Curriculum Vitae
Key Skills and Attributes
Journalist & Writer: Able to seamlessly switch between genres and modes of writingSub-editor & Copy Editor: Able to scrupulously edit and rewrite copy, according to a specific tone and style
Copywriter: Competent copywriter for retail and promotional copy, for marketing purposes
Online Content Manager: Able to create online copy for increased search engine optimisation
Corporate Communications: Able to write annual reports, newsletters, and compile case study reports
Interviewer: Ability to communicate well and with persistence, and interview sources from all walks of life
Researcher: Skilled researcher, online and in the field, for content requirements and sourcing
Photographer: Ability to take relevant pictures and edit images to enhance a story
Computer Literate: Au fait on PC and Apple Mac, Office, Quark Express, Photoshop and Indesign
Team Player: Capacity to work harmoniously, as part of a culturally diverse team
Well-organised: Excellent organisational skills at a micro and macro level
Work Experience: Magazines
Longevity Magazine (longevitymag.co.za) December 2009 to datePosition Held: Freelance Features Writer
Description of Position: Conceptualising, planning and writing feature articles on a monthly basis.
Topics Covered: Health & wellness, alternative therapies & holistic healing, breast health, breast cancer, food, herbs & health, immunity, diets, raw foodism, greening & environmentalism, genetics and other specialist pieces.
Highlights of Tenure: Interview with Joanne McLeod (celebrity mother and fundraiser) and collating a wide database of medical doctors, dieticians and nutritionists in the health and wellness field, including Prof Elna McIntosh, amongst others.
House & Leisure (assocmags.co.za/brands/3): July 2008 to March 2009
Position Held: Freelance Features Writer
Description of Position: Writing feature articles on a regular basis, as well as compiling the monthly ‘What’s Now’ pages, detailing the best décor and home buys in South Africa.
Topics Covered: Dining & entertaining, décor, lifestyle, best buys, art gallery, revamping something old into something new, interviews with interior designers and architects.
Highlights of Tenure: Interview with Salome Gunter (celebrity Interior Designer) amongst others.
The Oprah Magazine (omagazine.co.za): January 2008 to date
Position Held: Freelance Features Writer
Description of Position: Conceptualising and writing feature articles on a regular basis.
Topics Covered: Health & wellness, women’s issues, travel, breast cancer, breast health, weight issues & diets, inspirational & motivational pieces.
Highlights of Tenure: Interviews with Natalie du Toit (SA Swimmer), Caryn Wilensky (Acclaimed Shoe Designer), Raenette Taljaard (SA Author), Yolanda Yawa (SA Singer-Coda), Neo Ntsoma (Photographer) and Devi Sankaree (Carte Blanche Journalist) amongst others.
Fresh Living Magazine (picknpay.co.za): January 2008 to date
Position Held: Freelance Features Writer
Description of Position: Conceptualising and writing feature articles on a regular basis, and compiling the monthly Kid’s Page, which involves sourcing book and DVD giveaways.
Topics Covered: Foodie features, health & wellness, SA Celebrities, Events & Kids pages, NGOs & philanthropy, greening & environmentalism.
Highlights of Tenure: Interviews with Helen Zille (Leader of the DA), Jane Badham (CEO of 5-a-Day), Stephen Francis and Rico Schacherl (Creators of Madam & Eve), Cassie Booyse (Internet Celebrity, Vernon Koekemoer), Sharon Glass (Cook & Author), Nataniël (Entertainer), Arnold Tanzer (Chef and Patron of Food on the Move), Lannice Snyman (Author) and Tracy Foulkes (Owner of NoMu Brands), amongst others.
Musica (musica.co.za): May 2008
Go Gauteng (visitgauteng.net/gogauteng/): July to September 2008
Clicks ClubCard (tppsa.co.za): August 2008
Black Business Quarterly (bbqonline.co.za): November 2009
Position Held: Freelance Features Writer
Description of Position: Conceptualising, planning and writing feature articles.
Topics Covered: Musica: Music Reviews. Go Gauteng: Travel & tourism, Gauteng destinations, women’s empowerment issues, The Gautrain, greening Johannesburg. Clicks ClubCard: Giving back, NGO’s & philanthropy. Black Business Quarterly: Racism in the ranks of the SA Media.
Cosmopolitan Magazine (cosmopolitan.co.za): December 2007 to June 2008
Position Held: Freelance Features Writer
Description of Position: Wrote feature articles on a regular basis.
Topics Covered: Health & wellness, personal safety & security in South Africa, choosing jewellery, selecting the correct trainers/shoes.
Miss Ebene South Africa Africa (miss-ebene.book.fr/): October 2006 to January 2007
Position Held: Sub-Editor and Journalist
Description of Position: Extensive editing and writing of feature articles. Conceptualisation and planning of features. Guiding and instructing freelancers with conceptualisation of articles.
Topics Covered: Health & wellness, beauty, skincare, celebrity & entertainment news, advice columns.
Meetings SA: March 2004 to June 2004
Position Held: Freelance Journalist
Description of Position: Writing feature articles for a conferencing and exhibition magazine, focusing on promoting South Africa as a convention and group business destination.
