Experience

Cars.co.za

• South Africa
• Automotive
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Content Editor

  • Jul 2018 - Present

  I am employed by Cars.co.za to deliver an editing and article-optimisation service, perform content marketing and manage twitter engagement campaigns, participate in the #CarsAwards judging process, plus perform public relations and media liaison functions.

• Content Manager

  • Jan 2016 - Jun 2018

  As Content Manager of Cars.co.za – South Africa’s leading online motoring portal – I managed a team of three journalists (as well as a video editor) and led the production of the site's editorial content.Team managementI managed the content creators’ schedule and workflow, including the allocations of assignments, test vehicles and the attendance of product launches. I commissioned content from local- as well as international contributors and completed quarterly performance evaluations of the team members under my leadership. Editing & article optimisationI copy-edited all written reviews, driving impressions, features and contributor articles published on Cars.co.za, plus optimised them for SEO and navigation to key areas of the website. I further wrote product reviews, driving impressions, opinion pieces and assorted features to supplement Cars.co.za’s editorial content.Content promotionI utilised Google Analytics to gain insights into site activity and coordinated the promotion of articles on the web-advertising platform OutBrain (with media buying specialists Clic Afrique). I also managed Cars.co.za twitter engagement campaigns (with digital media sales house Ad Dynamo) and, since 2017, I have produced and distributed Cars.co.za's weekly e-mail newsletter.#CarsAwardsApart from serving as South Africa’s representative on the World Car of the Year jury from 2013 to 2016, I was a member of the judging panel of the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – South Africa’s definitive automotive awards programme – from 2016. I continued in that role until I immigrated to Australia in 2019.Public relations & media liaisonI produced media releases for #CarsAwards, the Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey, SentiMETAL and The Journey and distributed them through Quickpic, BizCommunity.com and Mediaserve's channels. I was also interviewed by the CapeTalk 567AM radio station and represented Cars.co.za at the #CarsAwards gala presentation event from 2016 to 2019. Show less



Apex Wordworks

• South Africa, Australia

• Business Owner

  • Jan 2016 - May 2022

  My extensive experience as a motoring journalist and copy editor afforded me opportunities to edit and re-write articles on a freelance basis. I edited articles submitted to automotive titles around the globe, including Mercedes Enthusiast, Total 911, GT Porsche, FORZA and Classic Cars, plus edited the manuscripts of a pair of coffee table books. I contributed to Cars.co.za on contract from 2018 to 2022 and contributed to CAR magazine, Private Edition and Fancourt magazine in South Africa. My extensive experience as a motoring journalist and copy editor afforded me opportunities to edit and re-write articles on a freelance basis. I edited articles submitted to automotive titles around the globe, including Mercedes Enthusiast, Total 911, GT Porsche, FORZA and Classic Cars, plus edited the manuscripts of a pair of coffee table books. I contributed to Cars.co.za on contract from 2018 to 2022 and contributed to CAR magazine, Private Edition and Fancourt magazine in South Africa.



CAR magazine

• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Deputy Editor, CAR magazine

  • Nov 2010 - Dec 2015

  For the final five years of my 14-year stint at CAR – South Africa's leading motoring magazine – I served as Deputy Editor under Hannes Oosthuizen (until mid-2013) and Steve Smith (end of 2015). Management/administration I co-managed a large team (comprising journalists, technical editors, photographers, videographers and layout designers) and coordinated CAR's content production activities across print, web and web video platforms in weekly and monthly cycles. On several occasions, I signed off entire magazines and supplements to print in the absence of the Editor – and, sometimes, the Copy Editor. Producer of a variety of forms of media I wrote and edited road tests, international driving impressions and special reports/advertising features for the magazine and its website. I'm adept at publishing live from remote locations and posting updates through social media platforms. I also scripted CAR's 30-second TVC spots that aired on DStv satellite channels and numerous CAR Special Report web- and sales training videos. Brand and content marketing At the time, CAR's three biggest marketing events were the Top 12 Best Buys awards programme, the Johannesburg International Motor Show (JIMS) and the January-issue Performance Shootout. I supported the Top 12 by issuing press releases, being interviewed by regional radio stations and making an appearance on the TV programme Ignition. Attending JIMS (previously known as the Auto Africa expo) and CAR Performance Shootouts (2010-2016) provided me with excellent opportunities to interact with readers and to produce social media coverage about the events. Automotive industry liaison Through coordinating the production and delivery of Special Reports and Advertising Features in the magazine (or the website) on a regular basis, I forged good working relationships with South African vehicle manufacturers/importers' communications-, marketing- and product managers. Show less



RamsayMedia

• South Africa
• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Editor, News Editor, Associate Editor

  • Jun 2001 - Oct 2010

  I was appointed Associate Editor of CARtoday.com (now CARmag.co.za), the website of CAR – South Africa's leading motoring magazine – in 2001, and promoted to the positions of News Editor and Editor of the 'site in 2004 and 2006 respectively. By the time CAR merged its print and online teams in 2009, I managed a team of four that produced CAR's web and mobile motoring content. I served as Associate Editor of the consolidated CAR team under editor-in-chief John Bentley from 2009 to 2010. As Associate Editor of CAR (2009 to 2010), I wrote and edited road tests, driving impressions and special reports for the magazine. Furthermore, I wrote, edited and published articles and compiled image galleries, wallpapers, video clips and exhaust tones for CARtoday.com (now CARmag.co.za) and its mobile site. I scripted CAR Special Report- and CAR Guide videos for the video division (CARtv), compiled and distributed digital newsletters and championed the development of the site’s content modules. Show less



The Herald

• Port Elizabeth Area, South Africa

• Senior Copy Editor

  • Jun 1998 - May 2001

  I edited news-, op-ed-, entertainment- and sports copy for the daily broadsheet in Port Elizabeth. I designed, proofed and sent pages to the printers. I was also a junior motoring writer and film critic. I edited news-, op-ed-, entertainment- and sports copy for the daily broadsheet in Port Elizabeth. I designed, proofed and sent pages to the printers. I was also a junior motoring writer and film critic.