Sarah Halford
Address:
98 Lodge Road
Stratford upon Avon
Warwickshire
CV37 9DN
Telephone:
01789 292283
07982 995877
Email:
sarah.halford38@hotmail.co.uk
At a glance
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NCTJ qualified journalist – 15 years’ experience in newspapers and
magazines
permanent and freelance posts include senior reporter, editor, senior subeditor
and managing editor
extensive experience in news, feature and advertorial copy writing and editing;
layout subediting (including headline and caption writing) using InDesign and
hard copy proofreading using BSI marks
strong organisational skills across editorial planning and production process
current PhD English literature student, University of Warwick; hold MA
English with Distinction
fully equipped for remote working – software includes Adobe Creative Suite
and Microsoft Office.
Recent career history
2007 to present – freelance journalist
Editor, Art of England magazine – May to November 2012 issues:
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very successful relaunch of a high-end national arts magazine under new
ownership, Blaze Publishing
responsible for all editorial content and involved in all aspects of production
process, from planning, sourcing and writing news stories, features, advertorial
and listing sections to editing and ghostwriting contributors’ work; subediting
InDesign pages, final proofing and approving for press
immensely proud to have delivered a completely transformed, luxury magazine
with beautiful production values that saw sales and subscriptions soar within six
issues; demand outstripped supply at newsagents such as WH Smith and we
received extremely positive feedback from galleries, advertisers and readers
alike – as well as endorsements from celebrities such as Rolf Harris and Ronnie
Wood.
Other freelance editorial work includes writing, subediting and proofreading across
Blaze Publishing’s various specialist titles, 2007 to present, plus layout subeditor for
Observer Standard Newspapers, 2007 – 2009.
2005 – 2007: senior subeditor, Observer Standard Newspapers (on staff):
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worked in central subs department on 18 weekly titles, including tabloids and
broadsheets. Involved page layout using Adobe InDesign; writing headlines and
captions; editing and proofreading copy to ensure writing quality, clarity and adherence
to law and house style and checking for factual, spelling and grammatical errors
additional responsibility for managing central subs department’s production and work
flow processes, passing approximately 100 pages per day for press: involved liaising
with page-planning, advertising, production and editorial staff across the group to
advise on and oversee pagination and content; designating pages ready for layout
across the subediting team; final check, approval and exporting PDF of each page ready
for print.
2003 – 2005: editor, Stratford upon Avon Observer (Observer Standard
Newspapers):
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responsible for editorial direction of the newspaper; news gathering, reporting,
writing, interviewing and heading news team
determining news content and placing of stories in the newspaper; editing
reporters’ copy, sourcing and choosing pictures and compiling news pages to
send to central subs department
establishing and maintaining relationships with public and local figures and
organisations, such as police, politicians and charities, and acting as
figurehead for newspaper, both at public events and group editorial meetings.
1999 – 2003: reporter, Stratford upon Avon Observer:
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began as direct entry trainee reporter, sourcing and writing news; features,
human interest stories, theatre reviews; reporting on local events and
meetings; interviewing local figures and so on
attended day-release NCTJ course and secured rapid promotion once
qualified, to senior reporter then editor.
Education
2010 to present:
PhD English Literature
Expected thesis submission December 2013
Institution: University of Warwick
2007-2009
MA English Literature
Grade: Distinction
Institution: University of Warwick
1992-1998
BA (hons) Literary and Cultural Studies
Grade: 2:i
Institution: University of Warwick
Professional Qualifications
2000-2001
National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ):
Public Affairs Part I – awarded a credit
Law Part I – awarded a credit
Public Affairs Part II
Law Part II
References and work samples available on request
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