Proactive, investigative journalism is my thing. I have extensive experience researching issues relating to all facets of society from local government to the education and health care sectors, the military and human interest stories. My work has often involved data collation and the subsequent production of in-depth evidence based reports. I am motivated by social justice, giving a voice to people, and fighting people’s corners.
I’ve been asked a few times what my specialism is; the below brainstorm gives a snapshot of my work…
Over the last 13 or so years I’ve written several in-depth reports about the direct impact the pitfalls of our mental health care system has on people’s lives, conducted UK-wide investigations which has involved submitted 100s of FOIs and then analysing the data by myself, written about local government budget cuts, CQC reports, the impact of 30-minute care visits, interviewed high ranking politicians (Gove, Miliband, Prescott, Clegg, Cable…), drug addicts, homeless people, bereaved parents, brain injury survivors, AIDS survivors, one of the Arctic 30 crew, a meteorologist who uses his skill in the RAF reserves, a double amputee mountaineer and severely injured war veterans.
I’ve written about issues such as early onset dementia, the role Royal Marines bandsmen and women played in Afghanistan, interviewed the friends who dived down to the bottom of the sea to retrieve the body of their friend, a fisherman, who would otherwise have been left there by the authorities, a man who saved a fox from a pack of hounds, and the sister of a mentally ill man released from prison homeless.
I’ve accompanied a group of teenagers’ to Auschwitz, reported on heartfelt community campaigns to save AONBs, protests against intensive pig farming and controversial redevelopment plans.
I’ve had numerous exclusive investigations published including about the headteacher whose salary was more than the Prime Minister’s, and written dozens of stories about the work of the county council including the £750k worth of unauthorised parking tickets it issued to motorists in five years, and exposed serious concerns about a secure children’s unit in Exeter prompting the MP to write to Ofsted.
I gave exclusive insight into the closure of ChildLine offices, closely followed the Occupy Exeter movement, covered court cases, multiple day inquests and supported police appeals such as the one to identify the body of a man washed up in the river. I’ve trained with Royal Marines recruits to give a first-hand account of what they do, written about the impact of the nurses shortage, the mental health of frontline NHS workers, interviewed professional athletes including the pro-snowboarder helping refugees, interviewed celebrities, reviewed hotels, restaurants and gigs and written several adventure travel features for the national magazine press.
If you know of an issue you think warrants researching or investigating, or a story you think needs telling, please contact me.
I am a stickler for good grammar and it’s essential to me that stories flow, are engaging and include all the necessary detail.
I hold the National Council for the Training of Journalists’ (NCTJ) National Certificate Examination which is a professional qualification and includes media law and am also on the NCTJ’s accredited shorthand teachers’ register.
For more information about my professional background you can visit my LinkedIn Page
FEATURES | NEWS
Devon Life: Syrian refugee mother’s bid to feed their new community
Surf Girl: Riders for Refugees
Guardian Global Development: Ascend Afghanistan
Guardian Global Development: Burma’s Indie rockers
Guardian Global Development: Kabul’s female veterinarians
Devon Life: Nowzad’s Pen Farthing on Boris Johnson and the evacuation from Afghanistan
Devon Life: The Magic Marine
Plymouth Herald: Royal Marines Rehabilitation Triathlon
INVESTIGATIONS
My investigation into the finances of a Plymouth Academy can be read here
My investigation into the rising number of frontline NHS staff seeking mental health support can be read here
Investigations into the mental health sector, which have helped inform the work of Labour MP Ben Bradshaw and Conservative MP Johnny Mercer, include:
Unprecedented rise in mental health admissions to the UK’s A&Es: read here
Half of England’s mental health care trusts report significant rise in ‘psychiatric bed blocking’ with the wait for nursing/residential home places the most significant reason: read here
Research into veterans’ mental health care reveals “patchwork” approach prompting a call for a national framework of care: read here
The impact the menopause can have on women’s mental health: read here and here
The unfair flaw in the UK government’s 30 hours a week free childcare policy: read here