David Keyton
Journalist
Contact info: dckeyton@gmail.com
SKILLS
▪ Experienced producer, editor and writer with a broad knowledge of Asia through my travels and experience working in Chinese media. Proven track record in generating stories and writing clear, concise copy under tight deadlines.
▪ Extensive understanding of non-native English speakers with different cultural sensitivities.
▪ Ease at communicating with high-level officials and executives thanks to my career as a radio broadcast journalist.
▪ Team leading and project management have taught me to prioritise tasks in a systematic manner. In decision-making roles and with short deadlines, I have always made prompt and considered choices.
▪ Proficient in all standard software (Word, Excel…), and basic knowledge of multimedia software (Photoshop, Final Cut). User of major social media tools.
▪ Fluent in English and French. Currently learning Mandarin.
46 contacts• Editing scripts and packages for a major international 24-hour TV news network.
• Writing concise, punchy headlines, teasers and lead-ins. Recording voiceovers, preparing crossovers and written content for breaking news.
• Improving and raising the quality of copy of non-native English speaking reporters. Responding to reporters and correspondents on the field and editing their scripts.
• Principle editor for main Chinese political events (special coverage for NPC & CPPCC, Bo'ao Forum for Asia,...)
• Coordinating overseas correspondents, booking live-crossovers, phonos. Discussing and assigning stories. Assisting in the deployment of correspondents for breaking news coverage.
2008 - 2011• Improving copy and reading the news at South China’s only English language radio news service, broadcasting to over 77 million listeners.
• Writing clear and concise scripts, headlines and teasers for economic news, cultural magazines and political analyses. This included coverage for the 2010 Asian Games and China’s top annual legislative sessions (NPC & CPPCC).
• MC for all bilingual galas and assisting the Foreign Affairs office at formal events attended by foreign dignitaries and provincial officials.
2006 - 2006- Film director of a short film: 8’12’’. In addition to the typical pre-production tasks, I also successfully presented the project in French to 4 committees in order to obtain state grants. During the 2-week production, I handled the €. 9000 budget and 15-man crew, successfully completing the film as scheduled whilst assuming full artistic direction.
- Assistant Director to Erik Bullot on his film “Glossolalie” produced by RIAM. My roles were to research key interviewees and provide technical and logistical support when out on location.
2004 - 2004- Co-Writer of “Welcome to Egypt”, a multimedia production made during a research trip in Egypt. Whilst extensively travelling throughout the country, I recorded locals going about their daily lives. From these testimonies, a sound documentary was published about Egypt, its diversity, the difficulties faced with its neighbour, Israel, and its inner contradictions, particularly between the government and Islamic groups.
- The experience was rewarding partly due to the success of the project, but also because understanding Egypt was for me a key to understand, from an extra-European perspective, the middle-east turmoil, as it occupies an important role in the Arab world both due to its proximity with Israel and the key role it plays in the international community.
2004 - 2004- Working for 3 months closely with the production manager and theatre administration so as to prepare the year’s subvention plan (over €.4 M) and present it to investors.
- During this time, I prepared the year’s schedule for grant applications, prepared public presentations and briefings, designed relevant communication documents and wrote all press releases related to the theatre’s financing.