Dave McMullan
Streetly
Summary
Skilled news professional with extensive experience in content delivery and management across diverse radio stations. Proven ability to transform complex news agendas into compelling storytelling through creative and clear communication. Demonstrated success in training and coaching teams, alongside planning and executing strategic changes to enhance outcomes on the air.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
News Editor
Radio News Hub
11.2024 - 07.2025
- RNH supplies news and programmes to more than 400 UK commercial and community stations
- It had lacked experienced editorial leadership for a long time.
- Collaborated with reporters to develop comprehensive news coverage.
- Oversaw daily news operations and ensured timely delivery of stories.
- Implemented new workflows to enhance efficiency in news production processes.
- Identified and achieved my key objectives: higher standards and ambition, combining rigor and flair.
- By the time I left, we were regularly outperforming local and national competitors.
Senior Journalist
BBC Radio 4
01.2010 - 01.2024
- Over 15 years, I did everything but present the programme.
- Producing story items and treatments, broadcasting live and recorded reports from the scene, researching complex and challenging interview briefs often at very short notice & for 13 years was a duty editor on either day or night shifts, setting the agenda for not only the BBC but much of the national media too.
- It instilled in me the ability to make quick decisions, determine the right line of questioning & some talent management skills in studio.
Radio skills coach
BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat & Asian Network
01.2022 - 01.2023
- This was a year-long secondment to Radio 1 Newsbeat to assist in their relocation to Birmingham.
- Many new staff had been recruited to both stations and my brief was to assess and address all of their training needs including: scripting, interview technique, package making, newsreading & the use of all equipment.
- I also reported and read bulletins for Asian Network as needed.
Freelance Broadcast Journalist
07.2008 - 04.2010
- I worked for a variety of national broadcast news organisations including Sky News Radio, Independent Radio News and BBC Radio.
- I also did regular broadcasting in regional commercial radio, at the Guardian Media Group in Manchester, Leeds & Birmingham.
- During this time, I also taught commercial radio skills to students on the Postgraduate Broadcast Journalism course at Birmingham City University.
- In addition, I also taught radio interview techniques on the BSc and MBA Business communication courses at the University of Birmingham, giving students a realistic appreciation of the necessary skills for engaging with the media.
News Editor
Chrysalis/Global Radio Midlands
09.2006 - 06.2008
- As News Editor, I was responsible for the news output of both 100.7 Heart fm and Galaxy Birmingham, two stations with very different target audiences and news styles.
- I managed a team of five journalists, including a deputy editor, and was principally responsible for their individual coaching and development.
- I oversaw a radical overhaul of the newsroom's systems during this time.
- In particular, this included designing and project-managing a complete rebuild of the newsroom.
- I also planned and delivered Heart's first news interactive website, which went online in October 2007. It provided up-to-date news and features for users, including podcasts, video and picture reports and full-length audio interviews.
Reporter
Chrysalis Radio Midlands
03.2002 - 09.2006
- I was a field reporter and newsreader at 100.7 Heart fm, Galaxy 102.2 and the DAB rolling news station, DNN.
- I covered most of the major news stories in the Midlands including the collapse of MG Rover, the manslaughter of a colleague and a great many of the region's bigger criminal trials.
- In addition, I took on the responsibility for managing the reporting of the courts and as such, gained extensive legal knowledge.
Reporter
Radio Investments Ltd
07.2001 - 03.2002
- I was a freelance reporter at a number of the group's stations, including Minster FM (York) and Yorkshire Coast Radio (Scarborough) before moving to Home 107.9 (Huddersfield) in August 2001.
Deputy Manager
Argos Ltd
01.1996 - 07.2000
- I held a variety of management roles in stores across the West Midlands, ending as Deputy Manager at Suhon Coldfield.
- This entailed staff performance management, customer service, meeting sales targets and budgetary control.
- I left to travel independently through Europe and pursue a career in radio.
Education
Postgraduate Diploma - Radio Journalism
Leeds Trinity University
Leeds, West Yorkshire03-2002
BA (Hons) - French & Italian
The University of Hull
Skills
- Editorial leadership
- Fact-checking
- Story development
- Audience engagement
- Team coaching
- Regulatory compliance
- News planning
References
- Ollie Stone-Lee, Deputy Editor, Today Programme, New Broadcasting House, London, W1A 1AA
- Deborah Gold, Former chief executive, National AIDS Trust, deborah@deborahgold.co.uk
Timeline
News Editor
Radio News Hub
11.2024 - 07.2025
Radio skills coach
BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat & Asian Network
01.2022 - 01.2023
Senior Journalist
BBC Radio 4
01.2010 - 01.2024
Freelance Broadcast Journalist
07.2008 - 04.2010
News Editor
Chrysalis/Global Radio Midlands
09.2006 - 06.2008
Reporter
Chrysalis Radio Midlands
03.2002 - 09.2006
Reporter
Radio Investments Ltd
07.2001 - 03.2002
Deputy Manager
Argos Ltd
01.1996 - 07.2000
Postgraduate Diploma - Radio Journalism
Leeds Trinity University
BA (Hons) - French & Italian
The University of Hull