spodgod

Qualifications:

Sept 1986 to June 1989:
B.A. (hons.) Communication Studies – Coventry Polytechnic, Class: 2.1

September 1991 to Dec 1992:
M.A. in Communication Design (Graphic Design for Interactive Media) Manchester Metropolitan University

September 2008 to Dec 2010:
M.A. in Creative Writing – University of Manchester (in progress)

Current Employment:

September 1996 to the present:

Freelance New Media Journalist.
Publications contributed to include:
• Computer Arts
• .net Magazine
• PC Review
• What’s Online
• PC Format
• Internet Today
• Mac Format
• Internet Advisor
• CreateOnline
• PC Plus
• The Guardian

Much of my written work is about the web and communication technologies. A strong academic background makes me particularly suited to writing investigative or speculative features that analyse the culture and rituals of Internet use, emerging technologies and the process of designing interfaces for human-computer interaction. I also produce web authoring tutorials, CD and book reviews and write about relationships, travel and alternative therapies.

The fee for consumer and corporate publications can be negotiated on an ad hoc basis

Previous Employment:

September 1993 to June 1997:

Lecturer in Communication Studies, Edge Hill University College, BA Communication Studies.
Explicit Responsibilities:
• Module Co-ordinator COM 205: Communication, Culture and Technology.
• Module Co-ordinator COM 206: Studying New Media.
• Module Co-ordinator COM 207: Critical Media Theory
• Module Co-ordinator COM 209: Digital Media Production.
• Module Co-ordinator COM 102: Mass Communication.
1st Year Co-ordinator, Communication Studies.
3rd Year Dissertation Tutor
World Wide Web and Internet Design Consultancy Co-ordinator
Specialisms: Film, New Media Theory, Interactive Media Production.

Skills:

50 WPM Touch Typing.

High level of competence with Macintosh (OS X) and PC (DOS and Windows 9*/NT/2K/XP/Vista/7) application environments including;

• Word processing, Office and DTP packages.
• Cloud services
• Graphics and imaging packages (Photoshop, Illustrator in particular).
• Audio manipulation software including sound samplers, mixers, midi sequencing and trackers.
• Advanced web authoring skills in raw HTML, JavaScript and CSS.
• Expertise with web authoring tools, including Adobe Dreamweaver.
• UNIX skills to administrator level, including familiarity with Web server configuration.

After sixteen  years on the Net, I also have a familiarity with a variety of protocols and applications including P2P tools, virtual environments, chat applications, Telnet, FTP, Usenet, mailing lists, email and web authoring tools.

Milestones:

• First Web page published circa October 1992. Approx. 200 Web servers in the world.
• Publication of post-graduate dissertation – “The Mirrored Screen: Interface Design for Domestic Interactive Multimedia Systems”, December 1992.
• Designed and taught UK’s first undergraduate level modules in New Media Theory, commencing September 1993.
• First graphic Web Page published, circa March – April 1994 (optimised for Mosaic!).
• Designed and taught UK’s first undergraduate level modules in Digital Media Design and Production (including Web design), commencing September 1994 . Started using Web to disseminate teaching materials.
• Appointed Media Judge for the 1995 Global Multimedia Challenge at the International Youth Skill Olympics in Paris.
• First peer-reviewed academic publication: “When Worlds Collide: Postmodernity, Cultural Studies and Science Fiction”, November 1995
• Paper delivered at ‘The Fantastic’ :Academic Science Fiction and Fantasy Conference, University of Hull, November 1995
• First commercial publication, issue 2 of Computer Arts, August 1996.
• Left employment as a University Lecturer to take up writing full-time, June 1997.
• Designed and built first web presence for Somerfield Stores, June 1998.
• Publication of the Complete Flash MX Handbook, June 2003.
• Wrote blog about relationships for nerve.com, currently being turned into a book, 2006-2008
• Returned to post-graduate education, September2008

Leisure:

Live music
Creative writing
Squash
Chi Kung