Summary

Fergal is a multimedia journalist writing about news, technology and the start-up sector. He is currently working on a project in Social Semantic Journalism at DERI, which aims to provide journalists with tools that will help them use social media more effectively in their work. Fergal has a background in IT but retrained as a journalist and as well as has written for Technology Voice, Digital Times and the Irish Independent.

Experience

NUI Galway

Journalist and social media researcher at DERI,

February 2013 – Present (7 months)

Participating in a research project into Social semantic journalism. Working with Dr. Bahareh Heravi the project aims to explore how journalists use the web and social media and develop tools that will aid journalists in their work.

Digital Times

Journalist

March 2012 – January 2013 (11 months) ###Dublin

• Sourced and wrote international and Irish-based stories around technology, business, digital trends, social media and start-ups. Publish numerous articles, news pieces and features per day under tight deadlines.
• Managed the Digital Times website including sub-editing articles, embedding video, identifying news stories, commissioning features, developing relationships with contributors and creating contacts with the wider digital media sector. I was also responsible for picture editing and weekly interviews with key opinion leaders. Digital Times is built using Wordpress, so I am skilled in using Wordpress as a CMS.
• Promoted the business through various channels including phone calls to key industry thought leaders, business development meetings, industry events, networking evenings, social media platforms and SEO optimisation.

Mater Private Hospital

Research Project Manager

November 2011 – March 2012 (5 months)Dublin

• Worked part-time as project manager for research carried out by medical oncologist Dr. David Gallagher including the setting up of a genetic bio-bank at the hospital and the IMPACT study investigating genetic predispositions to prostate cancer. I worked well as part of the team and learned much from working on such an important research project.

Freelance Journalist

April 2011 – March 2012 (1 year)

Newstalk 106-108

Researcher for Newstalk Breakfast

December 2011 – December 2011 (1 month) Dublin

• Proposed topics to be covered on the show then found appropriate guests and scheduled them for appearance.
• Wrote scripts for presenters consisting of guest intros, interview questions and newspaper reviews. I also worked on creating forward features and commissioned contributions from guests.
• Edited and posted podcasts on the Newstalk website and became skilled in audio production and editing.

Irish Independent

Internship and Freelance work

June 2011 – December 2011 (7 months)Dublin

• Spent time on the Irish Independent news desk and had numerous articles published including one front page story. I covered a variety of topics including hard news, business news, sports features and politics.
• I have also covered various events for the news desk since finishing my placement as a freelance contributor.
• Researched and wrote features for the ‘Rolling Back the Years’ series of magazines with the Irish Independent features department.

EirGrid

Market Controller

August 2009 – April 2011 (1 year 9 months)

• Wrote and managed the content for Eirgrid’s www.sem-o.com website.
• Managed relations and communications with key individuals in the energy sector.

Baxter FX

Senior FX Dealer

September 2006 – March 2009 (2 years 7 months)

• Ran busy FX desk, executing spot, futures and options deals electronically and over the phone with brokers, banks and exchange floors worldwide
• Established new business relationships with Buy side and sell side clients.
• Ensured desk ran smoothly by overseeing all back office operations.
• Prepared sales presentation and represented Baxter at key sales conferences worldwide.

Baxter Sydney

Manager

July 2007 – October 2007 (4 months)Sydney

• Established the new Asia/Pacific satellite office, including sourcing office space and trading equipment and negotiating terms of lease.
• I also managed the process of establishing a team of traders and ensured they reached targets.

AIB

Business Analyst

January 2006 – September 2006 (9 months)

Business Analyst on project to redesign systems for AIB Home Mortgages

Kyocera Mita

IT

January 2005 – June 2005 (6 months)

Member of the IT team in the Kyocera Australasian head office

Microsoft

Software Engineer

September 2003 – September 2004 (1 year 1 month) Dublin

Designed and programmed tools used for the localisation of Microsoft Office.

Arklife

Finance

July 2002 – January 2003 (7 months)

Member of QA team.