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Who Are We? - Okay... who's responsible for all this?

Glenn Rees
Editor

Glenn is a career journalist with extensive experience, having done just about everything from sports and police reporting to business and technology writing to magazine and newspaper production work. He started as a cadet journalist on the dear departed Brisbane Telegraph in 1979, and then worked on various newspapers and magazines in Coffs Harbour and Sydney, before being appointed editor of Australian PC User in November 1992.

Glenn has been fortunate enough to witness publishing grow from the old `stone' days, when papers were printed using thousands of lines of metal, to the introduction of the first VDTs (visual display terminals), to the launch of desktop publishing, and now to CD-ROM and Web publishing. Somehow, during all the late nights over the years coming to grips with new technology, Glenn developed a love of PCs and found himself at the helm of PC User.

Glenn runs the whole shebang. He decides what appears in the magazine, on the CD-ROM and on the Web site, and is responsible for how they are presented, he commissions writers and other staff, manages School PC, makes sure everyone gets paid and PC User makes a profit, and tries makes sure everyone, especially readers and staff, are happy with and on PC User. Oh, and he also does the odd bit of HTML work for the Web site and CD-ROM too.

And yes, he enjoys every minute of it.

 

Jan Wikström
Technical Editor

Jan arrived right on time for the 2am feed after celebrating Armistice Day 1938 in Stockholm. After education marked by occasional flashes of mediocrity and a flair for avoiding homework, he tried his hand at miscellaneous jobs ranging from dishwasher to fighter-bomber pilot. In 1959, he fell by chance into motor journalism and wound up as editor of two minor magazines.

Jan has worked with one sort of technical writing or another ever since and has been known to observe that it beats the hell out of digging ditches. Arrived in Australia as an Assisted Migrant in 1969, he became interested in computers after buying a 4MHz Z80 with 64Kb RAM ($4300 in 1978!) to use as a word processor. This led to some years of freelancing in both computer writing and programming and eventually (1991) a job at PC Week. Jan went to PC World as technical editor early in 1992 and in addition became editor of Windows World. He joined PC User as technical editor in August 1995, where it looks like it's going to be difficult to get rid of him...

You can visit Jan's home page at: http://www.zip.com.au/~wickers

 

Philip Moore
Hardware and Electronic Publishing Editor

Philip has been involved with the computer industry since 1989 as a journalist, consultant and multimedia specialist, and is recognised as one of the country's leading experts in the field. He began writing for PC User in 1992 as a freelancer with a major series on music and computers, and has been one of its most prolific contributors ever since, appearing in virtually every issue until becoming Hardware Editor in 1995.  He has also written for many other computer, music and multimedia publications doing everything from CD-ROM reviews, software and hardware comparisons, tutorials, and the odd off-the-wall dissertation.

Before falling into journalism Philip has for the past 20 years worked as a scriptwriter and composer, and has experience in design, the theatre and Film & TV. This diverse background has led to him becoming equally well skilled in multimedia development, having taught classes in Multimedia Production, and now - as Electronic Publishing Editor -  responsible for PC User's cover CD and Web site.

He is also Creative Director of ArtWare Multimedia Productions, which specialises in CD and Web development for creative artists.

 

Helen Dancer
School PC Editor

Helen Dancer studied to be a teacher of LOTE before wimping out at the last minute and jumping into writing and producing amateur children's theatre. She holds a Masters degree in English and wages an ongoing war against the dilution of the English language and the creeping invasion of 'technical English' and Americanese.

In past lives she has been a speech writer, market researcher and student of Japanese, French and German, and is currently editor of SchoolPC Australia as well as features editor for our sister magazine, Australian Personal Computer.

In whatever spare time these occupations afford her, she reads as much fiction and non fiction as she can find time for and tends a wild and woolly vegetable garden.

You can contact her via the schoolpc@acp.com.au e-mail address.

 

Rose Vines
Internet and software tutorial writer

Rose Vines has been involved in the computer industry since 1982, first as a computer programmer on both mainframes and microcomputers, and then sliding into computer journalism and training.

Before moving into the computing arena, she studied English Literature and Politics at Sydney University and spent several years working in women's refuges and as a community research worker in rural New South Wales.

This varied background accounts for one of the prime focuses of Rose's writing: the interface between humans and computers. She's passionate about people, words and computers, and aims to bring some of that enthusiasm and knowledge to her readers, from beginners to fellow techheads.

Check out Rose's Web site at www.geekgirls.com

 

Julian Schoffel
Games Editor

After a two year stint as a computer technician, Julian made the step into full-time freelance journalism.

Julian still remembers doing extremely badly at Sydney Grammar School's computer science course when it was first introduced in 1984. Thus, after never envisaging a career with any connection to computers, he attended the University of NSW (Arts) before discovering the joys of computer gaming in 1991. Since then he has written extensively on computer entertainment software and related hardware for Hyper, Australian PC PowerPlay, Australian Personal Computer, RALPH and of course Australian PC User (where he has been Games Editor since February of 1994). Julian has also written for The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald.

Apart from computer gaming, Julian has three notable passions: motorcycles, creative writing and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. He is currently working on a novel, which he hopes will one day make him excessively wealthy, allowing him to appear on the cover of Time magazine or at the very least Woman's Weekly.

