CV

I left the BBC after 34 years and am now putting all those broadcast & production skills I've honed to good use as a freelancer. I am open to work in TV & Radio Presentation / Reporting / Production as well mentoring. Also available for Voiceover & Event Hosting.
I have my own video production and audio recording studio set-up at home.

Here's what I'm up to...

2023

June/Summer: I will be working as a presenter on a BBC Radio 4 documentary strand to be broadcast next year.
May: Film on BBC One Show about the Westminster Abbey organ which will be centre stage at King Charles III's Coronation. >>> Watch video.

March / April:
Film on BBC One Show about the shortage of midwives and plans to address it in Sunderland. >>> Watch video.

Short film for LNER and their support of a fabulous project to rehabilitate offenders.
>>> Watch video.
January / February: Picked up 3 awards for work in video production.
>>> More details.

Producer: Film for International Women's Day 2023 >>> Watch Video.

Producer: Film highlighting the fantastic opportunities for apprentices within the rail industry.

Producer/Presenter: Sell out event "An Evening With Chris Jackson" at Tyneside Cinema looking at my 40 years of reporting the North East on TV and Radio.

Reporter/Producer: Short film about mercy mission to Turkish Earthquake Disaster

2022

Nominated for 2 RTS (NE & the Borders) awards

Best Presenter
Best Factual (Non-Broadcast)

Producer: short film for BBC's The One Show.

Reporter: ITN Productions

- Heart Valves: Watch Video>>>
- Reinventing Housing Kirklees: Watch Video>>>

- Reinventing Housing Hartlepool: Watch Video>>>

Reporter/producer: BBC Radio 4 (PM & Today Programme).

Developing documentary & drama ideas for independent production companies.

Producing films for corporate clients.

Royal Jubilee - Royal Train: Watch video>>>

Event Host for NHS and charity specials.

2021

Reporter - BBC Radio 4 "Today" TX 18/12/21 @ 08:10

Reporter - BBC Radio 4 "Farming Today" TX 08/12/21

Reporter - BBC Radio 4 "Today" TX 07/12/21 @ 08:22

Awards Judge - RTS Awards (NE & the Border)

Producer/Director - Remembrance Day video reports - LNER 11/11/21

Event Host - Major online event for NHS GP’s/hospitals. October 2021

Producer/Director - Campaign videos - LNER September 2021

Reporter/Producer - Decarbonising shipping film - UKRI/EPSRC July/Aug 2021

Mentor/Trainer - Filmmakers course for young people - Barnado's July 2021

Producer - RTS Event (June 2021)

Producer - TV Documentary development, Newcastle based. Ongoing

Reporter - BBC Radio 4 "Farming Today" TX 14/5/21

Reporter - BBC Radio 4 “Costing the Earth” TX 23/3/21

Producer/Director - Major live stream show & campaign video for hospice charity. TX 26/3/21
Host & Interviewer - Live webcast launch of Northumbria Police Commissioner future plans. TX 12/2/21

Event Host - Major online event for NHS GP’s/hospitals. April 2021

Talk / Q&A - Regional Journalism and its future. April 2021

Host & Interviewer - RTS online event - TV & Film, working with Covid April 2021

Online Mentor - Workshopping for foreign journalist training. March 2021

2002 - 2020

SENIOR PRESENTER/REPORTER & PRODUCER/DIRECTOR - BBC Inside Out
SENIOR PRODUCER/DIRECTOR - Documentaries (BBC One, Two & Four)

Back in 2002 I joined BBC ONE's new regional current affairs series INSIDE OUT as the main Presenter/Reporter. What many viewers never realised was that I also produced many of the films.

This unusual combination of working both in-front & behind the camera was hugely beneficial when directing guest presenters as I know just how it feels! As well as directing I was also self-shooting and rough editing.

I won the award of BEST PRESENTER (Royal Television Society - NE & the Border) five times during this period. The programme itself regularly won RTS awards (local & National) for its in-depth investigative journalism and high production values.

