Meet Phil
My name is Phil Clisby and I am a freelance journalist. I have 16 years’ publishing experience working in a variety of roles, such as production manager, sub-editor, layout sub, writer and designer. I have also been involved with new launches and redesigns. In effect, I can turn my hand to anything.
My last full-time role saw me production managing more than 30 issues annually across 12 different publications, contributing articles and blogs, editing, and designing pages and adverts, among other responsibilities.
As a freelancer, I can provide a number of services: production management, sub-editing, page layout, advert and brochure design, news and feature writing, copywriting and blogging.
People I have worked for recently include Reed Business Information, Progressive Content, Last Word Media, Gecko Publishing, DiversityQ.com, Legal Week Events, BioPhorum Operations Group and Condé Nast Traveller.
I have experience of a number of different genres – from finance to football and from business to travel – covering B2B, B2C, consumer and contract publishing. I have been employed by some notable publishing houses – H. Bauer Publishing, Incisive Media, Press Holdings Media Group and Gecko Publishing – across a diverse array of titles, including: Travel Africa, ZiNG Caribbean (for LIAT airline), msafiri (for Kenya Airways) and Rafiki (a staff magazine for Kenya Airways), Investment Week, Bloomberg Money, The Business, Cut and Soccer Investor.
I know the importance of meeting deadlines, can work to the tightest or broadest of briefs, and am comfortable liaising with clients, printers, writers, designers, editors and publishers throughout the production process.
Qualification-wise, I trained at the Journalism Training Centre in Mitcham, receiving the Best Production Editor award for that year’s intake.
On a personal level, I am married with a 10-year-old son. I am a Chelsea season ticket holder, having been a supporter through thick and thin. Mostly thin. I like to keep healthy, regularly running and swimming, and I can just about still manage to kick a football around. I love to travel and enjoy reading, comedy and music. I am also a school governor.
I live in Wokingham, near Reading, so am within easy reach of London and surrounding areas should you need me to come into your office. Otherwise, I am fully set up to work from home.
This site gives you a flavour of what I have done and what I can do to help your business…
My Work
Production editor, sub-editor, layout sub and writer.
Below is a summary of the services I can provide:
Production Management
- Ensuring all magazines are produced on time and managing workflow
- Planning and managing the production schedule
- Creating PDFs, preflighting and signing off pages for print
- Liaison with contract clients, publishers, editors, designers, sub-editors, freelancers, sales, advertisers, printers and other key parties involved
in the production process - Flatplanning
- Artwork chasing, assisting with ad sales and creating ad pages
- Picture research and Photoshop work
- Print orders and delivery instructions
- Managing printer relationships and print tender process
- Projects, including magazine pitches and launches
Editing
- Editorial planning
- Commissioning writers
- Sourcing copy and pictures
- Writing articles
- Sub-editing (print and online)
- Liaising with clients, contributors, designers and proofreaders
- Proofing and page corrections
- Cover selection
Writing, Design
& Digital
- Contributing news, articles and features
- Blogging
- Copywriting
- Page layout and design
- Designing adverts, sponsored editorials, flyers and banner ads
- Producing digital flipbooks
- Updating websites (knowledge of WordPress and Joomla)
Portfolio
- All
- Advert Design
- Page Design
- Writing and Editing
Blog
Africa time
My finely honed appreciation for ‘Africa time’ was developed over two years of travelling through more than 20 African countries in the early ’90s. I have returned to the world’s most exciting continent several times since, experiencing it from a different perspective – through the eyes of my young son. It’s a place that throws up countless adventures…
Written for the Travel Africa magazine website, www.travelafricamag.com
Testimonials
Henning Wehn
Comedian
DD Kingscote
Director, Outposts Travel Africa
Lawrence Gosling
Group Editorial Director, Incisive Media
Craig Rix
Publisher, Gecko Publishing
Lisa Duke
Designer
Contact
Alternatively, you can get in touch via the form below and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.