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Jonathan makes the right move

Ex-Leicester Mercury staffman Jonathan Smith is finding life is a lot different in his current job with a research consultancy in Oxford.

Jonathan works as a project manager/business analyst for Fast Track 100, which currently puts together two supplements for the Sunday Times – the Fast Track 100 and the Profit Track 100.

Jonathan said: “I have to do everything from conducting and writing up interviews, checking other people’s copy, checking accounts, producing PR and reports to managing the production process.”

He moved to journalism after working first as a trainee accountant in Cambridge.

He trained at the University of Wales’ Centre for Journalism Studies in 1993-94 and then joined the Leicester Mercury, where he worked until last year.

During his time at the Mercury he spent about a year providing newdesk cover.

“What I miss most from being a daily journalist is the sense of excitement from being part of breaking news stories,” he said. “There’s nothing really to match that buzz.

“What is better here is that it’s pretty laid-back, with only two really important deadlines a year, which is when the supplements are handed over.

“What is also very different is that there are only two professional journalists here – the other was a good man in Africa for Reuters – and everyone else has basically been employed after leaving university.

“Also, being in a smaller company, it means I come into contact with ‘the boss’ a lot more than I ever did at the Mercury.”

Jonathan was a cricket writer for the Daily Telegraph in 1990 and 1991 and has written articles for The Cricketer, Wisden Cricket Monthly and Rugby World. He worked on the Lander Journal and The Wind River News in Wyoming in 1994.

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