Bill Thompson
Honorary Senior Visiting Fellow
Overview
Writer and broadcaster Bill Thompson has been working in, on and around the Internet since 1984. He worked in the computing industry for many years, working as a freelance writer in addition to developing software, writing training guides, teaching and developing database systems for Acorn Computers, The Instruction Set and PIPEX.
In 1995 he established Guardian Newspapers' New Media Lab and developed the first Guardian website. He was head of new media during 1996 and worked on eurosoccer.com, The Guardian's Euro '96 website, before leaving to pursue a freelance career. He was technology correspondent for BBC Radio 5's 'The Big Byte' (1996-9) and Campaigns Editor for Internet Magazine (2001-2).
Bill taught the Online Journalism specialism at City University between 1998 and 2007. He has also taught at the University of East Anglia and the University of Hertfordshire.
Since 2001 Bill has appeared weekly on 'Digital Planet' (formerly 'Go Digital') on the BBC World Service and occasionally on other radio and television programmes. He writes a weekly column on technology for the BBC News website and also contributes to Focus magazine and other publications.
Bill has developed Websites and worked on Internet strategies for Comic Relief, Anne Campbell MP, the Regional Arts Boards of England, and ArtsProfessional magazine among others. He has written three books for children: Your Own Website (1999), Your Own Chat Room (2000) and Homework Busters (2000).
He is a board member of the New Writing Partnership, the Norwich-based literary development agency, and a trustee of the Cambridge Film Trust, which runs the Cambridge Film Festival.
Links
- Bill's homepage: http://www.andfinally.com/
- Bill's blog: http://www.thebillblog.com/