Topics Covered: Travel & tourism, South Africa as a conferencing destination, conference reviews, consumer and advertorial pieces.
Work Experience: Other
Unuka All Natural Skincare (unuka.com): May 2009 to August 2009Position Held: Online Content Manager and Copywriter
Description of Position: Compiling content for the website and brochure, through extensive interviews with the creator of the brand about each product.
Topics Covered: Health & Wellness, aromatherapy, skincare &beauty.
Infrastructure BluePrint /Strategic Business Services (sbs.co.za): January 2009 to August 2009
Position Held: Event Organiser, Newsletter Editor, Writer and Journalist
Description of Position: Compiling a guest list for SBS for conferencing purposes, conference planning and coordinating. Editor of Infrastructure BluePrint – a monthly newsletter aimed at the infrastructure sector.
Topics Covered: Construction, electricity, engineering, energy, housing, roads, ports & dams, science & trade.
Healthy Choice (healthychoice.co.za): September 2007 to date
Position Held: Online Content Manager, Sub-editor, Copy Editor and Copywriter
Description of Position: Writing and editing content for the website and workshop manuals.
Topics Covered: Alternative healing & holistic therapies, health & wellness.
Lifestyle Dynamics (lifestyledynamics.co.za): November 2007 to February 2008
Position Held: Writer, Editor, Online Content Manager and Copywriter
Description of Position: Writing and editing articles, managing all online content and creating marketing material, such as brochures and advertorials for the company’s client-base.
Topics Covered: Health & wellness, alternative therapies & holistic healing, sports & fitness, NGO’s & philanthropy.
Development Works (developmentworks.co.za): January 2007 to June 2009
Position Held: Writer, Editor, Online Content Manager, Sub-Editor
Description of Position: Corporate communications, maintaining online content, generating a monthly newsletter distributed to stakeholders in the development and public sector of government and, editing research papers, tender proposals and annual reports.
Project Highlights: Writing a 50-page Case Study Report on Strengthening the South African Public Service, a project for the National Treasury, which involved extensive travel conducting interviews. Compiling the 2006 and 2007 editions of Artscape’s Audience Development and Education Newsletters. Creating content for the new Provincial Government of the Western Cape’s 2010 website: www.wcape2010.co.za. Writing web-content, pro-bono, for The Advice Desk for the Abused, www.advicedesk.org.za. Writing two consecutive editions of the 2008 internal newsletter for the Premier’s Office of the Western Cape of the Provincial Government. Revamping the website and writing content for the Conflict and Governance Facility, CAGE; http://cage.dcis.gov.za/.
Croydon Magistrates Court in London (london-probation.org.uk): October 2005 to June 2006
Position held: Administrator and Legal Proceedings Officer Assistant
Description of Position: Updating and maintaining the in-house database and filing system, liaising telephonically and through email with other administrative departments on a daily basis, serving summonses to offenders and preparing files for the Legal Proceedings Officers for their weekly court appearances.
Health Vibes Clinic (healthvibes.co.uk): September 2005 to October 2005
Position Held: Administrator, Media Liaison and public relations officer
Description of Position: Writing feature and news articles promoting the centre and liaising telephonically with patients and therapists.
Topics Covered: Health & wellness, bio-resonance therapy, alternative therapies & holistic healing.
Quality Value Convenience UK (QVC) (qvcuk.com): May 2005 to August 2005
Position Held: Copywriter
Description of Position: Writing advertising and retail product copy for the London-based, QVC website and television shopping channel and preparing the content copy for the homepage of the QVC UK website.
Topics Covered: Jewellery, health & wellness, beauty & skincare, gardening & outdoors, gadgets & technology.
The Property Guardian UK: September 2004 to November 2004
Position Held: Publishing Assistant
Description of Position: Processing and preparing copy according to client stipulations and strict production deadlines. Liaising telephonically between the client and production, to ensure advert copy and proposed layout is ready for publication.
University Internships
East Cape News/ Cue Wire News Agency (theherald.co.za): July 2003 Published news and feature articles in print and online for the annual National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
South African National Treasury (treasury.gov.za): November 2002
Developed a ‘Communication Strategy’ and ‘Programme of Activities’ for the launch of the South African Municipal Financial Management Act, which involved intensive research, interviews, writing and editing.
GRAB Project of Grahamstown, South Africa: 2002 & 2003
Mobilised a group of volunteers to co-ordinate the Benjamin Mahlasela High School media club, whilst teaching the students basic media and computer skills. Facilitated the development of a high school newsletter, which helped them to establish confidence and learn new skills.
Pretoria News (pretorianews.co.za): July 2001 & July 2002
Published news and feature articles in print for the Pretoria News daily paper.
Educational qualifications
Rhodes University (ru.ac.za): 2000 to 2003 Graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism and Media studies degree (BJourn), majoring in Journalism and Applied English Studies.
Pretoria High School for Girls (phsg.org.za): 1994 to 1998
Obtained Matric with full university exemption.
References provided upon request.
