I’m a language person. What do I mean by that? I love putting words to work – and listening to the music they make. I spent 25 years as a journalist, editing for newspapers in Wellington, London and Paris. I’m also a poet. I’ve twice won New Zealand’s national award for a poetry collection.

In Paris, working on the opinion pages at the International Herald Tribune, I saw international organizations with crucial remits – improving people’s lives, boosting prosperity – struggle to tell their stories. Intrigued by this disconnect, I jumped the fence, becoming an editor, writer and trainer for organizations that are trying to make the world a better place.

I love helping global agencies convey their vital messages and stories. That’s why, as well as editing and writing, I began to give writing skills courses with a “reader-centred” approach. Since 2013, I’ve led more than 400 writing workshops, mostly in Europe and Africa, for UN agencies, NGOs, think tanks and multilateral development banks.

 

Andrew Johnston • andrew@wordsforchange.com • +336-6517-3966 • 7 rue L Thuliez, 75019 Paris, France