To celebrate The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire’s third birthday, this month we’re profiling the team behind our magazine and its online offering, in our regular AM to PM slot- a one day diary from rise and shine to lights out. This week we put the spotlight on our special features editor, Fiona Scott.
Fiona is a journalist, media consultant, videographer and tv producer/director. She has worked in the media for almost 30 years with ITV, BBC & Comic Relief. She’s offered media advice to many sole traders and SMEs including Wiltshire & Dorset Fire Rescue Service, Kream London, Systemagic, John Williams Heating Services, Medikas, Sinclair Pharma, Galderma, Nutricia, Haines Watts Swindon and Bevirs Solicitors.
Her services include: media training, ad hoc and retained PR services, full video production, PR strategy and organic social media services. Later in 2016, Fiona will be offering a downloadable PR course for those who wish to do-it-themselves.
What time does your alarm go off?
Most days my alarm goes off at 7am but sometimes I get up and start work at 5am. Why? I’m busy, so this quiet time allows me to get things done in peace ready to start my day as a mum at 7am. Then after the school run my working day re-starts.
What’s the first thing you do?
Make a coffee, fire up my laptop and do my social media posts. I look around for what’s going on in the world. Often I’ll contact a client highlighting stories of interest that they should be talking about on their social media, blogs etc.
What do you do for lunch?
If I’m at home, I’ll have soup or a sandwich. If I’m out and about I’ll have whatever is easily accessible, often nothing at all.
What do you love most about your job?
Interesting and dynamic people.
What’s the worst part of the job?
The most frustrating thing for me is when you’ve explained what you do and how you do it and that it requires work on both sides. Unless you employ a PR person who sits with you in your premises every day, you must communicate with the person who is telling stories about you, your people and your ‘stuff’. If you sit back and just expect others to deliver miracles you will be constantly disappointed.
What executive tool/ gadget could you not live without?
My smartphone and my laptop. They go together always. I’m sad enough to miss them when I’m on holiday. I hate feeling disconnected, though I do force myself to unplug.
What do you do after work?
With three children at home you wouldn’t have to think hard about the kind of things I do after work. I do go for a walk with my husband away from all distractions for daily exercise. I read novels –and always have at least ten books lined up by my bed as well as having a Kindle loaded up.
If you changed direction, what would be your Plan B?
I don’t have one as I still do a little of what I’ve always done – writing for publications, tv directing as well as running my own PR business. However if I had to choose again I’d probably be choose to be a lawyer. Variety is the spice of life.
Find out more about Fiona Scott Media Consultancy here: www.fionascottmediaconsultancy.co.uk
