Rex Widerstrom
Versatile, experienced and highly professional, Rex Widerstrom can write for a variety of media. Currently active in print and television, he also has experience in writing for the web and radio.
Local Availability: Rex is based in Wellington, New Zealand but
works extensively in Australia and is available for assignments overseas.
Media Experience
Print, Web, Radio, TV
Biographical Note
Rex Widerstrom’s career in broadcasting and print media encompasses more
than 30 years. After working as a journalist across radio and newspapers
(including Wellington’s morning daily The Dominion, he went on to edit a
national circulation newspaper and magazine. During his career he’s written
on written on everything from agriculture to IT, but primarily on politics,
economics and business.
He's also hosted breakfast radio in what was
then the world’s most competitive market (in terms of stations per capita)
and a networked breakfast news/talk show, enjoying considerable ratings
success.
Asked to be a senior advisor to one of New Zealand’s most
colourful and controversial political leaders, as Communications Director of
the party he devised a strategy which propelled it from three to almost
thirty percent in the polls in under six months.
From there he was
instrumental in establishing Polemic Corporation, which handled public and
media relations for clients ranging from SMEs to the major corporations, but
specialised in providing strategic advice to NGOs – such as the Royal NZ
College of General Practitioners – and several political parties and
candidates, and became a leading activist for electronic voting. He was also
much sought-after as a political commentator, with columns appearing in many
of the country's leading newspapers, and on radio.
He moved to
Australia in 2002, where he was an Executive Producer of Factual Programming
for a Perth TV channel. Although that later closed down, he retained an
interest in an independent television and video production company and was
involved with writing, producing, voiceover and presentation work on
corporate video and factual television productions. Still sought-after for
PR advice, he also built a successful practice advising business and
political clients with an emphasis on the point at which the two meet -
government relations – and as a political consultant to several high-profile
campaigns at state level.
Rex Widerstrom still writes regularly for a
variety of clients, covering a wide range of topics, and does freelance
reporting for newspapers, magazines, radio, television and websites.
He holds a postgraduate diploma in communications and holds the professional
qualification of APR (accredited public relations), recognised worldwide.
More information and samples of his work can be found at:
http://www.rexwiderstrom.com
https://soundcloud.com/rex-widerstrom/tracks
Published Writings
National Business Review, Wellington NZ (1999) – Contributor
NZ Family Physician, Wellington NZ (1999 -2002) – Managing Editor
Western Teacher, Perth WA (2002) – Editor
New Zealand Employment Review, Wellington NZ (1994) - Editor
The Business Magazine / Petone News, Wellington NZ (1990 - 1991) - Editor
Straight Furrow, Wellington NZ (1988 - 1989) - Editor
The Dominion (now DomPost), Wellington, NZ (1988) - Senior Journalist
The Advertiser / The Hutt Sun, Wellington, NZ (1986 - 1987) - Chief Reporter
The Business Magazine / TV Star / Petone News, Wellington, NZ (1983 - 1984) - Senior Journalist
Contact Details
Wellington, New Zealand.
Mobile: +64 22 321 2014
Skype: rexwiderstrom
