After three years helping to manage Scrolla’s editorial team, I was moved to oversee the company’s operations. The primary responsibilities in this role were three-fold: project management, editorial oversight and company account handling. I also functioned as the company’s de facto head human recourses.

In this role, I managed the news desk and curated the next day’s edition five days a week, while also handling breaking news updates. I monitored breaking news, commissioned stories to writers, and ensured a high standard of journalistic quality across our content. I was responsible for producing a balanced mix of stories, coordinating the team, and managing the rota. Additionally, I played a key role in editorial strategy, was active in decision-making in company recruitment, and worked closely with the social media team. Alongside my management duties, I contributed my own stories, maintaining an active role in content creation.

Within this role, I took over management of the news desk for five evenings a week.

Following my role as a staff writer and editor, I was entrusted with more responsibility and stepped into my first leadership position as Editorial Assistant. In addition to my previous duties, I began managing the news desk 2-3 days a week, where I took charge of commissioning stories from freelance journalists and monitoring news waves for significant national and international events. I also coordinated the efforts of the writing, editing, and translating teams, ensuring smooth workflow and high-quality content production.

I began my journey with the South African publication Scrolla soon after graduating from university, quickly establishing myself as a prolific contributor to its website. In this fast-paced environment, I learned the craft of breaking news journalism, producing compelling articles under tight deadlines and honing tabloid-style headline writing. Under the mentorship of experienced superiors, I navigated the journalistic culture and political landscape of a new country. As the company was in its infancy, I played a key role in shaping a consistent writing style, solidifying the brand's voice and identity. My work spanned various genres, including breaking news, sports reports, light-hearted features, obituaries, and entertainment reviews, creating a diverse and engaging news mix.During this time, I also gradually took on a more editorial role, becoming involved in editing the work of other writers. I worked directly with reporters, often collaborating with them to refine their copy and ensure it aligned with our evolving brand standards.

Weekend job as a teenager.