Joanna will be joining our ‘Getting to the top – A winner’s mindset’ workshop at Birkbeck, University of London on Wednesday 7th November from 6.30pm – 8.30pm. Click here for the full line up and to register for tickets.
Joanna’s first break in journalism came aged just 16 when she secured work experience at Now! magazine. While there she decided upon a career as a journalist.
From the age of 17 to 21 Joanna interned, free-lanced and worked for over 30 publications including newspapers, magazines, online publications and even a few American titles. She has now had her features, news stories, fashion and beauty stories published in publications such as Cosmopolitan, Sky magazine, Heat, More!, The Mirror, The Voice, The Guardian, Mail Online as well as journalism.co.uk, Radio Times.
Whilst studying English and Sociology at Reading University, she freelanced and launched two community based magazines. Branching into PR she helped with PR for the likes of Kelly Rowland and did placements at BBC Radio 1Xtra and Colourful Radio where she would report showbiz news.
During her time at the Radio Time sshe covered shows like The Peckham Finishing School for Girls, Radio 1Xtra live and profiling BBC’s ethnic broadcasters and successfully increased the participation of ethnic minorities at BBC Magazines through various initiatives including the first BBC worldwide student careers event, and the first internal celebration of Black History Month.
Joanna was a founding member of the student led charity Elevation Networks Charitable Trust and subsequently founded Shine Media which is a social enterprise that aims to increase diversity in the journalism industry. It aims to provide young people from ethnic minority groups between the ages of 16 – 24 with work experience, mentors, annual careers events and funding for journalism training.
Joanna is currently a staff writer on Virgin Media Magazine and recently launched her own showbiz news website Flashing Lights. On a recent trip to New York Joanna managed to get the opportunity to spend time with Tinie Tempah on tour, and also interviewed Hollywood actor Stephan Baldwin, UK talent Jessie J and Graffiti 6.
She also won GUBA Award for Best Print Journalist and is a member of the SOLA Foundation Management Board.