Bernard Conlon

Journalist, Belfast

presentation: "Belfast Wall Paintings: the language of the street and its ramifications for a search of peace"
categories: Kids' Guernica Exhibition at the Zappeion Megaron Athens + Kids' Guernica Experiences

Bernard Conlon

Career Summary and Curriculum Vitae

My career as a communications and public affairs specialist commenced when I worked in a research and information role in the 1984 European Parliament election campaign. A Robert Schuman Scholarship with the Parliament in Luxembourg followed in 1985. In 1986, I joined a Brussels based publishing – consultancy organisation as an editor of a specialist policy publication.

Since 1990, I have worked as an independent consultant and journalist. I was the Brussels correspondent of Public Service Magazine (published by top civil servants' union, the First Division Association FDA). I have written for a wide variety of publications. I have carried out research and other assignments for MEPs and the European Commission.

I have carried out extensive lobbying, communications and campaign work for the trade union movement. In 1995, I was appointed EU affairs adviser to the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and was responsible for organising the NUJ's first-ever official visit to Brussels, which included a working lunch with the General Secretary of the European Commission. I was also Acting European Officer for the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) for six months in 1997. From 2000 - 2006, I carried out a sequence of consultancy contracts (campaign work and media relations) for the Brussels-based European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), to which UNISON is affiliated.

In November 2007 I was appointed as the Information and Communications Officer for the North Belfast Partnership, with special responsibility for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) North Belfast Urban II Programme. This fixed-term contract ended on 31 December 2008.

I have reverted to being a self-employed communications professional and am currently establishing a non-profit information and culture organisation.

A previous Chair of the Brussels branch of the NUJ and member of the union's Freelance Industrial Council (FIC), I hold BA and MA degrees in history, politics and communications from the University of Ulster.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Personal Information

Name:

Bernard Lawrence Conlon

Date of Birth:

19 June 1959

Marital Status:

Single

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Education and Training

Secondary:

Park-Lodge Christian Brothers’ Secondary School, Belfast, N.Ireland: 1970-76

Further/sixth-form college (A’Levels):

College of Business Studies, Brunswick Street, Belfast: 1976-78

Higher:

University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Newtownabbey, N. Ireland: 1978-81

BA (Honours) Combined Humanities: History (major), Politics (minor), Philosophy (1^st year), Communications (related study)

Post-graduate:

University of Ulster at Coleraine, N. Ireland, 1981-84 (part-time)

MA in Contemporary/20th Century History

Professional training: Journalism Pre-entry Course, College of Business Studies,

Belfast: Sept.1981-Dec. 1981

Employment History/Work Experience

in Journalist-Communications and Public Affairs Specialist, Jan. 1990 - present

Information and Communications Officer,

North Belfast Partnership, Unit 42-45 North City Business Centre, 2 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast BT15 2GG

Tel. 028 9075 2990

Full-time - fixed-term contract, November 2007 – December 2008

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Communications and public affairs services for Mullin Paper Ltd/Mullin Inkjet Media Ltd: Oct. 2004 – ongoing;

European Federation of Public Services Unions (EPSU), Brussels:

Production of Publication on the Social Dialogue in the Hospital Sector Conference, Brussels September 2006;

Design and implementation of seminar for communications professionals employed by EPSU affiliates, Brussels, December 2005;

Design and implementation of press/public relations strategy for EPSU Congress (held every four years), Stockholm, Sweden, May – June 2004;

Writing, editing and production management of publication based on Social Dialogue in the European Healthcare Sector conference, Brussels 2-4 February 2004, organised by EPSU in conjunction with Healthcare employers’ organisations (sponsored by the European Commission);

Production of publication: Services of General Interest (SGI) in the Future of Europe – EPSU conference publication, Dec. 2002 – Jan. 2003

Communication consultancy services: EPSU Campaign on the EU Working Time Directive, Nov. 2001 – Nov. 2002;

Writer-Editor: Social Dialogue in the Hospital Sector project, EPSU: May-July 2000.

