Age: 39 - Book Of Work: www.richjohnston.com
Head Writer, Bleeding Cool 2009-Date
For American publisher Avatar Press, I've created, maintained and promoted a new genre-focused website, Bleeding Cool, with a 100,000 strong audience, a fully developed online community and established it as a major player in the comics industry. Went full time in May 2011.
Advertising copywriter:
Head Writer, Maple Street Studios/Radioworks May 2010 - May 2011
Working on many clients from Fox to Barratt Homes, for radio and Spotify services.
Freelance, 2009-Date
Working for Global Media Group, TalkSport and Clear creating successful campaigns for a number of blue chip clients, including Berocca, House Of Fraser, Lactofree and Uniqlo. I also created the winning pitch for Fetch TV.
Radioville, 2002-2009.
The UK's leading radio advertising agency, dealing directly with clients and full service agencies.
I've created radio campaigns for big brands such as Nationwide Building Society (which Leagas Delaney turned into a even more famous TV campaign), HMV, Lexus, Guinness, LoveFilm, Carphone Warehouse, Thorpe Park, TalkTalk (which just featured Tom Baker and Brian Blessed booming at each other), Time Out, Gumtree, Evening Standard, The BBC, Standard Life, Digital Radio, Maureen, Boden, Central Trains, Virgin Travel and Channel 4, as well as viral online videos for Nokia. I gave Jesus a MySpace page for the Churches Advertising Network (generating leader comment in the Times and the Telegraph.) And I wrote and search-optimized the current Radioville website at radioville.co.uk. See, not just a face for radio.
Tidal Wave Technology, 2002 - technology business to business agency, including work DM and promotional work for Sony, Vodafone and HP.
EHS Brann 2001 - through the line agency, working on POS and DM for WAGN trains, Alliance & Leicester and The AA.
Grey Interactive, 2000-2001 - an early digital agency, working on online campaigns for clients such Lloyds, HP, Nokia, Alfa Romeo and Oracle and websites for Mars Inc, Tango, KiteKat and the Cartoon Network.
Carlson Marketing, 1997-2000 - an integrated agency, working on through-the-line campaigns for John Smith's, promotional work for Nestlé, direct mail for Coca Cola and events for Yellow Pages.
Leavold Pollard Rogan, 1997 - healthcare, Glaxo Wellcome.
Electronic Arts, 1996-1997 - games publisher, creating documentation and advertising campaigns for their games and brands, including Janes, FIFA, Fox, Bullfrog, KKND and Theme Hospital.
Euro RSCG/WRCS Healthcare, 1996 - Smith Kline Beecham
Watts Lord, 1995-1996 - integrated, Tefal, Mercedes-Benz
Metro FM, 1994-1995 - radio, Bang And Olufsen, Easington District Council.
Education:
2:1 BA Hons Politics, University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, 1994. A's and B's for GCSEs and A-Levels, including A in English Literature.
Additional:
I've written for Popbitch, The Guardian, PlayStation World, Smack The Pony, Week Ending, guested on The One Show, created online PR for ITV's No Heroics, was curator for Harrods' comic art exhibition, covered Boris Johnson's mayoral election for The Daily Show and created the RichAndMark.com website. Oh, and I was a zombie in Shaun Of The Dead.
Awards:
Agency Of The Year - Radioville, Aerial Annual Awards 2007.
Best Of Show 2005 - Nationwide, Mobius Awards 2005.
Retail And Finance - Nationwide, Annual Aerials Awards 2004.
Best Radio Ad - Nationwide, Money Marketing Awards 2005.
Best Religious Advertising - CAN, St Andrews Cross 2004.
Best POS, Beer - John Smith's, Drami Awards 2000.
Finalist - John Smith's, AME 2000.
Punch Magazine's Young Writer Of The Year - 2000.
Two Finalists - John Smith's, AME 1999.
Finalist - John Smith's, RMA 1999.
Gold - Best FMCG - Coca Cola, Institute of Precision Marketing 1998.
Additional Information:
I'm married with two daughters, aged two and five. Which gives me a lot to fight for.
References:
David Couch, Creative Director, Maple Street Studios/Radioworks. lordcouch@gmail.com
Jo McCrostie, Creative Director, Canvas, Global Media Group. Jo.McCrostie@canvasmedia.co.uk
Tim Craig, Creative Director, Radioville. tim@radioville.co.uk
Stephen Donovan, Consultant Creative Planner (formerly Managing Director of Radioville) stephen@theoutdoorcat.com