J&PR Account Manager Rebecca Dutton
Just six months ago, I launched into a new career and started work for J&PR as a PR account manager. The start of a new journey or continuation of my existing journey?
It was a great opportunity as I was looking for a change from journalism, which had been my career since I trained as a reporter at Cardiff University in 2005.
When I began working with Rhea Alton and Kirsty Smallman, managing directors of J&PR, I was excited and knew it would be an enjoyable job.
I met both Rhea and Kirsty while we were all employed at the Shropshire Star and we quickly became firm friends.
Over the years we worked on some fantastic stories together, covering breaking news, typing long into the evenings and always meeting our deadlines.
As we ditched our then boyfriends (now husbands!) in favour of covering breaking news stories across Shropshire – we thrived on the excitement of being the ones to get that exclusive interview.
We also had many a great night out with all the other reporters and we made friends for life. These nights out still continue – we will always consider ourselves as part of the media world.
We’ve seen each other get married and have children and now we’re working together again.
When Rhea started J&PR in 2009, I thought she was incredibly brave to branch out on her own.
I watched the business grow from strength to strength, building up an impressive portfolio of clients.
At the time, I was living in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, and working as a reporter for the Moose Jaw Times-Herald – a job I thoroughly enjoyed.
I didn’t imagine how I could work for J&PR, unless I moved back to Shropshire – still in the long term plan for my husband and I.
But when I returned to England to live in North Yorkshire, Rhea suggested I could work for the agency from home and I jumped at the chance.
I love the variety of clients that I work with and enjoy creating exciting PR campaigns for them.
Leaving the world of newspaper journalism and branching out to the ‘dark side,’ as it’s often called by reporters, was obviously a huge change.
But I still feel connected to journalism through my daily contact with reporters. I enjoy writing press releases with a touch of creative flair and then seeing them in print.
Obviously it’s not quite the same as the thrill when you see your own name as the byline but it’s a different sense of satisfaction – one of a job well done for the client.
And it turns out the world of PR is actually quite bright.
I love the fact that J&PR specialises in small and medium sized business.
We work with people who see the massive benefits PR can bring to their companies and want some help and advice to achieve their aims.
I have nothing but fond memories of my time working in newspapers and I certainly wouldn’t rule out one day going back.
I love writing and talking to a wide variety of people but that’s still something I get to do for J&PR.
And working from home means I have the flexibility to spend as much time as possible with my baby boy Lewis, while still keeping my career up to date and, most importantly, enjoying my job.
To find out about other members of the J&PR team visit https://www.jandpr.com/about-us/meet-the-team/
J&PR are a Shropshire PR agency covering Shrewsbury, Telford, north Shropshire, south Shropshire and parts of Mid and North Wales. As well as working with businesses, organisations and events across the region on PR campaigns J&PR run regular DIY PR Training Courses and DIY Digital PR Training Courses at venues in the county
