Nick Flaherty, Technology Writer

[ Writing ][Consultancy][ Web work ][ Previous employment ][ Education & Training ]

Writing

Since June 1996, I have been a full-time freelance writer and consultant on electronics and technology, from the basic silicon chips up to the PCs they go into and the telecommunications and networking equipment that connect the PC to the world. I now concentrate on the silicon technologies that allow these industries to happen.

• I write for many weekly and monthly industry publications in the UK, Europe and around the world.
• I am writing a book on the history of Advanced Risc Machines in Cambridge - if you are interested in contributing, please contact me
• I write for the marketing departments of technology companies and technical PR companies, focussing on white papers for their technologies and informed comment articles. If you are interested in any of these services, please contact me for current rates and availability.
• I was Contributing Editor and Web Watcher at Electronics Times, a weekly trade newspaper until it closed in October 2002.
• I edited MULTIMEDIA SILICON, a newsletter covering the convergence of computers, communications and consumer from the view of the silicon chip makers and their customers until the publisher was bought and the newsletter closed.

Consultancy

• Senior Analyst, InsideChips. Since Jun03. Writing leading edge market and technology research for a US consultancy. The first report on Global Digtial TV markets is here.
• Director of Product Development, Digital Radio Development Bureau, Sep02-Jun03. A short term contract to develop the market for Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) digital radio equipment in the UK, working with global chip makers and global consumer equipment makers to stimulate the market for cost effective receivers. Working as part of a small, focussed team, liasing across content, press and retailers.
• Consultancy on Digital TV and Radio with UK receiver manufacturers - ongoing

Web Work

I have designed Web Pages for technology companies with the aim of getting technology messages across using the interactivity of the Web. This includes working with service providers and writing copy for the site. Clients include the UK Department of Trade and Industry, a technical public relation company, a European design house and a contract electronic manufacturer.

Other Freelance Work

• Writing
  • Cable Business magazine
  • Cable & Satellite Europe magazine
  • DTI Think Digital primer
  • Features for show newspaper for the Cebit consumer electronics show in Hannover, Germany every year since 1996
• TV
  • BBC Newsroom Southeast - Infra-red cameras to prevent shipping accidents on the River Thames following the Marchioness disaster.
  • BBC Midlands - Computer display technologies
• Radio
  • BBC World Service
    • Electronics developments in Korea
    • Intel's Pentium Pro chip
  • Radio 5 - Intel's Pentium Pro chip
  • BBC Radio Ulster - Internet shopping kiosks
• Conferences
  • A judge for the Cable & Satellite Awards at Mediacast 2003
  • Digitronics, chairman and organiser, April 1996
  • FPGA and PLD Day, session chairman
  • Video on Demand, keynote speaker, CommEd

Previous Employment

• Electronics Times, a weekly newspaper for electronics engineers and managers.
  • Features Editor & Components Editor, Sep '94 -- May '96

    Features - Commissioning and briefing in-house and freelance reporters. Liaising with sub-editors, art editor and production manager, including designing pages and writing headlines. Devised and managed changes to the feature section in style and content as part of the 1996 re-design. Budget of £15 000.

    Components - Covering the developments in chips in the electronics industry, which means covering the computer and consumer sectors. Reporting from shows and conferences. Writing features.

  • Features Editor & Telecoms Editor, May '93 -- Sep '94
    

    Telecoms - Covering the technologies, companies and markets in mobile phones, multimedia, switching, radio, and local and wide area computer networks.

• Electronic Engineering, a monthly technical magazine for electronics engineers.
  • Special Features and Supplements Editor, Sep '91 -- May '93
    Responsible for the editing and production of half the magazine, commissioning and writing the special report each month and starting special supplements that were sponsored by companies but with independent editorial. Responsible for the front cover, conceiving and commissioning artwork and finding sponsors.

Journalism graduate trainee scheme

Placements: Sep '90 -- Sep '91

• The Engineer
• Electronics Times
• Process Engineering
• Courses: Law for Journalists - Feature Writing - Advanced Feature Writing - News Writing, Advanced News Writing - Finance for Journalists - Quark Express- Word - Sub-editing

Previous Employment

• ICI Wilton Project course Summer '89
• Bancoft Camp for mentally handicapped adults and children: Self employed Residential Instructor; Summer '88. Counsellor; Summer '87

Referees...More info...

Education

• York University, Heslington, York
  • Experimental Physics (grade 2:2)
  • Project: feedback electronics for a scanning tunneling microscope
  • Essays: The Ozone Hole;
  • Courses: C - Fortran - Computer Studies
• Dulwich College, Dulwich, London SE21
  • 2 S levels: English [2] - Physics [2]
  • 4 A levels: English [B] - Physics [B] - Maths [B] - Chemistry [B]
  • 11 O levels
• Hayes Comprehensive

Personal Details
Tel: 07710 236368