About Miles Masterson Media
My name is Miles Masterson, and operating as
an independent contractor under sole proprietorship, Miles Masterson
Media, I am a freelance writer, editor and photographer based
in Cape Town, South Africa but currently working in Doha in the State of Qatar, Middle East. As a professional journalist and editor,
I am capable, mature, versatile, conscientious, thorough and punctual. As a magazine editor I am experienced, skilled and used to working and indeed thriving under stressful deadlines.
History
I am widely published in magazines and websites across the world
and at home. In South Africa I have contributed to the Sunday
Times Lifestyle Magazine and Food & Travel supplements and the Mail & Guardian, as
well as Men’s Health, Men’s Health Best Life, Men’s Health Living,
Out There, SL, Zigzag, Saltwater Girl, African Surfrider and Gust
magazines, and various other magazines and newspapers. I was
also online editor of the Red Bull Big Wave Africa event website
in 2008 and launched one of South Africa's first magazine websites, www.bluntmag.co.za, in 1999.
Internationally I have contributed to a number
of specialist extreme sports publications and websites in the
US, Australia and Europe, including Surfline.com, Worldprosurfers.com,
Surf, The Surfers Journal, Adrenalin, Heckler, Huck, Playboard,
Trip Surf, Concrete Wave and Wavelength magazines and an issue
of Abercrombie and Fitch (A&F) Quarterly. I have also contributed words and photos to surf industry catalogues
and websites and to marketing books, such as Brands and Branding South Africa
in 2004. I have taken photos for a snowboarding instructional
book and contributed words to a commemorative book on the Red
Bull Big Wave Africa surfing event and an Australian global surfing
atlas. My own book, How To Surf in South Africa, was published
by Penguin in 2009 and I am currently working on my second, a historical South African surfing biography.
My magazine industry experience includes
a three-year tenure as associate editor of Wavelength Magazine
in the UK during the early ‘90s. I then co-founded the award
winning SA youth magazine blunt with Craig Sims of Atoll Media
in 1997, which grew at a phenomenal rate under my stewardship and is still considered as one of South African publishing's greatest success stories. During my tenure as editor at blunt, I guided not only the editorial and design, but also the website, marketing and events, and, among many other successful brand extensions, filmed, produced and directed three top-selling extreme sports videos.
Throughout my involvement with Atoll I was a shareholder in the company, which produces
Zigzag and Saltwater Girl magazines. I served on the Atoll board
as a director, contributed to the running of the entire company and was in charge of blunt for 10 years (eventually becoming
an associate publisher), until I resigned in 2006 to resume freelancing writing and editing.
Please send me an email for my full CV: mastersonmedia@vodamail.co.za
Masterson Media Services
As a media company, Miles Masterson Media is committed to delivering
excellent media content and services.
Features & Reportage
I am experienced enough to tackle major magazine or newspaper
features, or reportage relating to any subject matter; be it the
environment, travel, people, general topics or social commentary.
In addition, I enjoy writing reviews and event reporting.
Copy Editing
I also freelance as a copy editor. I have a good eye
for syntax, vernacular, grammar and spelling, as well as a knack
for coming up with good subheadings and captions, as well as cutting
word lengths but sparing the piece, and in working fast but accurately
as a copy editor.
Magazine Consulting
After more than 15 years as a writer, editor and publisher in
consumer magazines and electronic media, particularly in the youth
and extreme sports markets, I have a vast amount of experience
and knowledge of the industry. I am thus able to consult with
confidence in the fields of writing, creative brainstorming, editorial
planning, photography, art direction, sales, online presence, social media and
publishing in general.
Photography
I have been shooting photos for more than 25 years and can illustrate
my own written features from stock or fresh photos required. As an award winning photographer and photo competition judge,
am a capable and experienced photo editor familiar with working with stock libraries and I'm also used to working with photographers and artists and can thus source and edit
photographs or illustrations for any feature or project.
Public Relations and Project Managing
My intimate knowledge of the media and ability to crack out a
decent press release also places me in a good position to be involved
in implementing a public relations and an above, through and below the line marketing strategy for
a brand. I’m also organised and I am experienced in managing
editorial and/or larger projects for commissioned feature material.
Rates
As a former editor I realise most publications have their set
rates or available budget and if they are reasonable I am willing
work according within these. However, as a senior editor and journalist and member of SAFREA (Southern
African Freelancers Association, www.safrea.co.za)
I cannot work for less than their recommended rates in South Africa.
Contact
Cell: 082 922 5452
Land: 021 791 2216
Email: mastersonmedia@vodamail.co.za
Miles Masterson Media
P.O. Box 26179
Hout Bay
7806
Cape Town
South Africa |
