Experience

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  Big Issue

  • United Kingdom
  • Book and Periodical Publishing
  • 200 - 300 Employee

  • Senior reporter

    • Apr 2024 - Present

  • Reporter

    • Jun 2022 - Apr 2024

• 

  Reach plc

  • Reporter at HertsLive

    • Jun 2021 - Jun 2022

• 

  Children & Young People Now

  • Journalism Intern

    • Dec 2020 - Jan 2021

    -Pitched and wrote numerous articles on the social care sector, education, youth justice, etc.-Attended press conferences with politicians/ experts, and followed-up by writing news stories.-Conducted research projects, interviews and data analysis working to tight deadlines

• 

  The Boar

  • United Kingdom
  • Newspaper Publishing
  • 1 - 100 Employee

  • Writer

    • Jan 2018 - Jul 2020

    One of few students to have written for all 15 sections of The Boar: News, Features, Comment, Lifestyle, Books, Arts, Film, TV, Music, Games, Sport, Travel, SciTech, Climate and Finance.My page of articles is here: https://theboar.org/author/isabella-mcrae/

  • Lifestyle Editor

    • Mar 2019 - Mar 2020

    I was the Lifestyle Editor for the University of Warwick’s award-winning student newspaper, The Boar. I commissioned and edited hundreds of articles, a number of which were shortlisted for Student Publication Awards.I was fully responsible for pitching, proof-reading and publishing articles for the Lifestyle section. I am proficient at using Adobe InDesign to create the visually striking Lifestyle pages for the print edition of the paper, and I am skilled at using social media to promote audience engagement.

  • Deputy Lifestyle Editor

    • Oct 2018 - Mar 2019

• 

  Three Rivers District Council

  • Watford, United Kingdom

  • Team leader/ Playworker

    • May 2017 - Jul 2020
    • Watford, United Kingdom

    I work as a team to plan sessions, filling 9-hour-long days with exciting new games and activities. In 2019, I was promoted to a Team Leader position. My added responsibilities include communicating with parents and leading a team responsible for the younger children. As a play worker, I lead games and activities. I also work one on one with children with additional needs, including severe autism and cerebral palsy. I worked during the coronavirus pandemic, which involved quick-thinking, team management and resilience.I am trained in: Supporting Children & Young People’s Mental Health, Encouraging Positive Behaviour 5-12 years, Basic Child Protection Awareness (Level 1), Communicating Effectively with Children and Young People, Autism (ASD) Awareness, Basic First Aid, Paediatric First Aid

• 

  BBC

  • Work experience

    • Dec 2019 - Dec 2019

    Work experience with the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme. I had the opportunity to shadow journalists as they sourced news stories, planned interviews, contacted sources, edited videos and produced the programme. I was tasked with researching stories and finding contacts.

• 

  Element Pictures Group

  • Production Intern

    • Sep 2018 - Sep 2018

    One week of work experience with an award-winning film company. My tasks included reading and writing coverage on sample scripts to give the company an insight on writers’ potential. I gained an insight into budgeting and helped format spreadsheets of contacts. I also commented on scripts of recently produced films such as The Favourite and Rosie. I watched, analysed and wrote coverage on feature films and short films.

• 

  More in Common

  • Research Intern

    • Jun 2018 - Jun 2018

    One week of experience at More in Common. My specific focus was on a project concerning polarisation in contemporary America: assesses the significance of, reasons for and possible solutions to divisions through analysing both qualitative and quantitative data. Working to a deadline, I produced copy edits of vignettes which summarised interviews. I also found insightful quotes within their interviews and transferred them to a document under different categories.

• 

  Simon & Schuster

  • Publicity Intern

    • Jun 2016 - Jun 2016

    One week of work experience in the publicity team at Simon & Schuster. I went through newspapers on a daily basis and looked online to find any reviews or publicity on their books and scanned and uploaded them onto the system. I also researched contacts, produced press releases and contacted bookshops to help form a publicity directory. I bound manuscripts, mailed books, made show cards and cut flyers.