ABOUT ME
I am an NCTJ-trained journalist currently freelancing as a feature writer. See my online portfolio here.
I have six months’ experience as a reporter for a local newspaper and, prior to that, I was the team leader of an online content editorial team for a B2B publisher.
I am proficient in Microsoft programs, Photoshop, Quark, HTML and InDesign, and have knowledge of SEO and using a CMS.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Oct ’11 – Jan ’12 Hillingdon Times, Ealing Times and SWLondoner.co.uk – Contributor
- I have been contributing to Hillingdon Times, Ealing Times and SWLondoner.co.uk, by writing stories from press releases and following up sources: http://bit.ly/sm5J7f; http://bit.ly/vQO4a6
- For my public affairs feature, I investigated the council’s response to the latest youth unemployment figures: http://bit.ly/w02u06
Sept ’11 – March ’12 FilmJuice.com – Film Reviewer
- Film writer for FilmJuice, an independent film website
- Read my reviews here: http://bit.ly/qBojJp, http://bit.ly/q4UZ42
5 – 18 July ’11 The People – Work Experience (features)
- Researched and developed my own stories – three of which were chosen by the editor
- Found exclusive stories on people and their pets, including a woman who was reunited with her pet thanks to a Facebook campaign and another woman who runs a sanctuary
- Helped to compile travel and lifestyle pages
- http://bit.ly/oUjr8Y, http://bit.ly/qFY2B6, http://bit.ly/obPRYp
May ’11 – Sept ’11 IDFX Magazine – Writer
- Freelance writing for IDFX, a professional interior design magazine
- Assignments so far have included ‘The Number One Fan’ feature, book reviews and contributing to the news page
- http://bit.ly/nPbZP1
Feb ’11 – December ’11 Within Reach Magazine – Reporter
- Feature writing for Within Reach Magazine, the national charity magazine for children with upper limb deficiency
- Interviewed musician Benjamin Teacher, a one-armed busker: http://bit.ly/szN6F
- Interviewed Shannon Murray, the disabled model who featured in Debenhams’ photography campaign: http://bit.ly/e1zDPy
- Investigated the public’s attitudes towards disabilities: http://bit.ly/g68J0i
July ’08 Trinity Mirror – Work Experience
- Researched and wrote news articles on a daily basis
- Telephoned local charities and police stations to find news stories
- Went out in the local area to ask people their views on news stories
- Interviewed people over the telephone, including new parents and ‘Pub of the Week’
- http://bit.ly/gbdIaS, http://bit.ly/h6eVnk
OTHER PUBLISHED ARTICLES
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
- Environmental Transport Association
- Offshore-Technology.com
- St Mary’s University College newspaper
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
April ’12 – Oct ’12 Reporter
- Found, researched and wrote news and features for two weekly newspapers in Essex to tight deadlines
- Wrote human interest features, including a long lost mother and daughter who were reunited, fertility, a teenager who battled ovarian cancer, and child poverty
- Hard-hitting stories included a story about a mother who was arrested on suspicion of arson and an 18-month old baby seriously injured in a car crash
- Attended local events and council meetings
July ’10 – April ’12 Online Content Editor (Team Leader)
- Using a CMS and HTML on a daily basis to build website content; includes writing, copy-editing and liaising with clients to gain approval to publish
- Leading and training a team of five website editors, and meeting daily and weekly targets
- Assisting with SEO enquiries, client issues and difficult copy
- Generating, proofing and sending out daily and weekly newsletters
Jan ’10 – July ’10 Sub-Editor
- Used a CMS and HTML on a daily basis to edit and where necessary re-write industry news, projects and features across 27 B2B websites
- Experienced working under pressure in a journalism environment
Sept ’08 – Jan ’10 Editorial Assistant / Online Content Editor
- Built client profiles/advertisements to meet in-house style guide
- Liaised with clients to gain publishing approval and make changes to profiles
- Made editorial decisions to ensure profiles achieve good search engine results (SEO)
- Sent monthly newsletters out to over 30,000 current and potential clients
EDUCATION
Jan ’11 – Dec ’11 NCTJ Journalism Diploma (News Associates)
Dec’ 2008 Workshop in News Gathering / Interviewing
2005 – 2008 BA English and Professional & Creative Writing; 2.1
2003 – 2005 A-Levels: English, Media Studies & Photography
1998 – 2003 GCSEs – eight, incl. English, Maths & Science
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
I enjoy keeping in touch with the news and writing a blog in my spare time. I love cooking, watching films, reading, photography and travelling. I am very health conscious and am passionate about eating well and keeping fit.
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