Welcome to Catherine Smyth Media
I am a professional journalist and have worked on daily and weekly newspapers across East Lancashire since 1988.
In 2009 I opted for redundancy and became self-employed using my writing skills and experience of working in busy newsrooms to create a bespoke business.
I have a passion for telling other people’s stories through words and am also handy with a camera.
Outside of work, I am a Cub leader and chairman of Bacup and Stacksteads Carnival Organisation.
And another one.
InYourArea has printed another one of my stories - again for Whitworth Community High School and all about horse rider Abby's national success.
Click the link to read more
www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/whitworth-teenager-abby-achieves-horse-riding-glory-at-prestigious-nati...
Another big thank you to InYourArea for printing my story for Whitworth Community High School all about three students who have done exceptionally well in their chosen sports.
Click this link to read more.
www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/whitworth-high-students-celebrate-sporting-achievements-from-football-s...
Thank you InYourArea for using my story on the two football festivals organised by RSSP Rossendale School Sports Partnership.
Two amazing events were held - story sent Wednesday and online today. Click the link to read more.
www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/rossendale-pupils-celebrate-inclusion-and-teamwork-in-groundbreaking-sc...
And finally for this week from the Rossendale Free Press - here's my story for Get into Sport LTD all about the company opening its lettings service - Get Into Sport Lettings from the facilities at The Valley Leadership Academy with an ethos to make sure sporting opportunities are offered for all within Rossendale.
Elaine Dyson Annette Spokes-Ellis - could it be worth approaching this group for division sports day?
Wow Sam Dawson ..this sounds great and is amazing news. Congratulations and very well done. 😊
Fabuloso Sam Dawson 👏👏👏
BRILLIANT!
So while everyone is busy making their lantern for Stacksteads Countryside Park Group's Lantern Festival on October 17, here's my second story in this week's Rossendale Free Press all about singer songwriter and brilliant mandolin and guitar player Graham Thompson and the release of the first single from his second album, and the preview he gave to customers at 1832 Barista.
This was such a treat! Graham is a star.
Latest Articles
From homeless at 18, to a published author
I first met Courteney Cannan when she was 16 and a student at Fearns Community Sports College, she shaved her hair for charity, who would know our paths would cross and I would be interviewing her again. This time, it was for Rossendale-based homeless charity M3...
Blog 10 – six years post TT
Wow, really? Like, has it really been nearly six years since I had my thyroid removed? It is hard to believe how quickly time flies and it is safe to say my life really has changed radically and for the better in so many ways. 2019 – I got divorced and bought a cute...
Seven-year abuse investigation concludes
When Ronald Neal was placed in a hostel in Rochdale in the 1960s aged 11 he was beaten up by a 'big fat man' and he reported it several times, but no action was ever taken. The '30-stone 6ft man' was disgraced politician Cyril Smith and the historic abuse in homes in...
Potty about Flowerpots
This is one of the more unusual jobs I am tasked with... promoting Bacup Flowerpot Festival. The Festival is organised by Bacup Pride and runs from July to September all across Bacup with loads of people, businesses, shops and organisations making Flowerpot sculptures...
Looking after the woodlands – all in a day’s work
When I was contacted by Danny Entwistle AKA Doc Wildcraft and asked to write about the voluntary work he carries out in the woods above Marl Pits in Rawtenstall, I was keen to do so - especially as it is an area I also love and have walked through often. I wrote a...
‘Shining a light on such a distressing issue’
Review: Weirdo Mosher Freak: the murder of Sophie Lancaster I’m Becky and I have just finished reading your book ‘weirdo mosher freak’ about the murder of Sophie Lancaster. I just wanted to send an email and let you know how much I love the book. I have chosen to use...
My Work with Schools
Ask a child to do a literacy lesson and they may roll their eyes, ask them to produce their own school newspaper and suddenly writing no longer seems such a chore.
I have developed a range of bespoke programmes designed to bring literacy lessons to life.
In a fun learning environment, the pupils produce an exciting end product – their own newspaper.
The paper is written in their own words, they write about what interests them and what they love about school. Their names appear as bylines on their work and they get to take their own photographs.
They become junior journalists for the day!