Ele Cooper
Ele Cooper "...making our own magazine – there simply isn’t a better way of preparing people for what it will be like in the real workplace."
February 30, 2009
Dubai-based publisher, ITP has promoted Ele Cooper to assistant editor of Time Out Kids (Dubai). Elle tells us about the move, drumming in the desert and interviewing Sesame Street’s Elmo.
Course Studied: Postgraduate Diploma of Journalism Studies (Magazine Option)
Graduation Year: 2008
Current Employer: ITP, Dubai
Position: Assistant Editor, Time Out Kids
Briefly describe your current position.
Mainly writing, but also having a part in planning issues, editing other writers’ work and helping with the cover lines and design ideas.
What is the best thing about your current position?
The amount of bizarre things I get to do – I just got off the phone with a teenage contortionist from Mongolia, I’m going drumming in the desert tonight and I am interviewing Sesame Street’s Elmo next week! The variety certainly keeps things interesting. I also have a great editor who’s very encouraging and inspiring.
How well did your JOMEC education prepare you for your current position?
Fantastically well: this was my first month in my current role and I ended up having to close the magazine, because press day was delayed and by that time the editor was on holiday – I remember thinking, ‘Thank God I did the course or I’d be sinking right now!’ There were other more senior people around helping me, but I couldn’t help but feel the pressure.
What did you enjoy most about studying here?
The whole experience of making our own magazine – there simply isn’t a better way of preparing people for what it will be like in the real workplace. Also the excellent speakers we had in.
Why did you choose JOMEC/Cardiff as a place to study?
Because of its great reputation, plus the fact that I love Cardiff city itself.