"Caterpillar: Who are YOU?
Alice: This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation.
I -- I hardly know, sir, just at present -- at least I know who I was when I got up this morning,
but I think I must have been changed several times since then."
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson)

 

C.V.

Education:

M.S. Journalism: Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism New York, N.Y.
Concentration: Magazine, with added photo, radio and new media skills. Graduation: May 2009.

B.A. Honors Journalism (magna cum laude): University of the Witwatersrand School of Journalism, Johannesburg, South Africa. Concentration: print and online journalism. Graduation: November 2007.

B.A. Double-major in Media Studies and Psychology (magna cum laude): University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Added concentrations: German and English Literature. Graduation: November 2006.

Experience:

October 2009 - Present: Thomson Reuters, Editorial Research Assistant to Dean Wright, Global Editor, Ethics, Innovation and News Standards.

April 2009 – August 2009: BBC New York intern, New York City
Went out with correspondents on shoots, collected audio, took photographs, and conducted man on the street interviews. Worked with correspondents to learn the basics of writing under deadline, editing with ProTools and planning TV and radio packages Assisted with stories on diverse topics: fear of Americans concerning health care reform, the involvement of American teenagers in drug cartels in Texas, the switch over from analog to digital television in the U.S. and the Bernie Madoff trial.

June 2009 – August 2009: Time Out New York intern, New York City
Fact-checking and research for: Student Guide, Continuing Education Guide, Governor’s Island supplement, NYC Food and Wine supplement, Museum issue, Fall Preview issue, Photo issue.

Freelance writer: 2004 – 2009. Have written articles on the U.S. 2008 presidential campaign for Black Star News (U.S.,) Huffington Post (U.S.,) and The Media Online (South Africa.) Contributed regularly for The Citizen provincial newspaper between 2004 and 2006; writing arts, theater and movie reviews, arts features and news stories for the entertainment section. Covered the week-long World Associated Newspaper Congress in 2007 for the Editor’s Weblog and Journalism.co.za; reporting, writing and uploading two to three stories a day on people and events.

Journalist, page designer and project manager at Flow: November 2007 – June 2008. Wrote stories, maintained and assisted with the design of websites (including working with content management systems),  assisted with page design of print publications for NGO’s and for-profits at this South African based custom publisher. Coordinated several multimedia projects simultaneously. Clients included: South African Human Rights Commission, 46664, British Council, First National Bank , Wits Review  and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Journalist, designer, editor for Vuvuzela student newspaper and Vuvuzela Online: January 2007 – November 2008. Worked up to 40 hours a week on Vuvuzela  and Vuvuzela Online in rotating roles of sub-editor; photo, copy or chief editor. Managed newsroom; facilitated freelance content; reported and wrote news stories, feature stories, editorials, and a weekly online column; designed pages; assisted with uploading of content onto the website and coordinated supplements on sexual harassment on campus and the Arts Alive music festival in Johannesburg.

Blogger, Jackie Bischof’s Weblog (http://jaxbischof.wordpress.com): January 2007 - present
Provide weekly updates including pictures, video and comment on life as a South African journalism student living abroad.

Other skills and activities:

Computer skills: Skilled in M.S. Office, Excel, Adobe InDesign and InCopy, Dreamweaver and Photoshop. Good knowledge of CMS and HTML.

Languages: Fluent in German, Afrikaans; conversational skills in French, Swiss German, South African Sign Language.

Travel: Have lived and worked in Africa, Europe and America.

Honors & Awards: Recipient of the 2009 Henry N. Taylor award for best international student, and the 2008-2009 Michael and Ceil Pulitzer African Fellowship, administered by Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. Participant of the 2008 Women’s International Leadership Program (International House, N.Y.), 2007 Community Service Director for the Wits University chapter of the Golden Key International Honor Society, won the 2007 medal for the most distinguished academic record in the Humanities at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Other: Supported myself through university by working several jobs as an au pair, waitress and bookkeeper; also received several bursaries and scholarships to assist with tuition costs.

References:

Available on request.