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ALEX FERGUSON CV
- 1. CURRICULUM VITAE Alexander D.H.Ferguson 96 Hunt Close, London W11 4JX Email: alexferguson60@gmail.com Phone: 07852 266 419 Editor-level finance journalist with eight years of experience crafting engaging content in both financial and sports writing with strong aptitude of content marketing across web and social platforms. JOURNALISTIC EXPERIENCE August 2005-Present: Paid expert columnist, SkySports.com • Currently writing a weekly column called The View from North America about US sport, which ranges from NASCAR to baseball to US football, as well as contributing regularly to the US sports section • Attended the Super Bowl, college football matches and NASCAR races as a representative of SkySports.com • Raised SkySports.com’s profile among US media and PR personnel as well as online across many platforms • Market various SkySports.com articles though Sky’s social media team, my own Twitter feed, and different Facebook forums, plus Stumbleupon. • Interact with readership when needed. September 2012 – present: Expert columnist, SportingLife.com • Writing a ‘tips’ and predictions page for all the major US sporting events – particularly focussing on college football, March Madness, and the NBA. • Ensuring copy links together with SkyBet odds • Ensure article is marketed via SportingLife’s Twitter feed, and Facebook pages, as well as SkyBet’s. • Interact with readership when needed. 2006- Present: Blogger, The View From North America/ The SEC Football Blog • Writing and editing two blogs on college football • Have marketed both blogs via Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and Digg as well as a connection to large US sports website, Bleacher Report, to produce an uplift in results • Both blogs were started by me. 2010-11: Reports on Social Media while at BSkyB
- 2. • Presentation onSocial media to employees at Sky Promotions • Reported on transmedia and experiential marketing at Sky Creative • Provided insight on social media trends to SkySports.com Copywriting Experience April 2009-May 2010: Copywriter, Corelogic • Helping to write copy for US property insurance information specialist • Helping to advise on marketing April 2009 – May 2010: Copywriter, Aon Benfield Fac • Writing research articles for UK’s biggest insurance broker Financial Journalism Experience June 2010- July 2012: Freelance reporter, Reactions Magazine • Broke exclusive stories for one of the industry’s leading reinsurance magazines • Wrote about different parts of the reinsurance industry including aviation, property and motor. • Created contacts with underwriters, brokers, and other senior people in the industry. April 2008 – May 2010: Deputy Editor and Contributing News Editor, Reinsurance Magazine • Day-to-day running of the news including daily and weekly email that had on and off-diary stories, as well as commissioning articles • Creating contacts with underwriters, brokers and other senior people in the reinsurance industry • Interviewing chief executives for the magazine, which included a range major US , British and Bermudian insurers • Writing articles and researching features on a variety of subjects including modelling, catastrophe risks, as well as the Cat bond issue • Expanded my knowledge and understanding of the sector. August 2006 – February 2008: Banks, Insurance and Financials Journalist, Thomson Financial • Working on major M&A stories • Interviewing major industry figures including CEOs and analysts • Networking with members of the life insurance, non-life insurance and financials industries
- 3. • Rewriting RNSreleases into proper newswire copy and adding angles March 2004-Dec 2004: Deputy Editor, London Reinsurance News • Wrote up company news for this reinsurance publication and website • Interviewed major industry figures • Broke stories for the publication and website • Networked with insurance company CEOs, analysts and brokers May 2003- August 2003: Oil and Gas Deputy Editor, Infrastructure Journal • Wrote oil and gas-related content for IJ and its website, ijonline.com • Broke project finance –related exclusives thanks to contacts in the legal industry January - February 2003: Journalist, Dow Jones Energy Service • Wrote a number of news pieces on the North Sea oil market • Learned how to use the Telerate system • Updated market numbers and transaction figures 3-4 times a day Advertising/Marketing Experience January 2012 – February 2012: Internship, Social Media Team, Mindshare • Helped the team on a wide range of clients • Ideation and insight to forthcoming marketing campaigns during brainstorming sessions • Worked with Mindshare’s SEO, media-buying and client relations teams August 2010 – August 2011: Promotions Manager, Sky Marketing • Devising and helping to deliver promotions alongside all areas of Sky Marketing, including working with agencies to deliver radio ‘tags’ for existing sponsorships with Absolute Radio and talkSPORT • Initiating and delivering an online and radio competition for Team Sky and Sky Player • Idea creation for different Sky promotions Including secondments at: June 2011 – August 2011: Sky Creative Strategy Team, Sky Creative • Used my writing experience to prepare research reports on social media and technical and market trends • Brief writing alongside team • Helped out on various pitches and including research and idea creation
- 4. February 2011 –June 2011: Sky Sports Magazine, Sky • Worked with Sky Sports Magazine on different issues • Developing the ‘Stelling’s Stats Page’ on the site Skills • 10 years’ research, interviewing and professional writing experience • Excellent knowledge of social media and different marketing platforms and trends • Knowledge of the financial markets, particularly in equities, and willingness to learn more • Extensive sports knowledge (particularly in all US sports, football, cricket, and golf), as well as a good knowledge of the film and entertainment industries, and an interest in world affairs • Enthusiasm to learn, and give strategic thinking • Familiarity with Word, Excel and QuarkXpress packages, as well as a range of CMS systems Education 2004-2006: King College, Bristol, Tennessee, USA Attained a BA in Youth Ministry: 2:1 (Equivalent) 1998-2002: City University, London Attained a BA in Journalism: 2:2. Specialism in financial journalism: 2:1 1992-1997: St Edward's School, Oxford Academic qualifications: 3 A Levels (French, English Literature, Ancient History) Interests • Sports • Business • Strategy • Youth work • Advertising • Writing References AVAILABLE ON REQUEST