Alexandra Davies
DOB: 24/5/1987
Blog: http://alexandradavies.wordpress.com/
Email: adavies234@googlemail.com
Personal Profile
I graduated from Exeter University with a 2.1 in English Literature, and from Cardiff University in June after completing the Magazine Journalism Postgraduate Diploma. I have just finished a temporary contract as Online Fashion Assistant at Grazia Daily, and have work experience at Men’s Health Online, Pregnancy and Birth, Mountain Bike Rider, The Daily Telegraph, The Croydon Advertiser and at The Express and Echo in Exeter. I have contributed to university publications as well as freelance for magazines. My writing range is varied including topics such as lifestyle, fashion, politics, the motoring industry, health, travel, arts, and human interest, for both print and online.
Skills
100 wpm NCTJ shorthand
Writing news and features for print and online
Subbing and production with a working knowledge of In-Design and Photoshop
Trained in video and audio editing
Practical use of online tools including Twitter, WordPress and Flickr, as well as an understanding of SEO and numerous CMS
Knowledge of media law and government
Practical use of Microsoft Office tools including Word and Excel
Personable communication and interviewing skills
Knowledge of the motoring industry after completing a module on motoring journalism
Current clean driving licence and own car
Work Experience
Grazia Daily, September 2009/December 2009 - I was Online Fashion Assistant with responsibilities including constant writing and generating of ideas for the website, keeping up to date with the fashion industry and current trends, editing and uploading on a CMS, managing social networking accounts, conducting interviews, communicating with PRs, attending events, editing photographs on Photoshop, managing reader queries and personally assisting the Website Editor.
Pregnancy and Birth/Mother and Baby, April 2009 – Writing features, doing research, assisting the arts and editorial teams. Asked back to cover Editorial Assistant holiday freelance.
Mountain Bike Rider, April 2009 – Managing/editing the website and CMS, setting up Twitter account, writing for print and online. I have since been commissioned for freelance work.
Substance (course magazine), January/May 2009 – Staff Writer and Picture Researcher, news and feature copy for print and online, subbing, editing on the website, pitching articles.
Interns Anonymous, April 2009 – I was approached to write for this blog about work placements.
Buzz (freelance), 2009 – Art and stage previews for Cardiff events listings magazine.
Men’s Health online, August 2008 and April 2009 – Assisting the online team, researching and writing features (I‘ve had four published online), doing research, administration and sourcing photographs.
The Express and Echo, May 2008 – Interviews, research and writing news for the local Exeter newspaper, editing video for the website, accompanying the court reporter and other journalists in the field.
Daily Telegraph, March 2008 – Research, attending events and conducting interviews for Mandrake.
The Croydon Advertiser, June 2006 – Interviews, research and photocopying. This gave me my first insight into a working newsroom and the processes of putting a newspaper together.
Education/Qualifications
Cardiff University: Magazine Journalism Postgraduate Diploma.
University of Exeter: BA Hons English. I have achieved a 2.1 level.
A Level: 3 A grades in English, Spanish, Politics.
AS Level: 4 A grades in English, Spanish, Politics, Geography.
Employment History – Seasonal Work
Forsyth Partners, 2007 – I worked in an investment firm where I dealt with input of important data, spreadsheet creation, answering queries and photocopying.
Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club, 2006-2008 – I worked as a barmaid, setting up the bar and serving important sponsors which means having to be professional and friendly in an often pressurised environment.
Referees
Angela Buttolph – Editor, Grazia Daily. Angela.Buttolph@graziamagazine.co.uk
Kathryn Blundell – Deputy Editor, Mother and Baby. Kathryn.Blundell@bauermedia.co.uk
