1. PAUL FOCAMP
16 Inverell Place, North Beach, CHRISTCHURCH
Tel: 3 387-0651 Mob: 027 587-0651
pfocamp@hotmail.com
PERSONAL STATEMENT
I am achievement oriented and approach my work with integrity and a commitment to
excellence. Having worked on several newspapers and different sections, often at short
notice, I have shown myself to be adaptable in the dynamic media industry.
KEY COMPETENCIES
Organisational skills
My time management skills, accountability and attention to detail mean I deliver good
outcomes when operating under deadline pressure. I have experience in fostering
teamwork.
Communication
Experience in interviewing people from all walks of life, writing and editing articles and
designing pages has enabled me to develop strong capabilities in written, verbal and
visual communication.
Interviewing
I have an approachable personality and am known as a trustworthy person who
establishes and maintains credibility with people I work with. Being a good listener and
attention to detail helps when researching and collating information.
Writing
Writing models and techniques and a focus on clarity, brevity, analysis and audience
provides strong critical judgement when preparing, editing and proofreading written
presentations. I have experience in writing and editing news articles, features and
information sheets.
Relationship building
Respect for others and a strong client focus provides a good basis for addressing the
needs of colleagues, newcomers to a workplace and members of the public.
Health and safety
Training and experience as a health and safety committee member helps reduce the risk
of accidents in the workplace and improve production.
2. CAREER HISTORY
Fairfax Editorial Services Sub-editor 2012-2016
The Press Sub-editor 2003-2012
Self-employed Freelance travel writer 2002-2003
The Southland Times Sub-editor 1999-2002
The Southland Times Reporter 1995-1999
The Daily News Reporter 1987-1992
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
University of Canterbury
Bachelor of Arts (English lit. major, Maori language, Sociology, Philosophy, Linguistics).
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
Health and safety training (2015)
Fairfax writing course led by Karl du Fresne (2004)
INL sub-editing course led by Warren Page (2000)
INL writing seminar led by Warren Page (1996)
CAREER HISTORY
Fairfax Editorial Services
Sub-editor (New Zealand and Australian titles) 2012-2016
ROLE FUNCTION
This position reports to the Fairfax Editorial Services production editor and involves taking
responsibility for delivering assigned pages in New Zealand and Australian titles.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Design news, world, business, opinion, arts and feature pages in tabloid and
broadsheet formats attractive to the reader. Numbers of pages vary from 5-15 per
shift. Layout techniques used include font variations, clearcut or etched images,
inset images, graphic elements, colour background, text over image fadeout,
sidebars, statistical tables.
• As senior sports sub-editor for New Zealand titles, perform team leader role in
acting capacity (when team leader was on a night off, on sick leave or annual
leave).
• As news sub-editor for The Press, design all pages in The Press news section
3. including the front page. This involves liaison with the news editor, production editor,
the editor and the chief reporter.
• Liaise with section editors in Australia as to their preferences for content for
assigned pages.
• Liaise with graphic artists on the development of special features.
• Liaise with copy sub-editors and write headlines, proof-read and cut copy to fit for
stories when not designing pages.
• Perform a final check of designed pages before alerting the production editor of the
appropriate masthead that the pages are complete.
• Select material and advise the Canberra Times of the items to appear on their world
pages.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
• Recognised by the production editor of the Sydney Morning Herald for several
attractive page designs.
• Recognised by the Fairfax Editorial Services production editor for consistently
meeting deadline under pressure.
• Recognised by The Weekend Press editor for several attractive front-page designs.
• Recognised by The Press news and production editors for consistently meeting
deadline under pressure without ever requiring design support.
• Recognised by the Fairfax Editorial Services general manager for delivering sports
sections on time and to a high standard despite deadline pressure.
The Press
Sub-editor 2003-2012
ROLE FUNCTION
This position reports to the chief sub-editor and production editor of The Press. It involves
taking responsibility for the delivery of assigned pages and the sub-editing of articles for
The Press.
4. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• As chief sports sub-editor design sports pages attractive to the reader. Numbers of
pages vary from 5-10 per shift. Layout techniques used include font variations,
clearcut or etched images, inset images, graphic elements, colour background, text
over image fadeout, sidebars, statistical tables.
• Liaise with The Press sports reporters, sports editor and production editor about
content, page design and deadlines.
• Liaise with graphic artists and photographers about special features.
• Liaise with copy sub-editors and write headlines, proof-read and cut copy to fit for
stories when not designing pages.
• Perform a final check of designed pages before alerting the production editor that
the pages are complete.
• As a general sub-editor design pages in news, world, sport and business sections
as assigned by the chief sub-editor.
• During my time as a Press sub-editor I also gained experience in updating the news
website: press.co.nz
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
• Recognised by The Press editor for delivering sports sections on time and to a high
standard despite deadline pressure.
• Recognised by The Press chief sub-editor for high story subbing count while
maintaining quality.
Self-employed
Part-time freelance travel writer 2002-2003
Wrote travel articles on Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela while travelling in South
America; published in The Southland Times.
5. The Southland Times
Sub-editor 1999-2002
ROLE FUNCTION
This position reports to The Southland Times chief sub-editor and is responsible for the
delivery of assigned pages and the sub-editing of articles to a high standard.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• As sports sub-editor, designing and delivering an attractive sport section within
deadline.
• Liaise with graphic artists and photographers about special features.
• Liaise with copy sub-editors and write headlines, proof-read and cut copy to fit for
stories when not designing pages.
• Perform a final check of designed pages before alerting the production editor that
the pages are complete.
• As a general sub-editor design pages in news, sport and business sections as
assigned by the chief sub-editor.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
• During my time as a Southland Times sub-editor I also wrote a few feature articles.
An investigation I did into the use of the drug ritalin used to moderate the behaviour
of some children was used by a lecturer as an example of in-depth journalism.
The Southland Times
Reporter 1995-1999
ROLE FUNCTION
To write articles on topics assigned by the chief reporter and gleaned from my contacts.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Write interesting news articles that are accurate and balanced in a timely fashion.
• Cover the rounds politics, court, the Southland District Council, forestry, real estate
and general news.
6. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
• Recognised by The Southland Times editor and deputy editor for my coverage of a
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Queenstown and a
general election.
Reason for leaving: I took on a role as a sub-editor at The Southland Times in order to
broaden my journalism skills.
The Taranaki Daily News
Reporter 1987-1992
ROLE FUNCTION
To write articles on topics assigned by the chief reporter and gleaned from my contacts.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Write interesting news articles that are accurate and balanced in a timely fashion.
• Cover the rounds Health, Maori affairs, court, the South Taranaki District Council,
coastal Taranaki, entertainment, general news.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
• Recognised by the chief reporter for reporting of flooding in North Taranaki and the
King Country and coverage of Maori affairs and health rounds.
• Recognised by a senior sub-editor for attending cultural events in my own time and
beginning to learn Maori in order to improve myself as a reporter of Maori affairs.