Amy Lewis

DOB: 02/01/1987

Blog: http://lewisa.wordpress.com/
Email: amy.lew@hotmail.co.uk

Personal Profile

I graduated from Swansea University in 2008 with a 2.1 in English and Media Studies, where I had focused on writing for newspapers and magazines, as well as media theory, classic literary texts plus the odd poem or sonnet. I have most recently graduated from Cardiff School of Journalism, with a high pass in the Magazine Journalism Postgraduate Diploma course (accredited by the PPA).

I have work experience across several national and regional publications, including Your M&S Magazine at Redwood Publishing, WM the Western Mail at Media Wales, Men’s Health, Runner’s World and Reveal at Natmags, Woman at IPC, and Cardiff Living and Swansea Life at South West Wales Media.

I have written for both print and online university publications and freelanced for magazines. I have a wide range of writing topics including sustainability, environmental issues, lifestyle, fashion and beauty, arts, music, motoring (I’m a junior member of the Guild of Motoring Writers) Welsh coasts and beaches, human interest stories plus others at random.

Skills

• News, features, columns, reviews, interviews, blogs and profiles.
• Subbing and and page production processes including Photoshop and Adobe InDesign.
• Online media including Content Management Systems, SEO, multimedia tools and Blogging software.
• Use of social media such as Twitter, Flickr, Facebook, Mento, Delicious etc.
• Trained in media law and government practices.
• Good communication, telephone, and networking skills.

Work Experience

Men’s Health, July – August 2009 – General editorial assistant duties.

Wahanda, July 2009 – Treatment reviews, spa research, updating the site using Maia CMS.

Swansea Life, June 2009 – Interviewing and freelance writing.

Your M&S Magazine, April 2009 – Writing and researching short news stories, assisting editorial team with research and photo shoots, assisting fashion desk with product call-ins, and general administration duties.

WM Weekly, Western Mail, March 2009 – Writing and researching features and news stories, interviewing sources, published five pieces of work.

Substance January/May 2009– Deputy Features Editor, Online Earth News Editor, Staff Writer and Columnist for a course magazine developed form pitch concept to print and online publication. Wrote news, features, columns and blogs for print and online, as well as picture research, uploading to CMS and creating podcasts.

Cardiff Living, December 2009 – Freelance writing and pitching ideas, created the magazine’s Christmas Gift Guide.

Runner’s World, August 2008 – Helped with news research and wrote news in briefs.

Men’s Health, August and September 2008 – Assisting the editorial team, researching features and writing news and tips. Asked back to cover editorial assistant’s holiday where I organised product call-ins for the Men’s Health Christmas Gift Guide and features, plus assisting at a model casting and general administration duties. Also helped with organising the style cupboard and product returns.

Woman, April 2008 – Assisted the editorial team with feature research and reader letters, helped out on the subbing desk, wrote news for the beauty pages and organised product call-ins, assisted the fashion team with returns, organising the style cupboard and picture research.

Reveal, December 2007 and January 2008 – Assisted the editorial team, conducted Vox Pops, wrote the online quiz, carried out real-life story read-backs and helped with archiving and  general administrative duties. Asked back in January to help cover staff holidays.

Education/Qualifications

Cardiff University: Magazine Journalism Postgraduate Diploma, pass.
Swansea University: BA Hons English and Media Studies, 2.1.
A Level:  B grades in English, Sociology and ICT.
AS Level: B grades in English, Sociology, ICT and Maths.

Employment History

Hils Publications, Sept 2009 – present - Editorial Co-ordinator at Ladies First and Tiara magazines www.ladiesfirst.co.uk.

The Tidbits

Flux Bar, Beckenham, present – Barmaid, cocktail maker and general chit-chatter.

Kenfig Hill RFC, 2003 – 2009 – Barmaid and key holder, including opening up bar for busy matches, functions and live entertainment, serving busy crowds and special guests which requires friendly, efficient service in a sometimes hectic environment.

Wimbledon Tennis Championships, June-July 2008 – VIP waitress service in a private box requiring professional and sociable service under pressure.

Envy Retail Stores, September 2007 – June 2008- Customer service, team working and presenting a friendly, helpful point of contact for customers at all times.

Referees

Rin Simpson – WM Western Mail, rin.simpson@mediawales.com

Tim Holmes - Cardiff University tutor, tadh1953@gmail.com

Elisabeth Mahoney – The Guardian, eamahoney@swansea.ac.uk

Contact details

Post: 26 Pisgah Street, Kenfig Hill, Bridgend, CF33 6BY

Tel: 07813158298

Twitter: @amylew2187