Merryn Myatt Speaking

Sarah Perris introduced Merryn Myatt to speak to the members.

As a journalist, Merryn spent 25 years working in all channels of the press, from local newspapers to national television. Now she shares her expertise with companies and organisations -teaching them how to communicate effectively.

Like most journalists, Merryn began her career at her local paper, in Suffolk. She said she was thrown in at the deep end and had to write all kinds of news stories from farming matters to industrial strikes. It gave her real `hands on ' experience.

As Britain experienced a broadcasting boom with local radio stations popping up all over the country, Merryn decided to transfer her skills to the airwaves, taking a job as broadcast journalist at Hereward FM,Peterborough. This was a lot different from newspaper journalism because you've got to tell the news in much fewer words,

One of Merryn's biggest scoops was securing an exclusive interview with Baroness Thatcher.

She revealed: ``Margaret Thatcher was coming to Peterborough on a private visit when a story broke out that unemployment levels had rocketed.

“The world's press were trying to get hold of her so they sent me down to interview her. I got a great interview which I passed on to all the national newspapers.''

Next, Merryn decided to try her hand at television, which led to her presenting Northwest Tonight for the BBC at their Oxford Road studios, Manchester.

After four years on Northwest Tonight, Merryn then devoted her professional time to the corporate sector, advising on internal and external communications and fostering positive relationships with the media.

Following a chance meeting with Sarah Perris at a seminar, a change in career involved going into partnership with Sarah as ‘Perris-Myatt’, where they specialise in training people in the art of dealing with journalists - particularly in a crisis.

 Bob Llewellyn thanked Merryn for a very professional presentation.