Meet the Pickle Jar Communications team: Linda Jameson

Meet Linda Jameson, Senior Content Strategist at Pickle Jar Communications. We asked Linda a few questions to get to know her a little better.

What is your role at Pickle Jar Communications?

 I’m a Senior Content Strategist. I’m discovering that my role here brings together a range of activities to support universities with their content development. I am involved in running workshops, writing reports, conducting research and carrying out audits (to name a few).

I’m looking forward to adding more skills to this list.  

What attracted you to a career in content strategy?

If I’m honest, I didn’t know I wanted a career in content strategy. When I started working with web content it felt like it was just about the words and the systems used. The concept of content strategy didn’t really exist

It all became clear when I was lucky enough to attend Confab London in 2013. I got to hear both Kristina Halvorson and Karen McGrane talk about content strategy. Their talks consolidated what I was already thinking and made me realise that this was the role for me. 

Where do you sit on the original content strategy quad?

I have a background in librarianship so have an interest in how we organise and manage content. 

I sit in the Structure area of the quad: most happy when given chaos to sort out and ecstatic if there’s a spreadsheet involved. 

I’m also a big fan of the conversations currently happening around Content Operations and how we manage that in large organisations. So the Governance part of the quad is also important to me. 

Why did you want to work for Pickle Jar Communications?

I knew of Pickle Jar Communications because of some social media work they’d carried out with Newcastle University. I was also aware of the ContentEd conference and was impressed by the great thought-leaders they were attracting. 

As they work across the education sector I saw working for them as an opportunity to use my skills for the greater good, able to support, and push forward content strategy thinking  for many organisations rather than just one. 

Where have you worked previously?

I most recently worked at Newcastle University as a Web Production Manager – my role covered content design, content strategy, project delivery and management. I have also worked as a librarian at the University of Sunderland and as an editor/researcher for enterprise and business content in the private sector.

Where and what did you study?

I studied a BA in English Language at Newcastle University, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Information and Library Management at Northumbria University.  

What is the best thing about the education sector?

I love the fact that this sector is unified in wanting to make things better for all. 

It’s not just about educating the next artists or engineers, it’s about the application of this knowledge in the real world. It’s not just about the elite athletes or top students, it’s about widening participation and education for everyone. It’s not just about big businesses and investment, it’s about research that improves lives and community building. 

How do you spend your weekends?

Reviewing albums for the Americana UK website, listening to live music and planning trips away – I love researching quirky places to visit, as well as finding good food and craft beers. 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I would love to be the author of well-respected book on content strategy and be sharing this knowledge at conferences around the world!

If you’d like to consult with Linda, or any of the Pickle Jar Communications team, on an upcoming project, please get in touch for a no obligation chat.