Leanne Mitchell Email & Phone Number

As a freelance writer, I write press releases, articles, blogs, web copy, brochure copy and books for various NGOs, PR firms & businesses. I write clear, concise and compelling copy that people can relate to and engage with. I am skilled at researching topics and interviewing relevant people to produce the required content. I have been writing full time since 2005. On a part-time basis, I am also Head of Training for Simplified. For this small firm, based in Johannesburg, I train Advanced Business Writing and Effective Business Writing courses to large corporates, like Discovery, FNB and Webber Wentzel. These customised courses use plain language techniques to train delegates to write effectively for business.I wrote the definitive book on SA artist Eleanor Esmonde-White and a marketing book for the ACTIVATE! NGO titled '16 June 2015 - 16 June 2030'. I learnt to write working as a journalist for the Cape Times. I started at the paper while doing my Honours in Journalism, working nights and weekends in 2005, and then full time from 2006. I joined the PR Firm, HWB Communications, as a senior account executive. At HWB I most notably worked on communications for the first phase roll-out of the City of Cape Town's MyCiti bus system. Here I reported to the City's Media Manager, wrote press releases, responded to media enquiries, conducted and wrote up interviews, produced web articles, wrote copy for adverts and brochures, and coordinated much of public participation process. I also worked on other HWB clients like ADT Security, acsis Financial Services and the Western Cape Department of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism.I gained international experience working as the Marketing and Communication Coordinator for ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Centre. ICLEI is a global association of local governments tackling global urban environmental issues. ICLEI advocates for the critical role local governments play to ensure urban environments that are clean, green, safe and provide a good quality of life for people to live and work. I managed the communications team, wrote news articles, website articles and regular newsletters. I edited writing, produced marketing brochures and exhibition material. During my time at ICLEI I arranged, attended and participated in many international events.