Gemma Ferguson

About

I’ve always had a passion for writing, and consider myself a very social person – in my experience the two go hand-in-hand. From leading team chants in my early school days as sports captain, to studying four-unit English and writing school captain speeches in high school, to a double major of journalism and public relations at University – I’ve continued to fit that “gift of the gab” description often given to me by teachers, friends, and co-workers. I was a Client Services Coordinator for local firm, The Marketing GP. With this digital marketing agency, I took on a commitment to working with businesses to find an approach that suits their needs. My role included strategy development, branding, website creation, social media strategy, video, email marketing, copy-writing, event management and much more. In 2020, I completed my Honours year after finishing my undergraduate degree in 2019. Balancing work with study was a challenge that reaped plenty of rewards. I've learnt how to operate in a professional workspace, including how to communicate and manage my team and clients, time management skills, and the importance of connecting to local and industry networks. Another major benefit of studying while working was the opportunity to see my learning come to life - I've seen theories and skills from university play out in the real world, time and time again. My creative exegesis, which focused on journalism in the age of social media, earned me a Class 1 grade (HD average).In the few short years I’ve lived in Newcastle, I’ve grown a lot. I’ve learnt so much through my studies, work, and personal life, and have been offered some amazing opportunities. I’m known for putting my hand up for just about everything, and this attitude has been rewarded time and time again. From writing for two of the University’s student publications, to planning a film festival in the Hunter, to speaking live on air for our community radio station, to travelling overseas to study public relations, to interning for our city’s prestigious newspaper, and even having my work published in Girlfriend Magazine, I’ve jumped right in. I’m a hard worker, who’s flexible between industries and keen to mark her mark. Be it social media, blog writing, news articles, press releases, interviews, networking, or any other arm of the ever-changing journalism, marketing and public relations industries – I’m willing to try my hand. If I haven’t already picked up a specific skill from my variety of experiences, I’m eager to learn!