A lengthy career as an award-winning journalist has allowed Dean the opportunity to develop his skills in the field of public relations.
Presently he is associated with a number of artists, conductors, actors, record producers and various organisations from heritage groups and charitable trusts to choirs and orchestras in assisting them to raise the profile of their work both as a publicist and website manager.
Gregory Peck, 1996
| |
Dean regularly works with such clients as Welsh Proms founder Owain Arwel Hughes, singer Iris Williams, actor Glyn Houston, composer Adrian Munsey and tenor Stuart Burrows. Recently
he worked closely with Australian, Canadian and American media in promoting the concert tours of the Treorchy Male Choir. He recently launched their new website, www.treorchymalechoir.com. and is also the web manager of two specialised sites for Llantrisant (www.llantrisant.net) and Pontypridd (www.loveponty.com).
|
A graduate of the University of Wales Swansea, Dean followed a post-graduate certificate in journalism. He was employed by Celtic Newspapers in South Wales where he worked on a series of their weekly titles as a senior reporter. In 1999 he was among the top three candidates in the country to receive his NCTJ certificate for proficiency in the field of journalism and was the recipient of a highly-commended BT Press Award as Welsh Weekly Journalist of the Year.
At the age of 28, Dean was appointed the editor of the Pontypridd & Llantrisant Observer, becoming the youngest newspaper editor in Wales and for the next five years developed the newspaper's content, style and quality, helping it become one of the top ten fastest growing titles in the UK. Such was its popularity that when Sir Tom Jones returned to his hometown for an open-air concert, it was the Observer that was allowed to break the story. Dean was allowed the only face-to-face newspaper interview with the superstar.
| |
Sir Richard Attenborough, 2005
|
His work with the Celtic titles led to the position of senior reporter with the national newspaper of Wales, the Western Mail and as a sub-editor for the South Wales Echo. He was later appointed Literary Editor for the Western Mail and WM Magazine.
BT Press Award Winner, 1999
| |
During his frequent journeys to the USA he befriended the reclusive Hollywood film star Joan Fontaine, writing a number of articles following visits to her home. He also enjoyed the opportunity to interview the legendary Oscar-winner Gregory Peck at his Bel Air mansion.
Dean relinquished his position as a newspaper editor to follow a new career in broadcast journalism, working for BBC Radio Wales on its flagship news programme Good Morning Wales.
|
Dean continues to regularly broadcast with BBC Radio Wales on its Sunday lunchtime programme Something Else and appears frequently on one of Wales's foremost commercial stations, GTFM. Due to his work as a local historian and author he remains in demand to appear on a variety of television documentaries and has recently completed the filming of an episode of BBC's Homecoming with actress Michelle Collins.
Dean is currently the Media Liaison Officer for one of the largest local authorities in Wales. |
