Rozanne Els

After working as a journalist for eight years in South Africa, I moved to New York to pursue an M.A. degree in Arts and Culture Journalism at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

I come from a diverse reporting background of arts, culture, entertainment, and human interest stories and features, court reporting and criminal justice system writing. I’m also adept at video reporting (on-scene and in studio), web and social media editing, and I possess a zeal for pop culture and a propensity to show readers how global events affect their daily realities. Yes, that’s a lot, but I’ve lived many professional lives, which makes my experience diverse, and full of twisty learning curves. 

For the past couple of years, I have worked as an independent writer and editor in roles that include that of an international correspondent for Channel24, a leading entertainment news source in Africa, a social media strategist for a popular fashion retailer, an online writer for The Cut and Vulture at New York magazine, and a researcher for non-fiction books.

My role as a TV producer and researcher certainly benefited from my journalist instincts, and I actively work to apply these principles in professional contexts.

In all the many roles I have played at publications and companies, the core of my work has been storytelling. It’s a massive endeavor, often terrifying (if you’re doing it right) but it’s a talent I am supremely proud of, and I own it as something intrinsic to me.