LGriplas

CURRENT: I currently work for The Woolmark Company/AWI as a copywriter and editor of trade content. My primary role is to generate content for www.woolmark.com - a website launched last year and one which I played a cruical role in developing and updating. I write marketing collateral on a daily basis to increase the presence and demand of Australian wool. I have an undergraduate degree in B. Media in Writing from Macquarie University where I majored in print and minored in public relations and radio. My practical experience as a professional journalist began in 2005. Since then I have been employed as a public relations consultant using print media, a sports reporter at the 18th Commonwealth Games, a news reporter and sub-editor for a daily newspaper as well as a chief editor for a tri-weekly paper. I am currently a Grade 4 journalist. As a writer I am able to marry my passion for hard news with lifestyle, arts and travel. I am not interested in selling something to someone who has no need nor want for said product. I want to help readers get what they want and can do so with the written word. I have the talented ability to write for purpose and audience and am able to manipulate hard-copy text into online form. My keen eye and attention to detail has allowed me to enjoy success as a writer and a sub-editor across the years. During this time I have further developed skills in layout and design which have been highly sought after within Rural Press. I enjoy illustrating a creative flair on the newspaper page and believe in the importance of making a page aesthetically pleasing. I have sound knowledge of Quark Express and also have experience using In Design. I was heavily involved in the revamping of the Daily Liberal and during this time built a strong working relationship with the regional editorial content manager. As the paper was redesigned my passion for travel came to the fore and I was able to establish a weekly travel page. This section was my brainchild and allowed for complete creative control. As a copy sub I have a well-developed grasp of the English language and grammar. I believe consistency is crucial in newspapers and magazines and as a sub-editor I am able to act as a style-keeper to ensure error-free content is published. In my editorial roles it was imperative to edit the work of others to make them worthy of publication – a finished product which was accurate, of high quality, fulfilled the purpose of the article and was consistent with the Fairfax style guide. My writing skills are of the highest standard, which have been greatly aided by my subbing experience. I have written articles on a wide variety of subjects – from breaking news to quilt club news, political policies to armchair escapes – all with the intent to educate, to entertain and to leave the reader feeling inspired. Working at a daily newspaper meant I was constantly working against the clock. My organisational skills allowed me to produce the highest quality of copy while never missing a daily deadline. As a PR consultant employed at boutique Sydney-based PR company A Little Extra my role primarily involved the writing of press releases and their distribution to appropriate contacts in the media in order to maximise coverage to gain the best possible publicity. I also developed strategies to promote the client’s product or event. I have also been employed as a reporter for the 18th Commonwealth Games staged in Melbourne. Working for Sportal – which had the official media rights for the games – I was responsible for managing the media team with the brief to write and file copy within moments of the event finishing. Being at such a large-scale international event highlighted the importance to show initiative and be a self starter, developed my skill of focus questioning to stimulate discussion and also necessitated working as part of a media team within very tight time constraints as events were contested concurrently. Born and bred in Sydney I understand the wants and needs of city dwellers. However on top of this I have lived in regional Australia for about four years. This combination of sea-to-tree life has broadened my knowledge of the everyday Australian. I understand and appreciate rural lifestyles, have seen farmers battle the big dry, have seen Sydneysiders battle peak hour and have worked in the corporate city world. It is this mix of life, added to my passion for adventurous travel, which allows me to write fresh articles and lure in more readers.