I am a Birmingham-based journalist and editor whose work regularly appears in national UK newspapers including The Times, The Daily Mail and The Sun and on websites such as the Huffington Post UK, Newslite and Photojojo.

A former news-editor at News Team International, an international press agency, I’ve also worked as an online news and technology consultant but now specialise in exploring and writing about weird news. Yes you read that correctly, weird news.

That said, when I’m not writing about surfing dogs and interviewing wacky world record holders I’m equally happy writing straight news, features and even… press releases.

After graduating from the University of Birmingham in 2001, I began work as a junior reporter with the Birmingham-based press agency, News Team International, where I worked on a wide variety of news stories.

During this time I completed day-release NCTJ training, covered a number of high profile stories which were used as page leads and front pages in national newspapers and was shortlisted for a Press Gazette Student Journalism Award.

After eight years of working for NTI I progressed to lead journalist and then news editor where I was responsible for deciding which events my team of five journalists would be covering. This role also involved liaising with national newspaper news desks before briefing journalists about their jobs and sub-editing their articles.

In 2008 I left NTI and launched the off-beat news website newslite.tv and started selling freelance stories to national UK newspapers. I’ve now read, researched and written more off-beat news stories than is probably advisable.

I’m also a weird news reporter for the Huffington Post UK and in 2010 I founded the DAFTAS Awards celebrating the best in odd news which was picked up by newspapers, radio station, and TV shows around the world.

Publications I’ve written for:

Newpapers:
The Times
Independent
Daily Telegraph
Daily Mail
Daily Express
Daily Mirror
The Sun
Daily Star
Metro
Sunday Times
Mail On Sunday
News Of The World
Sunday Mirror
The People

Magazines:
Chat
Take A Break
Woman’s Own
Pick Me Up

Online:
Huffington Post UK
Photojojo
Asylum (Part of Aol.)
Newslite
Gizmodo
Cool Photo Blog

Want to know even more about me and see which publications I have written for?

Portfolio

Asylum

Gizmodo

Daftas

Newslite

Services

Journalism
PR Writing
Copy Writing

Journalism

Having spent 10 years writing for a wide range of publications from Take A Break to the Financial Times (via The Sun and the Daily Mail) I'm capable of adapting my writing style as required.

I currently pitch and write freelance articles to national UK newspapers on a daily basis and write for a number of online publications including Aol.

I'm currently undertaking undertake new commissions for everything from hard news to features and if you'd like me to write for your publication, please feel free to contact me via the contact form.

PR Writing

While working as a journalist and news editor I have seen thousands of press releases all vying for media attention. As such I know what it is which sees some end up as page leads… and why others are destined for the newsroom bin.

Using this knowledge and experience I am happy to work with business clients to help them get media attention for their corporate message. This is done either by working with clients to develop news angles and identify potential news stories or writing/rewriting press releases to help grab the attention of journalists.

I can also work with organisations to summarise or rewrite jargon-filled corporate documents in to plain English and make them more accessible to the average reader.

Copy Writing

Nervous about an upcoming TV, radio or newspaper interview? Don't be, I have worked with a number of clients to advise them on how to present themselves when dealing with this press.

This can include running mock interviews, highlighting what happens in a typical interview and working out which angle a journalist is likely to pick up on in your interview.

In a two-hour session I would work with you to help ensure you stay on message irrespective of the questions a journalist asks, work on key buzz phrases to help you get your message across and advise on how to present yourself.

Rates for a two-hour one-on-one session are £150 plus expenses. Discounts available for charities and local small independent businesses.

Contact

There are plenty of ways to contact me including phone, skype, Facebook and IM, but if you don't know the details there might be a reason for that ... so you can use this form.

I will get back to you as soon as I can, unless you are one of those nasty stalker types.

Twitter: @simoncrisp

E-mail: simon@simoncrisp.com