Greetings Congleton! I'm Jake Hackney, a journalist for Congleton Nub News.

As I've become a regular contributor to the site, I wanted to introduce myself to our readers.

A bit about me – I'm originally from Macclesfield but moved with my family to the Buglawton area of Congleton at the age of ten.

I attended Fallibroome High School in Macclesfield, before moving onto various jobs in and around the area.

After feeling slightly jaded with a job in which I saw no future, I decided to make a change in my mid-20s and took the opportunity to tick off an item on my bucket list by travelling from the east to west coast of the United States.

My passion has always been film, so when I returned I began a Film Studies degree at the University of Salford, which I completed earlier this year achieving First Class Honours.

Beginning a career as a journalist was never on my radar before my studies, which helped me realise a love of writing – as well as showing me I had the ability to do it.

This led me to where I am now, working towards a Gold Standard Diploma in Multimedia Journalism at News Associates, Manchester, with the aim of eventually entering the world of film and entertainment journalism.

While at NA, I was given the opportunity to write for our local Nub News site, which felt like a great chance to cover news that matters to our community – while also helping to build my portfolio.

As well as contributing to Congleton Nub News, I also write regularly for Manchester news website Mancunian Matters.

This gives me the opportunity to cover everything from breaking news, gig reviews and sport from around the city.

Outside of journalism, I also work at The Young Pretender on Lawton Street, a craft beer and real ale bar in the centre of Congleton.

I have played the guitar since I was 13 and played in a band for a number of years, performing mainly around the North as well as several gigs in London.

I am also a keen climber and can often be found scaling the walls at Substation climbing centre in Macclesfield.

My favourite pastime is spending time with my best friend, a Miniature Schnauzer called Dexter who often joins me on walks around Biddulph Valley Way and Bosley Cloud.

It's a pleasure to be able to cover news stories for Congleton Nub News and work with a great team of local journalists.

Please feel free to follow me on Twitter @JakeHackney where I share all my published articles for Congleton Nub News, and other websites.

A recent Congleton Nub News article of mine can be found here.