About Sarah Speight
Sarah Speight - Professional Summary:
An experienced journalist in both print and online possessing meticulous writing and editing skills. I am available for freelance commissions or part-time permanent work. My specialist subjects are property (UK and abroad, residential and commercial), charities, travel and the arts. I am also passionate about parenting, education, the environment, women's health and real-life. As well as writing I possess strong editing skills (sub-editing/copy-editing/proofreading). I am proficient in QuarkXpress, InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, online content management systems and basic HTML. Languages include Italian, French and Spanish. As well as newspapers and magazines, I will also consider other printed matter, including books and marketing literature.
Sarah Speight - Professional Experience:
Apr ‘09 - present: Freelance writing
I write regular opinion pieces for Estates Review, a bimonthly journal which focuses on commercial property.
Oct ‘08 - Jul ‘09: Senior Staff Writer, Homes Overseas and Show House magazines, Globespan Media Ltd (part-time from home)
Following maternity leave, my new role at Globespan involved writing news and features for two property magazines (one consumer, one trade), plus occasional sub-editing. Employment ended due to redundancy.
Nov ‘07 - Oct ‘08: Maternity Leave
Apr ‘06 - Nov ‘07: Editor, www.whathouse.co.uk, Globespan Media Ltd, London
I was responsible for all editorial content on this consumer property portal (NB: the site has since been redesigned). Upon joining the team I redesigned the editorial section, which I continued to develop. Ongoing tasks included researching, writing, editing and commissioning articles; publishing content online; and managing a budget. I was also a judge for the What House? Awards, and I assisted the editorial teams on the company's property magazines, Homes Overseas and Show House.
2004 - 2006: Freelance Work
This entailed writing and sub-editing for both Merricks Media and Haymarket titles. Commissions included book reviews, and property and travel features.
Aug ‘05 - Mar '06: Deputy Editor, Homes Worldwide magazine, Merricks Media, Bath
Working in a very small team, my responsibilities included writing news and features, subbing, picture research, controlling the production schedule and all other day-to-day tasks. I also managed junior and contract staff.
Jan ‘05 - Aug '05: Assistant Editor, Greece and Portugal magazines, Merricks Media, Bath
Prior to my promotion to Homes Worldwide, I worked simultaneously on two bimonthly consumer travel titles within the same company. Duties included writing, subbing, picture editing and research, and managing the production schedule.
Sep ‘03 - Nov ‘04: Sub-editor/Writer, Third Sector magazine, Haymarket Publishing, London
My first permanent job in journalism was on this fast-paced weekly magazine, read by voluntary sector managers, policy-makers and politicians. Tasks included chasing and subbing copy, laying out pages, writing headlines, standfirsts and captions, and picture editing. I also stood in for the Production Editor when necessary.
Sarah Speight - Education:
Jan ‘03 - Mar ‘03: Postgraduate Course in Magazine Journalism (PTC-accredited), PMA Training, London
An intensive nine-week course, through which I gained practical experience in magazine production. Included a placement on Home magazine, Kent.
Oct ‘99 - Jun ‘02: BA (Joint Honours) English Literature/History of Art, 2:1, University of York
Included a six-month study exchange at the University of Bologna, Italy. During my degree I wrote arts reviews for the university magazine and newspaper, and worked as a private English Language Tutor and Library Assistant.
Sep ‘97 - Jun ‘99: Mature Access Course (part-time), Park Lane College, Leeds
Modules taken include Media Studies, and 20th-century British History and Politics. I studied while working in a call centre as a Customer Service Advisor.
May 1989: GCSE: 8 subjects, including English (A*), Longcroft School, Beverley, East Yorkshire
Sarah Speight - Interests:
Visiting art galleries, museums and stately homes; reading books (in particular historical novels, parenting and gardening titles); gardening; practising yoga; and walking.
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Sarah Speight Links
Example of work (opinion): Estates Review
Link to recent article submitted to Estates Review, which looks at the impact of this year's Budget on commercial property.Example of work (factual): Estates Review
Link to recent article submitted to Estates Review on the green aspect of this year's Budget.Example of work: Homes Overseas
Link to recent article for Homes Overseas magazine on buying property in Turkey.