Contributing/have contributed to:

World Parliamentarian Magazine, Brussels;

Public Service Magazine, London;

Fortnight Magazine, Belfast;

The Journalist (NUJ Magazine), London;

Unions Today, London;

Ireland of the Welcomes, Dublin;

Irish Music Magazine, Dublin;

Irish Times, Dublin;

Sunday Business Post, Dublin;

Irish News, Belfast;

Business and Finance, Dublin;

European Government Journal, UK;

European Financial News, London;

Computerwire, London;

Prezz.Com, Paris;

Lobby Contact, Bedford/UK;

eubusiness.com, London;

UNISON web-site London,

IMPACT News, Dublin,

Public Sector News, Dublin,

Magill Magazine, Dublin,

Village Magazine, Dublin;

Holyrood Magazine, Edinburg……..

Volunteer Development Agency (VDA), Belfast, Information Officer (part-time/fixed-term), Dec. 2003-April 2004;

Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, Belfast: Publication on the European Union (EU) Peace and Reconciliation Programme: The Right Angle on Europe (chapter on N. Ireland media coverage of Europe) May 2003;

European Union (EU) Policy Adviser to National Union of Journalists (NUJ): Sept.1995-Jan.1999;

Acting European Officer for the International/European Federation of Journalists (IFJ/EFJ): Dec.1996-June 1997 (fixed term contract);

Author of briefing document on the Romanian Energy Sector, DG 1, European Commission: Jan.1996-March ’96;

The Media in Ireland and the European Union (EU): conference organised in the European Parliament, Dublin, on behalf of Ms Bernie Malone MEP, spring 1998;

Lecturing/briefing work for the European Centre for Journalism, Maastricht, on European Union (EU) and media affairs: 2000-2001.

Editor of Eurotech Forum Journal, Blenheim Online PLC/XCOMS International: Jan.1990-Jan.1995;

Editorial work for organisations/companies contracted to the European Commission: eg. Innovation and Technology Transfer Magazine (European Service Network, Brussels); Empirica Plus, Brussels: Jan.1990-June 1995;

Production of conference reports for Forum Europe, Brussels: Jan. 1994-June’94;

Editorial work for CENELEC (European Standards body): Feb. 1993-April ’93;

Research services for Arthur Andersen Consulting, Brussels: 1990-1993;

Presentations for Robert Schuman Institute of Journalism, Brussels: 1990-1995;

Briefings on European Union (EU) Affairs, Irish Institute of European Affairs, Leuven: 1992-1995;

Public relations presentation on behalf of the Economic and Social Committee (EU institution), April 1994;

Guest lecturer: Irish historical, political and cultural topics for the University of Mons, Belgium: 1992-1995.

Employment History/Work Experience 1981-1990

Tutor (part-time) on State and Society (social science course), Open University, Brussels: Sept. 1987- June 1988;

English-language Editor, Euromatica SA, Brussels: 1986-1989;

Robert Schuman Scholar, Directorate-General for Research and Documentation, European Parliament, Luxembourg, Nov. 1985-June 1986;

Supply teacher, freelance journalist and family business, Belfast: 1984-1985;

Research and Information Officer (fixed-term contract), Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Belfast, Feb. 1983-July 1984;

Youth Training Officer, Younghelp (Youth Training Programme YTP), Belfast: Jan. 1982-August ’82.

Worked in family business and was N. Ireland contributor to Inside Ireland (tourism publication), Dublin, 1981- Jan. 1982.

General

I am a long-standing member of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), the main British-Irish professional organisation for journalists. I have acted as NUJ Brussels Branch Freelance Officer, Vice-Chair and Chair. I have also been a long-standing member of the NUJ’s Freelance Industrial Council (FIC);

I established a community culture and information project (Ex-Isle), in Brussels (1988-1995). I was involved in the project management of art exhibitions, language courses, conferences, seminars, music and other public events;

I have travelled widely in North America and Europe for professional and personal purposes. For instance, as winner of the Co-operation North: Working Together Awards (writing competition) 1984, I visited New York and Washington, meeting political and media figures, including Tip O’Neil, former Speaker of the House of Representatives;

I enjoy the usual range of cultural and social interests (cinema, reading, music etc.). I have taken part in drama productions and workshops. I keep fit through jogging/hill-walking, swimming, cycling etc.;

I have developed a Culture and Information Forum (CIF) in N. Ireland as an ancillary aspect of my work: a framework for publishing and project development.