CV

JAMES WICKHAM

Tweet: @jameswickham

Email: cv@jameswickham.co.uk

Profile

A multi-platform journalist with extensive presentation, live reporting, commentary and production experience.  Capable of delivering big developing stories under pressure for differing audiences as required. Experience of driving forward RAJAR growth as programme lead. Specialisations include sport & new music. A friendly, reliable, and creative member of the team, who thrives in high-pressure on-air situations. Acted as editor for national news output of 40 local radio stations and have produced for national news programmes. Loves making quality radio.

Career Summary

January 2011 – Present: Broadcast Journalist, Core News, BBC Radio 5 Live

* Based: Television Centre, London (Jan-Nov 2011); Quay House, Salford (Nov 2011-present)

* Role: Writing, editing & producing news bulletins and programme scripts. Regularly acts up as SBJ. Presents bulletins and Morning Reports.

June 2010: Senior Broadcast Journalist North, Live Reporter BBC GNS

* Based: Lincoln

* Stories covered include: Review of Shannon Matthews case, Raoul Moat search in Rothbury (for 5 Live); World Cup coverage from Wayne Rooney’s old school; vuvuzelas from St. James’ Park, Newcastle.

Oct 2009 – May 2010: Senior Broadcast Journalist, Live Reporter BBC GNS

* Based: Television Centre, London

*     Role: Delivered 2-ways for local & network radio on national news from location. Often on- air for up to 8 hours a day. Job involves use of M4 Satellite Kit & Comrex Access Kits; On-site solo editing & filing using laptop/ PDA. Also acted as Early Editor; shifts include setting the national news agenda for 40 local radio stations, writing clip sequences, setting up future guests & making editorial decisions. Additional work at BBC 5 Live included producing Morning Reports and writing for core news.

* Stories covered include: Sport:England 2018 city bids (from Wembley); Hand of Gaul incident (from Dublin); Silverstone contract announcement; Jenson Button to McLaren; David Beckham ankle operation (from Finland); test cricket update.

* News: Post office strikes; Baby RB case; Dr Ubani inquest; Body Parts case (all court reporting); Swindon twinning with Disney World; 10 year anniversary of the opening of the Dome.

* Politics: Swine Flu weekly briefing (from Millbank); 20 year anniversary of the fall of Ceau?escu (from Bucharest).

* Showbiz: Launch of ‘Bandaged’ cd (Interviewing celebrities including Sir Terry Wogan, Sharon Corr, Lee Mead, Nick Mason).

Sept 2005-Oct 2009 & July 2010-January 2011: Presenter & Broadcast Journalist, BBC Lincolnshire

* Presentation: Regular stand-in breakfast and drive presenter, interviewing senior figures from across the county and further afield, including David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Tony Benn. New music presenter for 2 ½ years with 30% RAJAR improvement. Presented every other show on the station bar one.

*    Sport: Presented & produced main sports programme; Lincoln City & Boston United match commentary. Covered local golf, cricket, hockey, swimming, motor racing and boxing stories. Fully CPS trained.

* News:Written, produced & read news bulletins. Main live reporter for station. Breakfast and drive producer. Extensive experience of discovering and breaking exclusive stories.

*     Special projects:  Spent a year as the first UGC journalist in local radio, working with local communities to produce quality radio & web items. Lead Journalist, PDA project, Luci Live & iCav projects (mobile working & new broadcast technologies).  First reporter in world to broadcast live using mobile phone via 3G.

Previous experience:

* Freelance BJ, Yorkshire Coast Radio

* Sport Broadcast Assistant, BBC Radio Lancashire  & BBC GMR (Manchester): Football/ Rugby league

* Weekend Broadcast Assistant, BBC Radio York: All BA activities; also deputised as Weekend Breakfast & Request Show presenter/producer.

* Former Member of University Radio York & Scunthorpe Hospital Radio.

Technical Skills

* Fully Radioman/VCS/ENPS trained. Radiocar/iCav trained. CPS trained. Basic camera and editing training. CalRec & Mark III desk driver. Luci Edit/Luci Live trainer.

Education

* Pg Dip. Broadcast Journalism, University of Central Lancashire, Preston.

*    BA (Hons) Applied Social Science, University of York.

Personal Details

Full Driving Licence & Radiocar green card holder. Non-smoker, enjoys attending gigs & sport; travelling, being sociable, working out, playing squash, badminton, running, reading, and failing to learn Spanish, French and German. Heavily interested in social media and new technologies. Listens to too much radio and not as much music as he’d like. Favourite books are Catch 22 by Joseph Heller & Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami; Favourite film is Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles. Favourite album? Too many to mention…

References available on request