Curriculumn Vitae

 Extensive experience editing major regional magazines Proven track record in commercial and public-funded publishing North East Press Awards-shortlisted feature writer

EXPERIENCE FULL-TIME

Editor
Essential Newcastle & Gateshead
May 2003-August 2004
Published monthly by the largest magazine publisher in the North East, Essential Newcastle is now firmly established as the leading independent visitor’s guide to Tyneside (circ: 10,000). As well as editing and contributing most of the copy to Essential, I personally conceived the title and spearheaded the magazine’s successful launch from the earliest stages of planning content and design to co-ordinating distribution and advertising strategies. I led the team of four (plus freelance contributors) who produced the magazine each month.

Features Writer
Accent, North East HouseHunter, North East Times
September 2003-present
As well as editing Essential, I contributed regularly to three other magazines published by Accent Magazines: Accent, an ABC1 lifestyle/leisure title (major interview features, circ: 12,000), North East HouseHunter, a weekly property magazine (property focus features, circ: 20,000) and the North East Times, the leading county magazine in the region (a monthly sports column, circ: 12,000). In April 2004, I was shortlisted for the Tom Cordner Arts Reporter of the Year award at the North East Press Awards for my work in Accent.

Editor / Deputy Editor / Staff Writer
The North Guide
April 2000-April 2003
A three year Arts Council-funded project to produce a Time Out-style arts, culture and listings magazine for the North East (circ: 8,000). I started at the magazine’s inception as a staff writer contributing interview features, reviews and previews on music, theatre and sport, and rose up through the ranks to eventually edit the magazine for eight months, working in a vibrant small team.

FREELANCE

Copywriter
London Hotels.co.uk
Neighbourhood specific London travel guides for a hotel website - I wrote 300-500 words per each of the 287 tube stations covering tourist attractions, bar, restaurant and shopping recommendations, historical trivia and colourful local quirks.

Feature Writer
11Freunde.de
Cheeky features on British sport for the stylish German football quarterly / website.

Online Copy Editor
Hobsons
Major overhaul of the Hobsons site and CMS database - I wrote in-depth travel and living guides for a number of European university cities and updated the extensive course databases and events guide.

Editor
The Gen
A 20 page bi-monthly magazine direct-mailed to 12,000 musicians and music workers with advice, information and news on the North East music scene. Produced by Generator, the popular music development agency for the North East, The Gen is widely acknowledged to be one of the best magazines of its type available.

Features Writer
GNER Livewire
I contributed regularly to GNER’s on-board magazine (ABC circulation: 109,000), an award-winning publication. I most recently wrote a 2,500 word feature on the Tall Ships’ Race for the front cover of the April 2005 issue, and interviewed Tamsin Greig for the August 2006 issue.

OTHER EXPERIENCE  COPYWRITING, PROMOTING, ACTING…

STUDIED FULL-TIME at the prestigious Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts for a three year BA in Acting and subsequent professional acting work(from September 2004); studio guest on North East radio stations Century 100.7 FM, BBC Radio Cleveland and BBC Radio Newcastle commenting on culture and sport (February 2002-present); Freelance Creative/Copywriter, Ten Feet Tall promotions (Dec 2003); Promoter, The Walk live music night - acclaimed by NME as one of the best reasons to study in Newcastle (June 2003-December 2003); invited by Newcastle Gateshead Initiative to become a Cultural Ambassador for Newcastle & Gateshead’s European City of Culture Bid (May 2003).

David John Watton
114 Pasteur Gardens
Edmonton
London
N18 1AW
t: 07951 357 549
e: discodavewatton@hotmail.com