaul of editorial

Recruited new team of freelance contributors

Reversed decline in sales

 

Capital Radio, Capital Interactive, 30 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7LA

1999 - 2000

Launch Editor, Xfm Online

 

Responsible for content at launch of website produced for London radio station.

Recruited and managed a team of three full time editorial staff and a pool of 20 + freelancers

I liaised with the radio team to ensure that their needs were reflected by the site

Liaised with advertising, marketing and online retail for all Capital Interactive sites

Produced multimedia content such as video and audio interviews

Cleared copyrights on all content

Promoted site through TV, radio and press interviews

 

IPC Media

The Blue Fin Building

110 Southwark Street

London SE1 0SU

0203 148 5000

1997-1999

 

1994-1997

Deputy Editor, nme.com

 

Wrote and commissioned daily updates for pioneering editorial-led music site

Organised regular live web chats with prominent artists including Public Enemy, Radiohead and Fatboy Slim

Moderated lively chat room and forum

Organised live coverage from all UK festivals

Created unique features for site including pioneering free mp3 downloads section

Produced multi media content

Cleared copyright on music and interviews

 

News Editor, NME

 

Wrote and commissioned news pages of world's leading rock weekly

Covered major stories including the death of Kurt Cobain, disappearance of Richie Manic and Blur Vs Oasis battle

Promoted the magazine and its news coverage through TV and radio, appearing as pundit on shows ranging from The Today programme and Newsnight to Richard & Judy

Wrote regular features and reviews for NME

 

Freelance work

1991-1994

I worked as a freelance writer and sub-editor on titles including NME, Vox, Select, Hot Metal, City Limits, Punch, Music Week, The Guardian, Rock CD, Penthouse, Volume and Trance Europe Express

 

United Consumer Magazines

(now United Business

Media Limited)

Ludgate House

245 Blackfriars Road

London SE1 9UY

020 7921 5000

 

1990-1991

News Editor, Sounds

 

Wrote and commissioned the news pages of rock weekly

Contributed regular features and reviews

City Limits publications

102 Curtain Road

London EC2A 3AE

1988-1990

Music Editor, City Limits

 

Managed the music listings and features for London arts listings magazine

Worked with a small team of specialists in rock, world, folk, jazz, opera and classical music

Ensured accuracy of listings and that we carried more information than our rivals

Wrote regular music and film features and reviews for the magazine

 

Print Inc, Glasgow

(address n/a)

 

1986-1988

 

Deputy Editor, Word magazine

 

Oversaw listings section for Glasgow-based local arts/what's on magazine

Approved layouts and cover

Built up a good team of writers and photographers, many voluntary

Won Scottish Media Awards for Best New Launch and Best Design

 

Action Line, Glasgow

(address n/a)

 

1985-1986

Information Officer, Action Line

 

Provided telephone support for charity and voluntary campaigns organised by local ITV network STV

Wrote and edited support literature

 

Link: Glasgow Association for Mental Health

(now GAMH)

St. Andrew's by the Green

33 Turnbull Street

Glasgow, G1 5PR

0141 552 5592

1984-1985

Assistant Editor, Inside Out

 

Working on bi-monthly magazine for mental health advocacy organisation

Proofed and laid out pages

Edited copy written by and for mental health professionals and former patients

Wrote news stories for the magazine

Also edited, proof read and laid-out the organisation's 1984 Annual Report

 

Streets Ahead Ltd, Glasgow

(address n/a)

1982-1984

Music Editor, Streets Ahead

 

Worked on music section for Glasgow arts listings weekly

Researched and compiled local listings

Proof read pages

Occasionally sold advertising space

 

 

University Of Strathclyde

16 Richmond Street

Glasgow G1 1XQ

0141 552 4400

 

1978-1982

BA (politics/sociology) Hons

Garnock Academy

School Road

Kilbirnie

Ayrshire KA25 7AX

01505 682685

1972-1978

Higher

English, History, Modern Studies, Economics

 

O Level

English, Arithmetic, Maths, Chemistry, Physics, History

 

Asian cinema

I am a devotee of Chinese, Japanese and Korean cinema. I was a major contributor to 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano (Tadeo Press 1999, ISBN 0952795116) the only English language book about the Japanese actor/director.

 

Parenting

As the father of two small children I have become actively involved in the Parents Teachers Association at Riverside Primary, the s

London

Although I am an incomer to the city, I am a major London enthusiast, an explorer of its past and present incarnations. I am a member of Southwark Mysteries and The Greenwich Historical Society. I have organised and narrated walking tours around South East London as well as taking parties of children 'mudlarking' on the banks of the Thames at Deptford.

chool they attend. I have a strong interest in issues surrounding education and the welfare of children generally.

 

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