Freelance profile

Phillip Nifield

Highly accomplished journalist, Former Political & Business Editor, Political Editor, Municipal Editor, Deputy News Editor of South Wales Echo. Interviewed many times on local and national radio and TV. Local government expert, reported on the National Assembly for Wales since 1999 with excellent working contact with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers, politicians, council leaders, senior officials. Served as expert member on WAG panel reviewing Councillors' Commission report commissioned by UK Government. Covered transport issues for 20 years, business for six. Shortlisted for major national award. Played key role in newspaper campaign to win pensions justice for steelworkers. Committed trade unionist.

* Click here to see sample photos

Contact details:

Street: 5 Heol Cattwg
Town: Cardiff
Postcode: CF14 1JQ
Region/nation: Wales
Country: United Kingdom
Telephone: 029 2061 2022
Mobile: 07766 712632

Skills:

See suggested rates:

Public RelationsRates: PR
ReporterRates: Reporter
Feature writerRates: Print media
Subeditor or editorRates: Sub-editing
ResearcherRates: Researcher
Online journalismRates: Online/writing
from the Freelance Fees Guide.

Subjects:

  • Local government
  • Politics
  • Trade unions
  • Business and commerce
  • Public relations
  • Transport
  • Charity/voluntary sector
  • Industry
  • Building/construction
  • Property

Profile last updated: 2012-07-30 17:47:58


Extra information:

I worked for the South Wales Echo for 38 years before leaving at the end of February, 2008, to set up my own business offering freelance writing, consultancy and public relations services.

At the Echo I was Political & Business Editor but held several other senior positions on the newspaper, including Political Editor, Municipal Editor and Deputy News Editor. I was considered by my peers as the “voice” of the Echo and Cardiff.

My expertise, particularly, on local government issues, led to me being interviewed many times on BBC Radio and TV, as well as national TV. I have reported on local government throughout South Wales during all of my career and for 16 years covered Cardiff County Council. When the National Assembly was set up in 1999,

 I was took over overall responsibility for coverage and built good working relationships with politicians of all parties.  served as an expert member on a Welsh Assembly government panel considering the Councillors Commission report. This was set up by the UK Government to look at how more younger people, women and people from ethnic backgrounds could be encouraged to seek election to local authorities.

For around 20 years I have also covered transport issues in South Wales - rail, road, buses and the Cardiff International Airport - and for the last six years of my career on the South Wales Echo, I also had overall responsibility for business coverage.

The South Wales Echo was shortlisted for a UK-wide award linked to coverage of the councillors’ expenses controversy, which I played a key role for many years. I also played a key role in the newspaper’s campaign, which has many years, to win pensions justice for former ASW steel-workers, who lost their pensions following the collapse of their employers. In fact, a colleague and I were presented with bottles of champagne as a thank-you for our efforts when a compensation deal, although not completely satisfactory, was achieved by the ex-steelworkers.

I have used the Freedom of Information Act - and continue to do so - to obtain information from government and public bodies inclouding local authorities which previously not been available to the public. When I left the Echo at the end of February, I received numerous commendations and tributes for my work from politicians of all parties, business people and from the former ASW workers, which are available.

I have advised senior Welsh politicians, worked for major Welsh companies including Cardiff Bus and organisations such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and covered the 2011 public sector strike for Unison.

I am a life member of the National Union of Journalists, having been a member for more than 40 years and I remained a committed union member even in the dark days when the chapel at the Western Mail & Echo was de-recognised. I was also Joint Father of the Chapel at WM&E.

 

 

Photographs

Please click on a thumbnail to see a larger version.

Phillip Nifield © Phillip Nifield Phillip Nifield
Phillip Nifield