When not on air with INSIDE OUT I researched, directed, produced & presented network documentaries for BBC One, Two & Four.
These titles included:
WORLD WAR ONE AT HOME; PUBS, PONDS AND POWER; VILLAGES BY THE SEA; RESTORING ENGLAND'S HERITAGE; WILD WEATHER; NATURE OF BRITAIN; FROM THE DALES TO THE SEA ; SEVEN NATURAL WONDERS and SENSE OF PLACE.

During this time I was also asked by Network BBC programmes to work as an on-screen reporter such as THE ONE SHOW and WATCHDOG DAILY.

LIVE EVENT PRODUCER for Royal Television Society
As part of my work with the RTS I conceived & produced public events such as:
2018: 360° Documentary "Damming the Nile" with BBC correspondent Alastair Leithead -Mima, Middlesbrough.
2017: Transgender portrayal in the Media - Baltic.
2014: Byker Grove 25th Anniversary - Tyneside Cinema.
2014: Countdown to local Televisison - Live Theatre.

2001 - 2002

PROJECT MANAGER - Roll out & launch of BBC local websites

I had a very interesting year out to put a very different skillset to good use. As an early adopter of tech I had gained a lot of experience in web design in my spare time and I was asked by the BBC to lead the roll out of all its new local websites in the North of England. It was an honour to be in at the start of something brand new. I trained as a project manager and then built the service from scratch in charge of content design, recruitment & training of staff, quality control and launch.

It was the BBC's fastest and most successful roll out of any new service and it was on budget and on time!

1992 - 2001

TV NEWS ANCHOR & REPORTER - BBC Look North

I joined BBC LOOK NORTH as a reporter but also read bulletins before becoming the region's main Evening News Anchor alongside Carol Malia when it became a double-headed programme in 1996.

It was great to combine live studio and location work alongside regular reporting.
This great mix also included presenting the live regional opts of the mega broadcasting marathon that is BBC CHILDREN IN NEED.

1991 - 1992

TV REPORTER & NEWSREADER - BBC Midlands

I moved into TV with an attachment to the BBC's brand new regional news programme for the East Midlands. Based in Nottingham I was writing and producing bulletins as well as reporting on the main programme.

Quite by chance I got a lucky break and had to step in a read a bulletin with only a few minutes notice and no training - Luckily my radio experience not only got me through but got me noticed.

As I neared the end of my attachment I was poached by the Birmingham newsroom and joined the main MIDLANDS TODAY team.

1988 - 1990

RADIO SHOW PRESENTER - BBC Radio

I produced & presented a daily live news programme on BBC Radio Newcastle each lunchtime which was a real seat of the pants time as so many of the stories were still being packaged up or breaking as we went on air.

Later I was asked to produce and present a 2nd daily news programme at Drivetime.
These two "newshours" became a staple part of the Radio Newcastle schedule.

1986 - 1988

DISTRICT PRODUCER - BBC Radio

For 2 years I had one of the best jobs in the BBC when I joined the corporation as its District Producer covering Northumberland. I had my own studio in Alnwick and made packages and did live inserts into all of Radio Newcastle's programmes, not just news.

This job meant really getting involved with the local communities to find original stories whilst also being the BBC's ambassador in the county.

1984 - 1986

NEWS REPORTER & NEWSREADER - Swansea Sound

Although I started out as newsroom junior I soon proved my ability and rapidly rose to become the peak time breakfast newsreader. This was during a fascinating period - the Miners' strike which involved enormous sensitivities in this coal-rich area. I also devised and produced a new "innovation" strand that examined and celebrated the cutting edge research and manufacturing of South & West Wales.

1980 - 1983

NEWS & SPORTS REPORTER - Mercia Sound

Whilst a student at Warwick University I was also working at the newly launched commerical radio station Mercia Sound. Initially behind the scenes, I soon started reading sports bulletins and working in the newsroom as a reporter and was a key part of the team on specials such as election programmes and OB's.

After gaining a degree at Warwick in 1983 I left Mercia to do a post grad in Journalism at University College, Cardiff to gain a formal media qualification.

CV