|
Journalist and Project Manager educated to Masters degree in Communications & Journalism, seeking to maximise the use of the media as an advocacy tool to achieve social, political and environmental change. |
 Contact Colombe Verges
|
|
|
Area of Expertise: |
-
Fundraising, Business Development, Grants Writer
-
Human Rights, Law, Migration, Conflicts, Justice
|
|
Professional Experience: |
Sep’10 - Nov’11: COMMUNICATIONS & PROJECT MANAGER (New Delhi) for Éditions Diane de Selliers, publishing house based in Paris
• External Communications (main point of contact for the Indian media): dealt with press enquiries, wrote press releases, organised press conferences
• Digital Communications: Developed social media presence through Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube; created and maintained website (www.ramayanabook.com); wrote weekly newsletters to our subscribers
• Internal communications: produced daily reports to the team in Paris, compiled media summaries
• Maintained database of contacts (medias, politicians, potential sponsors, curators…)
• Administrative support to the Publisher in India: made travel arrangements, organised meetings, took notes and wrote correspondence
• Logistics coordination for launch, press conferences and press trip: booked venues and travel, obtained quotes and negotiated prices, controlled budget, prepared material, organised minutes
• Fundraising (750,000€): found sponsors, wrote marketing packages, made PowerPoint presentations
• Distribution planning: secured Indian distributors, organised sales & pre-sales
• Key skills: excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build strong relationships, commitment, flexibility
Sep’08 - Sep’10: JOURNALIST (London) for IT Europa, bimonthly EMEA IT business b-to-b publication
• Editorial role: wrote news stories, features and country reports based on press releases or own interviews with senior executives and key market analysts. Found stories, organised phone or face-to-face interviews, proofread the publications and updated the website daily (www.iteuropa.com)
• Represented IT Europa at IT events across Europe and the USA
• Key skills: ability to write in a clear and compelling way, to meet deadlines, high level of accuracy, good numeracy skills, discernment to investigate off-the-record information carefully
OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE
Nov’07 - ongoing: Freelance Writer for L’Éventail, Belgian monthly society magazine
• Writing features for the Arts and Literature section
• Participated in a press trip to Japan for the launch of The Tale Of Genji
Sep’07 - Dec’07: COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT (Paris) for Bach & Partenaires, Public Relations company
• Administrative support to the Associate Director
• Monitored media coverage and compiled monthly press summaries
Jul’06 - Aug’06 : JOURNALISTIC INTERN (Marseille) for Radio Dialogue
• Conducted and edited interviews
• Presented morning news
Jul’05 - Aug’05 : SALES Campaign (Walloon region) for La Libre Belgique, Belgian daily national
|
|
Education: |
Jan 2008 - Jul 2008: Postgraduate, General Journalism (Merit) at the London School of Journalism, London
Relevant additional courses:
• Media Law, Court Reporting, British Local/Central Government
Sep 2005 - Jun 2007: Master of Arts, Journalism (Distinction) at IHECS (Institut des Hautes Etudes des Communications Sociales), Brussels
• Humanitarian Intervention & International Law
• Politics: Belgian, European and International
• News: Economic & Financial, Regional, Social
• Information Mechanisms & Ethics
• Media productions: photography, TV and radio
• Thesis: ‘The National Reconciliation in Algeria – Amnesty or Amnesia’ (grade: 93% or A+): Investigative work in Algeria on the ‘National Reconciliation’ in preparation for my thesis. Interviews with political and governmental parties, human rights lawyers and associations, as well as families of victims of forced disappearances during the civil war
Sep 2002 - Jun 2005: Bachelor of Arts, Communication & Media (Distinction) at IHECS, Brussels
Sep 2001 - Jun 2002 Postgraduate, International Relations (Pass) at TASIS, The American School in Switzerland, Lugano
Sep 1998 - Jun 2001: French Baccalauréat, option Economic and Social (Merit) at Institute Fénelon Sainte-Marie, Paris
|
|
Affiliations and Achievements: |
Voluntary work:
- Academic tutoring work with under-achieving school children (Acadomia, Brussels)
- Sailing instructor for disadvantaged children (Glénans, Brittany)
- Homeless reinsertion (Holy Cross Centre Trust, London)
|
|
|
Available for: |
- Job opportunities
- Internships / Fellowships
- Being headhunted – make me an offer
|
|