What do you do and how did you get there?
Until two years ago I was working as a radio producer for Revival Media, a Christian organisation which uses media to promote the Christian message around the world. Programmes are broadcast to Africa, India and the UK. Moving on from there, I set up a small business doing computer servicing, with some media work as a sideline. What happened since is that the media work has developed, and I now spend more time doing that than computers. I work part time for the Church and Media Network, developing their website, and do voiceovers and audio production for several Christian and secular organisations. It's a varied life! My early experience was on BBC local radio and later commercial radio.
What’s your all time favourite radio show and why?
I like creativity on radio, but today there's not so much of it around, especially in commercial and music radio. I used to love Kenny Everett who produced amazing sounds with 1970's technology, and I have fond memories of listening to the Noel Edmonds breakfast show on radio One! I think it’s sad that commercial radio no longer allows presenters to take risks.
How does your faith affect your work?
I became a Christian as a teenager, and ever since then I have tried to involve God in all that I do. I believe it was through Him that I got my first paid job in radio, at Premier Radio in London, then later strongly felt his hand guiding me towards the job with Revival Media. Since then it’s been amazing how a variety of media roles have come my way. My faith in Jesus hopefully motivates everything I do, in work, family, and spare time. He calls us to be an influence for good wherever we are. Sometimes I have not reflected him all that well, but learning to be like Jesus requires a lifetime of training.
What do you do to relax?
I like to watch TV, read, spend time with my family, go swimming.
Why do you think theMediaNet is important and what would you like to see it become?
For Christians, it’s easy to feel isolated when you work in the media, in part because churches don't really understand what you do! We live in an age when the media is hugely influential, yet many Christians have negative feelings about it. There aren't many (any?) modern worship songs which say how helpful the media is! So it's a good idea to make opportunities to meet with others in the same field, and theMediaNet facilitates this. For those who don't consider themselves to be Christians, membership of theMediaNet offers a window into the lives of people whose values are different. A supportive, dare I say loving, caring, community, which is often in contrast to the values we sometimes find in the media - or in many mainstream fields of work.
I would like to see theMediaNet gradually becoming more self-perpetuating, so that we reach a point where relationships are such that there are spontaneous contacts and networking among members.