Sarah Mason
30 Thorndon Gardens, Epsom, KT19 0QW
Mobile 07974 794871 Email sarahmason5@gmail.com Twitter @sarahmfoodie
Profile
Dynamic communications professional with 15 years experience in content creation and storytelling for some of
the UK’s best known brands. Passionate and innovative with a track-record of managing successful teams and
developing enduring relationships with multiple stakeholders. National journalism combined with corporate
communications has given me a broad range of skills including the ability to narrate a changing corporate story
within a fast-paced organization, implementing cross-platform consumer PR campaigns and managing complex
internal communications and CSR programmes.
Professional Experience
December 2013-January 2016
Senior Communications Manager (from Dec 2014), Press & PR Manager (Dec 2013-Nov 2014)
News UK
Global media company producing award-winning titles The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun.
Senior manager responsible for strategy and integrating external and internal communications across the
business. Created multi-channel campaigns to manage the reputation of News UK and promote its newspaper
titles and their brand related products to a wide range of stakeholders.
Achievements
 Devised and implemented News UK communication strategy for external and internal audiences,
planning and reacting to events such as a new CEO and change in The Sun paid-for digital model.
 Proactively promoted wide variety of stories such as The Sunday Times FIFA expose, leading to title
mentions in over 400 international print and broadcast media.
 Reactively managed crisis communications for internal and external stakeholders, including employees
facing criminal trials (phone hacking and illegal payments), protest at News UK HQ and cyber attacks.
 Initiated new concepts to engage employees including: interactive email bulletin to staff opened by over
70% every week; well attended topical talks using News UK talent to encourage pride in company; live
streaming of head office events to staff at all sites increasing engagement four-fold.
 Launched News Academy, a CSR programme to invest in young journalists. Engaged 300 employees
and over 3000 aspiring journos to take part in conferences, school visits and training.
 Advised and trained C-suite and senior management in media relations for print and broadcast.
 Planned and created both written submission and judges day visit for 2015 PR Week Awards Best InHouse Team entry, leading to ‘Highly Commended’ accolade.
 Planned variety of internal and external events, including media reception attended by 50 journalists.
 Built enduring relationships with stakeholders across business from Executive board to print floor.
 Sought by Director of Communications for two-year contract, following initial two-month secondment.
January 2008 – December 2014
Assistant Editor
Fabulous Magazine, The Sun on Sunday (prior to July 2011, the News of the World)
Weekly newspaper supplement with 4.5million female readers aged 20-50. British Society of Magazine Editors
Newspaper Magazine 2012 and Press Awards Supplement of the Year 2011.
Part of the leadership team from launch with responsibility for commercial relationships, magazine promotion
and project management of 35 people to deliver digital, social and print content for this mass market brand.
Achievements
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Developed cross media propositions to win sponsorship for print and online content including £150K deal
with Rimmel London and £120K with Sainsburys.
Commissioned, edited and wrote award-winning lifestyle content including food, health, beauty and travel
Line managed a team of six direct reports, plus freelancers.
Developed title’s digital strategy to grow its community through social channels, leading to the magazine
trending worldwide on Twitter.
Negotiated commercial sponsorship of magazine’s beauty awards, with 30,000 readers signing up.
Managed the budget of the food and production departments.
Pro-actively expanded the food section of the magazine having identified opportunities to increase
revenue by creating an additional site for FMCG advertisers.
Oversaw legal matters from brand reputation to contributor contracts.
Developed strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders from PRs to new contributors.
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Managed campaigns including the introduction of Clare’s Law and the then PM’s wife, Sarah Brown,
guest editing a women’s health issue.
March 2007 – Dec 2007
Production Editor, First magazine, Bauer
Glossy women’s weekly aimed at 30-50 year-old women, ABC1, with a readership of 430,000.
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Responsible for forward planning, brand identity and tone, systems, schedules and content quality and
accuracy.
Oversaw the production process of the title during a major redesign with a new editor, ensuring the
product was delivered to a high standard, on time and on budget.
Managed four full-time and two freelance employees.
April 2002 – March 2007
Freelance feature writer, copy-writer and sub-editor
Weekly and monthly magazines, including customer and consumer titles such as: Closer, Zest, Grazia, Country
Living, Mother & Baby, Asda Magazine, Debenhams Magazine, Boots Health & Beauty, BBC Online.
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As a motivated self-starter, set up my own business providing writing and editorial services for print and
digital platforms, with a specialism in health, beauty, food and travel.
Built a strong contacts book through wide experience on different titles.
Versatile and adapted quickly to bespoke writing styles of each publication, both client and reader led.
Produced fresh, inspirational ideas and popular and compelling features.
April 2001 – March 2002
Senior Interactive Editor, Monkey Productions, London
TV and digital production company developing websites and programming
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Created digital content for clients including Channel 4, Dr Pepper and Purple Ronnie.
Produced PR and marketing strategy to publicise launch of Purpleronnie.com - a multi-million pound
brand, and managed external PR agency to deliver a 200% audience growth.
Aug 2000 – April 2001
Writer, Pharmacy Magazine, CIG, London
Market-leading business-to-business title for pharmacists
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Wrote, researched and edited wide variety of health features.
Designed native advertising content and professional training modules in conjunction with
pharmaceutical businesses, health care providers and PRs.
Qualifications
Post Graduate Diploma in Periodical Journalism City University (1999 – 2000)
BA Hons, History – 2:1 University of Exeter (1994 – 1997)
A-Levels (2 As and 1 B), GCSEs (8 As and 1 B) Clifton High School, Bristol (1987-1994))
Professional
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Member of Women in PR. In October 2015, part of panel debating the subject of ‘Leading a
Communications Team’.
Member of PRCA.
Regularly give career talks at Exeter University and schools around UK.
Volunteered to support and develop young people through the Prince’s Trust Fairbridge Programme.
Interests
Passion for food, regularly try restaurants and cookery and wine tasting courses. I’m also a yogi and walker,
and have travelled widely.
References
Guto Harri, Managing Director of External Communications, Liberty Global
Jane Johnson, Executive Content Director at Bauer Media