Writing coach and media trainer

In 2005, I joined the editorial staff of The Economist, covering education and social issues for the Britain section. After five years in the paper’s London headquarters, I moved to São Paulo, where I spent nearly four years covering events in Brazil and (sporadically) other parts of South America. When I returned to London, I was appointed International editor, and over the following years to the jobs of Finance editor and Britain editor, with a short stint working with The Economist’s events team.

In some ways, the 17 years I worked for The Economist were like an extended tutorial in writing, editing and latterly coaching. The paper is known for the high quality of its prose and tight editing; high writing standards are expected from correspondents, and commissioning editors do a great deal of work to polish their prose further. Unlike almost all journalistic outlets, there are no sub-editors – editors who have not commissioned pieces but cut them to length and impose house style. That work is done by the person who commissioned the copy.

During my final few years on staff, I set up and ran a mentoring scheme and a series of weekly drop-in workshops for journalist colleagues on various aspects of reporting and writing – being a foreign correspondent, writing with numbers, covering difficult stories, structuring articles and many other topics. Around the same time I started doing freelance work, coaching senior employees in the public and private sector in writing skills.

I continue with this work, and coach journalists and editors in reporting, writing and editing, with an especial focus on those who have been promoted to senior roles or have moved to countries where reporting is difficult. I also do some executive coaching for senior people in the media, both on the editorial and commercial side.

Since 2024 I have added media training to my portfolio. If you are familiar with the toxic media environment for people who, like me, oppose extreme transactivism, you will probably not be surprised to learn that I have special expertise on handling tough questions and hostile interviews! I have offered this training to staff in both non-profit and for-profit organisations, as well as individuals.

If you would like to learn more about any of this work, or to explore hiring me as a writing coach or media trainer, please drop me a line at hjoycegender [at] gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you!