Judge: Plain Language Champion — Best Individual or Team

Senior Tutor in Communications and Public Relations, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

I bring my passion for clear communication and my keen eye for copy-editing to my journalism and public relations courses at Massey University in Wellington.

I cover plain language principles in all my Massey courses. Many of my students will go to work for government ministries, Crown entities, non-profits, commercial businesses, and other organisations around New Zealand and the world. Plain language skills are needed in all these fields.

I’ve always loved people’s stories

A desire to share other people’s stories led me to journalism as a first career. Before I went into academia, I worked as a journalist in the US, Australia, and Britain.

I’ve worked professionally as a news and features reporter for various newspapers and magazines such as The Columbia Missourian (USA), Lawrence Journal World (USA), The Big Issue (London, England), and Good Housekeeping (US edition in New York). I am now a freelance writer and blogger.

Plain language guides my academic work

My plain language training transformed my academic writing. Many students ask me if it’s possible to use plain language in academic writing. Absolutely! When writing an academic text, my goal is to communicate clearly and concisely for my intended audiences.

If technical words are used, explain them clearly to the audience. My academic research encompasses media, advertising and consumer cultures, cultural studies, technology and society, media history, journalism, and teaching pedagogy. All this research can be written clearly, concisely, and concretely using the principles of plain language.

Plain language guides my close eye for editing

I’ve edited four books on first-in-the-family students and healthcare disparities that impact LGBTQ+ people. I work closely with authors to help them communicate clearly. I draw frequently from plain language principles as I coach authors.

My recent co-edited and co-written book, Mental Health Among Higher Education Faculty, Administrators, and Graduate Students: A Critical Perspective (Lexington Books), was recently published. I’m now working with an editorial team and writing a chapter for an upcoming book, On the Front Lines: Women Faculty’s Experiences of Pandemic Educational Experiences.

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