Hi, I'm Bryan Betts, and I am a UK-based journalist specialising in business and technology. I am currently available part-time, on a project by project basis.
In the last few years you might have read my work in The Register, Techworld, IT Week, Computer Weekly, Computing, CeBIT News, Computeractive, PC Support Advisor, PC Pro, Channel 2000, AOL UK, e-Doc, The Engineer, E-Systems & Networks (ESN), SmartCommerce Executive, Mobile Choice, London Drinker, What's Brewing and The Guardian, among others. I've written for daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual publications.
Many of my stories are online, so if you are looking for clippings or anything specific, please try a Google or an Ask on my name. (I am not the guitar-player with the MySpace page, nor am I the SAP programmer who posts on one or two of the SAP forums. I am a few of the others who will turn up in the search, however!)
I've also written various reports and case studies for other folks, and taken part in radio programmes for BBC World Service, BBC7 and BFBS. I have TV experience from other areas of life, this includes appearances on BBC1, BBC2, Channel4, History Channel, Bravo, Discovery Channel and UKTV Food.
Try me for anything to do with the following topics, also other country markets - I've some knowledge of Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic region, as well as Western Europe. And I'm available for daywork in offices if required, having experience in production, news, commissioning, training of junior staff, etc.
* Business applications of technology
* Mobile/portable computing & handhelds
* Computer storage technology & networking (hard disks, tape drives, NAS, SANs, Fibre Channel, etc.)
* PCMCIA, PC Card, CompactFlash, USB & similar
* Mobile data communications (GSM, Bluetooth, GPRS, 802.11 wireless Ethernet, WiFi, etc.)
* Processor technology (RISC/CISC, etc.)
* Monitors & graphics
* Distribution channels
* Electronic mail and Internet
* European computer markets
* Historical Re-enactment, and
* Beer (yes, seriously...)
A short CV: I have been freelance since the start of 1994. Until the end of '93, I worked for Dataquest as editor of the European Monitor and four other newsletters, and as a writer on special reports. Before that I was research editor at MicroScope, the weekly paper for the computer trade, and prior to that I was deputy editor at DEC User magazine which was interesting, but we didn't get as many toys to play with!
I am an NUJ member and I'm NCTJ-trained (National Council for the Training of Journalists), although I never got around to collecting the bit of paper to prove it. My degrees (a B.Sc. and a Masters in Engineering Science) are from Warwick University. I also hold a City & Guilds 7407 stage 1 qualification in further education teaching.
Telephone: 020 8580 9725 (with voice-mail) or 07753 863 242 - please do try the former before you try the latter. I'd prefer given the choice. Fax is feasible, but by appointment only and not on the numbers above.
I also help moderate Fleet Street Forum, a mailing list for UK media professionals - to read the messages on our mailing list click here, and to request list membership go here.
If you're looking for a journalist and I don't fit the bill, here are some colleagues to investigate instead:
Michael Kenward science writer and editorial consultant
John Kerr organic grocer and slightly green journalist
David Lawson property and real estate writer
Ian Stobie strategy and leadership skills
Russ Swan science and engineering specialist
Other useful links:
Cheap international phone calls - updated with a cheaper number.