PHIL PINNINGTON

I have been providing training in all aspects of managing the media, and making effective presentations since 1987. In that time I have run courses for over 6,000 people. My clients range from BT and Glaxo to the Forensic Science Service and the Health and Safety Executive. I presently work with Police forces, councils and the NHS across Britain.

In the last few years my work has expanded into Europe, running courses for Government Agencies in Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. At the outset my aim was to work with each organisation to provide a personal, professional service. That remains my goal today.

I began my career as a Journalist in 1974. I worked as a Reporter and Sub-Editor on a group of Newspapers in Cheshire and North Wales. I became Editor of a magazine before moving to the BBC. In my broadcasting career, which encompassed Radio and Television, I enjoyed the widest possible experience as a Reporter, Newsreader, Producer and Presenter. I was also the founder Director of the Ariel Trust. This unique project, involves young people and Broadcasting. In my time with Ariel I was interviewed by the Media on many occasions. Over a period of years I had to make numerous presentations to local, national and international audiences.

To sum it all up, now aged 55, I bring over 30 years of practical experience of working in the media industry to bear on the work I am doing today.

BEN PINNINGTON

Ben Pinnington, 32, has been working in the media for more than 10 years. He is an NCTJ qualified newspaper reporter and began his career at the Whitehaven News and Carlisle News & Star before moving to the Chester Chronicle.

Between 2000 and 2001 he was North West of England media officer and official spokesman for the Conservative Party helping organise more than 100 media driven shadow cabinet tours and the month long General Election campaign in the region. Between 2002 and 2003 he worked in the Scottish Parliament as special adviser to David McLetchie MSP and Lord James Douglas Hamilton, QC, MSP, the former Scottish Office Minister. In 2004 Ben launched Pinnington Media and handled the media for the successful North West Says No and Yorkshire Says No campaigns against regional devolution.

He was then approached to reorganize the running Forum of Private Business (www.FPB.org) press office, one of the four main UK business pressure groups. The 2005 FPB annual report recorded that “since the arrival of Ben Pinnington the FPB had seen its media circulation soar, from 11million to 40million.” In this role Ben was responsible for the day to day media management of the press office. He appeared regularly as an interviewee on radio and television and helped formulate and drive campaigns on congestion charging, the plight of high street shops and the Channel Isles tax dodge.