CV

Beth Esme Squires
London
Contact

London-based freelance editor and writer, looking for further freelance projects in print and online publishing.

* Strong written and verbal communication skills along with an aptitude for time-keeping and prioritisation.
* Specialising in women's features, pop culture, entertainment & celebrity, fashion & beauty, travel and general reviews, but I also like a challenge.
* Excellent IT and web skills, backed up by an ECDL qualification (2006) and website work.
* Eager and quick to learn, with a proactive, friendly, self-motivated and accessible working approach.

Freelance Writing

For each of the websites below I have established great working relationships with the PRs I liaise with regularly as well as my colleagues and editors. I meet all deadlines set for me, however tight. I gained publicity for Entertainmentwise when a quote from my review was featured on a national print film advertising campaign (see cuttings page). My passion for writing has meant that although much time was taken by my full-time job at The Guardian, I still became a reliable and busy team member.

- Screenjabber (screenjabber.com) (2007/08) - I write and sub-edit my own film, DVD & soundtrack reviews.

- Entertainmentwise/Gigwise (entertainmentwise.com / gigwise.com) (2007) - I wrote and sub-edited music, gig, film, DVD reviews and occasional TV features along with pop culture stories. Quote used in UK print campaign for Drew Barrymore film, Lucky You (Jun 07). Used a CMS to upload content.

- marmaLADYa (marmaladya.com) (2007) - I contributed reviews, interviews and various features (fashion, beauty, music, books, jewellery-making courses etc) for this London-based website for women.

Career History.

- Sugar Publishing, Inc - San Francisco, USA / London UK - (http://uk.popsugar.com) - Jan 08-Present

Editor, PopSugar UK
- I am part of the small team that launched the UK content at PopSugar, which sits within a well-established network of US sites. I co-manage, develop and write the content for PopSugar UK, which focuses on celebrity news, and film, TV, music and general pop culture news and reviews. I write and edit the site independently, and also help manage any pressing technological issues that come up.

- Electricity & Lust Blog (http://electricityandlust.wordpress.com) - Sep 07-Present
Co-Editor/ Writer
- I write and co-edit this pop culture blog. Updated almost daily, we compile a post of links of other pop-culture and entertainment related happenings on the web, with the occasional foray into socio-political events. Slightly less frequently, we write our own takes on current pop culture news stories, and post videos, end of year lists and anything that touches or amuses us. We’re slowly building up a small following, and it's all non-profit.

- The Guardian & Observer - Farringdon, London - Oct 06- Jan 08 Features Sales Coordinator
- Managed the Theatre Lineage pages in G2/The Guide/Review sections of these national UK newspapers. Proofread, edit copy to fit, check flatplans, chase copy and liase constantly with internal departments and external clients on all levels to ensure smooth running of the pages. Provide administrative support to the features classified, online and display teams including running reports on the many information management systems, meeting deadlines on a daily/weekly/monthly basis, organising meetings with the team and managers, and general filing.

- Lash Webzine & Blog (http://lash-mag.moonfruit.com/ http://lash-blog.moonfruit.com) - Aug 05-Dec 06 Creator/ Editor/ Writer/ HTML Programmer - Managed, wrote and edited my own non-profit Internet site. It included a blog, which comprised of pop culture, beauty and entertainment news and opinion. The site also consisted of entertainment reviews and various features. This project gave me a useful grounding in writing for online consumers.

*After Graduating in late October 2005, I went on an extended trip to the United States.*

Education.

- BA (Hons) American Studies - 2:1 - University College Winchester - 2002-2005

- A-levels - Media (A), Film (A), Theatre (A), AS Level - English Lit (B) - Barton Peveril College, Hants - 2000-2002

- 10 GCSEs A*- C (Inc. English Lit & Lang, Maths and Sci), GNVQ IT - Swanmore Secondary School, Hants - 1995- 2000

Qualifications/ Experience.

- Short Features Writing Course at the London College of Communication - 21-22 Jun 2007

- Casual subbing experience at The Guardian / Observer - Apr-May 2007

- Media Training Proofreading Course - 2007