Jane-Ann Purdy

URL:

www.geordiemac.co.uk

Skills:

I specialise in writing for others. I will write for you when you don’t have time to write that speech, article, web content, book, press release or whatever.

I edit publications, both online and offline, aimed at your customers or employees. And I develop websites, tailored to your needs and those of your clients.

Bio:

Like all writers I am nosy. I can get interested in anything, and fast.

My background is reasonably eclectic, but I like to think no experience is wasted. Every day’s a school day, if you like.

I graduated with a degree in film and media from the University of Stirling and went straight into two years working as … a nanny. Hmm, not what I’d planned exactly, but useful experience nonetheless.

My next job was more promising. In 1991 I became personal assistant to Muriel Gray, researcher for her first production company, and general dogsbody around the office.

By 1994 I was producing commercials (in Scotland) when I decided to give London a try. I spent about 18 months working on Eurotrash – remember that? But I soon tired of looking at my feet on public transport, and returned to Edinburgh in 1996.

A series of happy accidents found me reinvented as a journalist writing, in the national press, on the media industry, television, film, and comedy. This led to more general features writing, and being massively over-entertained at the Edinburgh Festival each year.

I also took corporate briefs at this time and found myself getting meatier jobs in this sector, plus an editorship of an in-house magazine for a multinational technology publishing company.

This spell turned me on to the internet and its massive potential for publishing content in a new and compelling way.

I set up GeordieMac in 2009 and now work with a crew of dedicated freelancers: photographers, designers, and web producers. Our latest project is http://www.swimshawmethod.com – a web magazine aimed at all those who love swimming or just being in the water.

Sometimes I’m asked if web publishing is the future. I don’t have a crystal ball, but what I would say is, it’s the now.