Phil is a Freelance Journalist who is recognised for creating high quality content and delivering professional standards of work to different clients. He is creative, reliable, and has experience of a wide range of industry systems and processes.
Before entering the industry, Phil spent over two decades working in leadership roles in retail. This allowed him to develop a range of transferable skills, including the ability to work at speed and engage with a wide range of people.
SKILLS
- Ability to work accurately and at speed, including using software such as Adobe Premiere Pro and Audition as well as mobile apps like iMovie and Adobe Express for fast social media content
- Knowledge of SEO and writing for online – from freelance work as SEO writer for The Sun
- Confident on air and behind the scenes – excellent feedback from university TV news days from industry professionals for presenting, producer and gallery roles, and extensive radio bulletin reading experience
- Good understanding of poverty and social affairs – proud to have grown up on a council estate in a single parent household
- Organised, punctual, and able to work to a strict deadline – offered freelance journalism work off the back of a work experience placement because of this
- Confident talking to large groups of people – led many meetings and workshops with good feedback
- Personable and able to have both difficult and light-hearted conversations –built up over years of retail customer service and management roles
- Excellent listening and interviewing skills – conducted a number of sensitive interviews while reporting, including on brain tumours, prostate cancer and loneliness in older people
- Creative and able to set the agenda – produced a TV news programme as part of university news days which included a mix of topical content and segments I had forward planned, with great feedback from industry professionals
Experience
Radio News Hub
Freelance Broadcast Journalist / Newsreader
Researching, writing and presenting a range of bulletins, including hourly national news bulletins for over 400 radio stations and bespoke local bulletins. Bulletins are produced in professional studios using Myriad and Adobe Audition. Also writing and scheduling posts to social media and the RNH website, which provides a news feed to radio station websites.
Software and Systems used:
- Myriad
- PA
- Adobe Audition
- Radio News Hub bulletin dispatch
- Meta Business Suite
- Radio News Hub website article publisher
Bulletin demos:
BBC Radio Humberside
Freelance Broadcast Journalist / Newsreader
Live bulletin newsreader for the breakfast show, producing and presenting 3-4 minute news and sport bulletins throughout the programme.
Software and systems used:
- OpenMedia (BBC internal newsgathering programme)
- Dira Startrack (audio editing)
Bulletin demo:
The Sun
Casual SEO Writer
Writing of online articles to react to the search topics of the day, and drive traffic towards the website.
Software and systems used:
- WordPress
- Slack
CNN Diversity Open Day
Anchor
Worked in a team of five to produce a section of a newscast, and fulfilled the role of in-studio anchor.
EDUCATION
Leeds Trinity University
MA Journalism with Distinction
(including BJTC accreditation)
September 2023 to August 2024
Leeds Trinity University
BA (Hons) Broadcast Journalism
September 2022 to June 2023
(Only Level 4 completed – fast-tracked to MA programme)
OTHER WORK
Waitrose & Partners
Delivery driver
September 2022 to April 2024
ODEON Cinemas Limited
General Manager / Cinema Manager
March 2015 to September 2022
(Original hire May 2001)
Phil Towers 