 

Helen Bradley
Business and software tutorial writer


Freelance computer journalist Helen Bradley writes the Applications tutorial columns for PC User and the business software reviews and tips. Her background is varied and ranges from practicing law to lecturing in computer applications.

She has written a number of books for the TAFE sector and her columns have appeared in a range of other publications including the Herald-Sun, and various Australian, US and New Zealand magazines. Her columns span a range of applications including web design, word processing, spreadsheets, Visual Basic, JavaScript and graphics techniques.

Writing for PC User is her idea of a dream job. She enjoys writing hands-on tutorials as it allows her to side step too much theory and cut straight to the fun bits. Her readers find her projects both practical and fun to create.

Helen counts herself extraordinarily lucky to have been born at this moment in time. Computers and writing are her life - and when it has been suggested that she has bits and bytes in her veins not red and white corpuscles she hasn't been heard to deny it.

You can visit her home page at: http://www.over.to/helen/

 

Angela Booth
Shareware writer

 

Link Harris
BBS, DOS, Windows and books writer

Link Harris creates the monthly DOS/Windows 3.11, Bulletin Boards and Training columns from his home, which is perched at the end of a 4WD track, overlooking WA's Batavia Coast. He also regularly contributes tutorials on PC communications and reviews of software and CD-ROMs -- currently clocking up his second half-decade writing for PC User and conducting a range of PC training courses in Geraldton.

Link devoted previous decades to lecturing in electronics and computing at the University of Technology (Sydney) and designing computers in California.

 

John Hilvert
Consumer affairs and Internet writer

Canberra-based freelance journalist since 1991, beginning with Australian PC User - and is probably the journal's longest serving contributor. He gets time off for good behaviour from Australian PC to look after the School PC Australia Web site and regular contributor to The Australian.

As you'll note below his love life is more than spoken for. However he's always available for freelance assignments to pay for his kids' orthodontist.

 

Linda Bruce
Education software writer

As a writer, teacher and psychologist Linda Bruce specializes in children, computers and learning. She typically juggles work as a journalist with her job as a school counsellor plus caring for her and John Hilvert's five children, and is perfecting her sense of humour.

Apart from her regular magazine contributions she has had over twenty-two children's stories published. Eleven are individual books the latest being Computer Games, Space Machines, Space Problems - Earth Solutions, and the History of the Olympics.

She would be delighted to hear from you lbruce@ozemail.com.au

 

David Flynn
Internet and teleworking writer

David Flynn is recognised as one of Australia's foremost experts on Windows 95, having been one of the first dozen Australian beta testers for Windows 95 (and more recently its handheld counterpart, Windows CE) and lived in the 32-bit world ever since. His other areas of expertise include mobile communications, teleworking and the Internet.

A journalist since 1977, David's name appears in a wide range of Australian IT publications: among them Australian Personal Computer, IT Review, PC Magazine Australia, PC Week, PC World, Your Computer, the weekly computer sections of The Australian, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, and his favourite publication, Australian PC User, where David spent two years as journalist, sub-editor and resident chocoholic.

David has also written the popular book The Australian Beginner's Guide to Windows 95, is PC & Telecommunications Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald's Computer & Communications section and Managing Director of the technical writing firm The WordSmith Group.

 

Michèle Heibel
Art Director

Graduating with a diploma from the Billy Blue School of Graphic Arts in Sydney, Michele first worked as an artist with marketing company, Monad Marketing, before joining ACP as an artist for PC Week, then LAN magazine and MacUser magazines.

She went on to the role of acting art director on the shortlived Gamestar magazine before becoming art director on PCUser.

Aside from her work for PC User Michele also does freelance work in childrens’ multimedia and painting.

 

Fiona Tomarchio
Sub-Editor

After working on ACP Computer Publications titles PC Week and Gamestar as an editorial co-ordinator, Fiona joined PC User in July ‘95 as Sub Editor.

Before starting at ACP in November ‘92, she completed a one-year Business and Secretarial Management course at the Metropolitan Business College in Sydney and obtained an Advanced Diploma Certificate.

As Sub Editor on PC User, Fiona’s duties include editing and proof-reading articles, preparing them for layout and publishing. She also compiles Home & Hobbies each month.

 

Katherine Hawkins
Editorial Assistant

Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Fine Arts at Sydney University and has furthered her studies by completing a certificate in micro-computing at TAFE. She is currently studying desktop publishing at the Computer Graphics College.

Whilst at University she filled various customer service roles, before joing the PC User team. She enjoys drawing and painting and hopes to further pursue her interest in art and design within the publishing industry. Kathryn's duties include office coordination, proof reading and reader queries and occasionaly assisting Michele (Art Director) with art production and layout.

If you have any questions about the magazine, you can contact Kathryn via the pcuser@acp.com.au e-mail address.

 

Web and CD-ROM production

Art direction and programming: Philip Moore
HTML work: Philip Moore, Glenn Rees

 

How to contact the right person

 

Copyright

Australian PC User, PC User Offline, PC User Online and School PC Australia are published by ACP Computer Publications, a division of ACP Publishing Pty Ltd. ACN 053 273 546.

All content on this site (except for the third-party software) is protected under Australian copyright law. No material may be reproduced in part or in whole without the written consent of the copyright holders. All rights reserved.

 

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toppage.gif (1757 bytes)All text Copyright 1998 Australian Consolidated Press - PC User Magazine