RACHEL HOVENDEN

Mobile: 07872550182
E-mail: rachelhovenden@hotmail.com
Blog: www.rachelonreligionandlife.blogspot.com

NEWSPAPER EXPERIENCE

While studying for my course I work as a freelance journalist and have had
work published in The Independent. I have three week’s work lined up
there in June. I will also do work experience on The Mail on Sunday’s news
desk in July.

MARCH 2010 WORK EXPERIENCE: THE STAR (SHEFFIELD CITY EDITION)

I wrote stories for the paper and did interviews. I went to the magistrates’
court, crown court and an inquest while there.

SEPTEMBER 2008 - FEBRUARY 2009 MEDIA ADMINISTRATOR: THE

ABBEYFIELD KENT SOCIETY

I worked in their press office, writing press releases, adverts and stories for
the charity’s quarterly magazine. My boss left after a month, so I took on
everything in the media department for a while - editing and writing pieces
for the charity’s quarterly magazine and website. I organised the launch of
an appeal called Who Cares? This involved liasing with the press, radio,
booking the venue, organising the catering and liasing with a PR company
and a digital media company. Many local mayors, MPs and business people
attended the event.

SUMMER 2007 WORK EXPERIENCE: THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND NEWSPAPER

I was originally allocated one week’s work experience at the newspaper, but
was asked to stay on for two more weeks. I had several stories published
with by-lines. I reviewed the West End show Lord of the Rings, interviewed
and wrote a feature about Elin Manahan Thomas, who had just released her
debut album.

I wrote a feature about Christians’ views on animal rights. I received several

letters in response to this piece, with a request by the Anglican Society for
the Protection of Animals and the Christian Vegetarian Association (UK) to re-
publish my piece in their magazines.

SUMMER 2007 WORK EXPERIENCE: THE TIMES (BODY AND SOUL

DEPARTMENT)

Researched stories, and did interviews. Had my research published for a

piece on seed gathering events happening around the country.
 2006-2008 STUDENT REPORTER: DURHAM 21 (DURHAM UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE
STUDENT NEWSPAPER)

I wrote several stories for Durham21. One was a piece about human
trafficking for the sex industry, and another was about a Channel 4
documentary on traffic problems across the UK (Durham city was their focus
for one week).

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

09/2009 - 09/2010 PRINT JOURNALISM MA at THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD

I have passed the NCTJ Shorthand qualification at 100 wpm and got a
distinction in both NCTJ media law exams (court reporting and general
reporting).

The course is NCTJ accredited and so I will take all the NCTJ preliminary
examinations. We also learn how to use InCopy and InDesign plus audio and
video equipment and editing suites. Professional journalists and former
editors run the course.

10/2005 – 06/2008 2.1 THEOLOGY BA (HONS) 69.1% (70% = 1st) at DURHAM

UNIVERSITY

Awarded the Norton Burns Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement by

my college St Cuthbert’s Society.

09/1998 – 07/2005 TUNBRIDGE WELLS GIRLS’ GRAMMAR SCHOOL

A LEVEL: English Literature (A); History (A); Religious Studies (A)

AS LEVEL: Critical Thinking (B)
10 GCSES: 6A*s and 4As

INTERESTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

• I am studying Spanish at Intermediate Advanced Level at The

University of Sheffield in an evening class (which could count as 20
credits towards a degree).
• 18/03/2009 – 13/08/2009 I was a volunteer for the South
American Mission Society in Lima, Peru. I worked at a disabled
children’s centre called Shalom, which was based in the slums. I also helped
run children and youth groups at weekends. I mainly worked with 0 to 8
year-olds in the mornings - Monday to Friday. In the afternoons, I did craft
workshops with ages 0-20 and taught English to children from the area. I
also went into the mountains to run a holiday club for youth and children for
two weeks (at a place called Juliaca) with a group from Lima.
• During the Summer 2005 and 2007 I did volunteer work for a charity,
“Education for Life”, in a village called Timbwani, near Mombasa, Kenya. We
organised and ran a holiday club for children from the village and school,
helped at an orphanage and with the charity’s feeding programme.
• I am a sociable person and enjoy spending time with my friends and
 family. I was head bridesmaid recently at a good friend’s wedding.
• ABRSM Grade 8 Oboe, ABRSM Grade 6 Piano, and ABRSM Grade 6
Singing.

REFERENCES, CUTTINGS AND FURTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON

REQUEST