Marchelle Abrahams

MARCHELLE ABRAHAMS AWARD-WINNING WRITER AND FREELANCE CONTENT DESIGNER --marchelle.journoportfolio.com Accomplished and tenacious publisher and content professional with a wealth of experience across the digital and print landscape, contributing to both national media corporations and private companies in South Africa, UK and US. I skilfully integrate the realms of social media marketing, creative writing, and journalism, to help companies achieve strategic goals, captivate diverse audiences, and bring their brands to life. Having won two prestigious awards at the RDMA Awards in 2019, this continuously propels me to explore the most innovative approaches for addressing topics. My knack for detailed planning, flawless execution, multitasking, and seamless teamwork shines in both collaborative and autonomous settings. Cape Town / Remote I HAVE WORKED FOR: CONDE NAST | PAIGE TURNER | IOL | INDEPENDENT MEDIA | MARKS & AWARDS SPENCER | THE SOUTH AFRICAN | IAFRICA | TISCALI 2019 - Diageo Responsible Drinking Media Awards Winner: Online Winner Newspaper Commercial EXPERTISE Content strategy Sub-editing & proofreading Flair for writing and researching in- Freelance Contributing writer I BONA Magazine I 2023 Copywriter I Have Your Say I 2023 Romance fiction ghost writer | Paige Turner I 2021 - 2023 Fintech writer | Upwork | 2023 Editor | Old Street magazine | 2013 Editor | 277 (fashion blog) | 2010 Lifestyle content writer | Green Living | 2008 depth, exciting and solid articles Strong leadership SEO and Google Analytics User behaviour 2019 - 2023 IOL Senior Lifestyle Live Editor Social media platform management Managed group of multimedia journalists across three regions Photoshop/Canva and basic HTML Set the strategic vision, management and maintenance of IOL Strong research skills CMS and relational databases Good problem solver Excellent communicator Lifestyle, Entertainment and Travel sections Published IOL digital magazines Curated and wrote content underpinned by audience mapping and data analysis Assigned and sub edited copy, ensuring style guide was adhered to Reported on monthly Google Analytics figures Kept up to date with latest online publishing trends and tools Worked collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders EXPERT COMPETENCIES 2016 - 2019 Independent Media (national) Features Writer (Family) Researched and wrote thought-provoking content for parenting, Complex Problem Solving: Identifying home and relationship verticals for IOL Lifestyle and various complex problems and reviewing lifestyle supplements across the Independent print stable related information to develop and Oversaw online daily diary, and contributed to weekly print diary evaluate options and implement Contributed to annual content plan for print solutions. Acted as quality controller Active Listening: Giving full attention Extensive interview skills to what other people are saying, Posted content to social media platforms - Image selection and taking time to understand the points editing being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and Nov 2017 - Jan 2018 House & Garden (Conde Nast) Acting Online Editor weaknesses of alternative solutions, Worked in conjunction with magazine editors and writers to create conclusions or approaches to a fluent online platform problems. Wrote original content for online portal Judgment and Decision Making: Worked under tight deadlines Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. Management: Coordinating and Great attention to detail in picture editing and headline & blurb optimisation Applying SEO best practice and monitoring user behaviour leading others to meet objectives and goals. Monitoring: Monitoring/assessing performance of other individuals, or organizations to make improvements and take corrective action. 2014 - 2016 IOL Travel Content Producer Researched and wrote thought-provoking content for IOL Travel vertical Oversaw online daily diary, and contributed to weekly print diary EDUCATION Hubspot Academy Email Content Marketing - 2023 Introduction to Google Analytics - Contributed to annual content plan for print Acting as quality controller Extensive interview skills Posting content to social media platforms - Image selection and editing 2021 North Western University Creating Engaging Content - 2019 Shaw Academy, UK Introduction to social media marketing - 2016 City Varsity Creative Writing and journalism short course - 2004 Cape Peninsula University of OTHER Duty editor | IOL | 2007 to 2010 Copywriter | Marks & Spencer (London, UK) | 2006 to 2007 Features writer | iAfrica | 2005 to 2006 Sub editor | IOL | 2004 to 2005 Monitoring / Fashion sub editor | Tiscali | 2002 to 2004 Technology Journalism - 1999 – 2001 Livingstone High Matric Certificate - 1998 REFERENCES Debashine Thangevelo Acting Executive Editor Independent Media, Lifestyle print - Riana Howa Former editor IOL -