Belinda Hargreaves

A true and dedicated journalist and editor with 16 years in the industry. An extremely self-motivated hard worker with a keen eye to detail and perfection who thrives on being given deadlines and new challenges. Very passionate about my family, volunteer work and the community. A confident individual who can converse comfortably with people from all walks of life and who delivers on given tasks with enthusiasm and professionalism.

Senior News Reporter and Entertainment Reporter Post & Times Newspapers, 1-2 Market Place, Leek, Staffordshire. May 2007 – March 2017. Gathering, researching and writing a wide spectrum of stories from within the community from breaking news to entertainment reviews, from community events to education updates, from tributes to business news, from crime to personal achievement stories, and from charity news to council activities. The position also included photography, feature writing, subbing and production of the newspaper, website and social media management, advertorials, as well as collation and writing content for and the production of supplements.

Freelance Communications Specialist. Hargreaves Communications. Leek, Staffordshire. March 2017 – present. Communications specialist offering a wide range of services from writing and distributing press releases and taking accompanying photographs to copywriting for promotional material, from gathering content for and producing newsletters, e-newsletters and websites to social media management, and from helping to write personal correspondences and life stories to offering guidance in community engagement.

My freelance work, up until July 2023, included a full time position of being News Editor for the Times & Echo newspapers which include: Leek & Moorlands Echo, Cheadle & Tean Times, and Uttoxeter Echo; as well as being the editor of the Leek Life Magazine, Stone & Eccleshall Life Magazine, and Newcastle Life Magazine.

I have also been News Editor for Moorlands Radio.

NCTJ Level 3 Certificate in Journalism (Newspaper Reporters) (July 2009): News Writing (C), Portfolio (B), Public Affairs – Local Government (B), Public Affairs – Central Government (B), Media Law – Court Reporting (B), Media Law – General Reporting (C).

Teeline Shorthand (April 2010): 100 words per minute.

National Certificate Examination for Reporters (November 2010): News Interview (Pass), News Report (Pass), Newspaper Practice (Pass), Logbook (Pass).