Fiona McIlwraith's Blog

FIONA MCILWRAITH

C.V.

Email: fionamcilwraith@googlemail.com

Telephone Number: 07921527870

207/2 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, EH10 4DH 

I am currently in my fourth year of a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism at Napier university in Edinburgh, and throughout the four years of my degree I have been learning how to produce stories in print, radio and television.  As I have been writing stories and producing news packages I am proficient in using editing programmes such as Final Cut Pro, Cool Edit, Audacity, Avid News cutter and Quark.  These have allowed me to produce the packages in my portfolio.  I am a very motivated person who can rise to any challenge set; I work to a very high standard and am a quick learner, which has allowed me to advance my university work.  In my second year I took a shorthand course and I am now qualified to write at a 100 words a minute and have a good knowledge in journalistic legislation, such as contempt of court and copyright law. 

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Banffshire Journal Summer 2005 Shadowed reporters, re-wrote stories of ‘Echoes of the Years’.  Observed the working of a local newspaper, how it was produced and how the small team worked together.
• Out of Doors Continuous since 2005 Working as a runner every now and again, doing odd jobs when I was needed, helping to research stories and answer telephones.
• Landward 2006 Working as a runner doing whatever was needed of me.
• Lesley Riddoch Show 2007 Helped out with answering telephones, and the setting up of the radio programme, with interviewees and scripts.
• BBC Edinburgh Election 2007 working as a runner throughout the night of the May election at Ingliston.  Helped out with anything that was needed of me, for example, finding out information on the night as it came in and finding interviewees.
• STV Aberdeen 2008: Easter and September Shadowed journalists and was watching the wires for new stories coming in.  Went out with cameramen and journalists whenever they were covering stories to help gain experience in the field, helped with editing of packages.
• BBC Orkney 2008: September Shadowed journalists and edited pieces when they were needed, also produced, with help, two pre-recorded packages that were broadcast.
• Fresh Air: Edinburgh’s Student Radio Station.  Co-present the News Show on a Sunday night, prepare pre-recorded packages and scripts for the hour programme.  

EDUCATION

Napier University, Edinburgh                           September 2005 -

Studying for a BA (Hons) in Journalism, currently in fourth year.

Predicted degree classification: Upper second class.

I have studied a wide range of subjects within my course including, radio journalism, magazine writing and sociology. I have taken introduction to photography and wine tasting as electives and have studied television journalism and multimedia newsroom, which allows me to pursue video journalism.

MODULES COMPLETED

First Year

Print Journalism 1, Print Journalism 2, Sociology, Information Technology and Sources, Introduction to Journalism, Social and Political Change in Britain, Cultural Studies, Media Studies.

Second Year

Advanced News and Feature Writing, Magazine Writing, Introduction to Photography, Media Law, Media Law for Journalists, Radio Journalism, The Study of Wine, Nature of News.

Third Year

Applied Journalism, Information, Communication and Society, Production Journalism, Magazine Production, Television Journalism, Journalism and Government, Media Ethics, Public Relations.

Banff Academy                                                 August 1999 – June 2005

Highers : English – B Music – B Biology – B Information Systems – B

                   Maths – C Accounting – C

Advanced Higher : Music – B

Intermediate 2 : Physics – C

EMPLOYMENT

Tesco Stores, Carmellite Street, Banff, Aberdeenshire, AB45 1AF

Dates- June 2007 – January 2008.

Job -  Checkout Operator.

Reason for Leaving -  Left Banff to go back to University.

 

Tom Sawyer Camps, West Woodbury Road, #F, Altadena, CA, 91001, U.S.A

Dates -June 2008 – September 2008.

Job – Horse Wrangler.

Reason for Leaving – Left California for end of summer contract.

 

Ipsos MORI, ½ Links House, 15 Links Place, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 7EZ

Dates – October 2008 -

Job – Market Researcher

INTERESTS

• Singing.
• Sailing.
• Playing Piano.
• Playing Guitar.
• Horse Riding.
• Swimming.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS 

• Full clean UK Driving License since January 2005.
• First Aid qualified for adults and children.

References available on request.