MARCEL BAUM
Redland Bay
Summary
Dynamic, ambitious and detail-oriented communications advisor with high-pressure experience in both public and private sectors. Recognised as a strong team player with an empathetic and agile approach in strategic communications. A background in community news and high-stakes court reporting brings broad experience, advanced writing and vigorous discipline. Serious about my craft, I have a sunny disposition and enjoy a challenge.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Project Communications Officer
Logan City Council
07.2023 - Current
- Drafted communications plans, design and construction letters, social media posts and webpage copy for eight projects.
- Assisted with process design through painstaking, highly detailed process management.
- Provided peer review with exact adherence to Council writing guidelines.
- Improved team writing standards by explaining style and grammar issues with expert attribution.
- Provided comprehensive engagement advice upon request from internal stakeholders which assisted to prevent community grievance and Council reputational damage.
- Formed effective rapport with colleagues to carefully prepare communications for potentially challenging projects.
- Passionately championed Council and Road Infrastructure Delivery department's work in community.
- Proactively provided ideas for improving webpage design and usability, in addition to road maintenance and safety.
- Proactively completed numerous training sessions including project management, enhancing team performance, conflict resolution and construction White Card accreditation.
- Collaborated with intra-departmental stakeholders to design strategies for messaging and communications.
- Deftly engaged and negotiated with external stakeholders affected by Council road works.
- Captured valuable media trends to gauge community sentiment.
- Helped foster a wholesome exercise culture for improved workplace wellbeing.
- Enthusiastically attended workplace functions on mental health, female leadership, engineering leadership and Council team building.
- Proactively collaborated internally to stay ahead of potential organisational damage.
Communications Advisor
Redland City Council
06.2022 - 07.2023
- Managed multiple stakeholders' interests and needs
- Enhanced writing quality and content accuracy across various projects
- Managed multiple communications projects concurrently to high standard
- Drafted effective responses to customer complaints and inquiries
- Provided productive strategic advice with broader context in mind
- Produced detailed communication and engagement plans
- Drafted speeches and talking points with attention to personal vernacular
- Drafted media releases and managed approvals processes under tight deadlines
- Designed dynamic collateral
- Planned and coordinated successful events
- Provided media insight and risk management for contentious issues
- Celebrated one-team approach between departments under challenging circumstances and amid competing interests
- Maintained pleasant disposition and good humour
Journalist
Quest News, News Corp Australia
05.2019 - 06.2022
- Consistently produced subscription-worthy online stories
- Successfully covered Beenleigh, Pine Rivers, Cleveland and Wynnum courts for criminal and civil matters
- Covered broad range in community topics including development, council, politics, sport, mining, emergencies and more
- Marketed stories with sophistication through social media, radio bulletins and online newsletters
- Interviewed sources, contacts and leads
- Carefully monitored various media to strategically plan
- Edited copy to fix grammatical and spelling issues
- Used graphic design to enhance readership experience
- Took engaging photos to complement stories
- Liaised and negotiated with legal department daily to check court coverage
- Sensitively responded to complaints and inquiries from readers
- Negotiated with and advised broad range of stakeholders
Journalist
The Northern Miner, News Corp Australia
02.2018 - 05.2019
- Worked with editor to produce award-winning weekly newspaper
- Ran campaign with editor which changed council regulations
- Covered natural disaster which garnered 100,000-plus online readership
- Wrote articles covering numerous industries including farming, sport, mining, real estate, crime, emergencies, culture and more
- Managed social media and content creation
- Formed and nurtured relationships with wide array of stakeholders
- Succeeded in delicate negotiation with wary parties to produce balanced articles
- Covered council and court
- Filmed and edited weekly online video updates teasing leading stories
- Captured dynamic imagery at live events including sports festivals, military commemorations, rodeo gatherings, cultural festivals and more
- Responded to community concerns and complaints with deft touch
- Liaised with council, emergency departments, business leaders, health departments and more
Radio Internship
4ZZZ FM Radio
11.2017 - 01.2018
- Wrote and voiced radio newscasts for highly opinionated, engaged audience
- Managed social media content creation
- Researched and wrote early morning breaking stories
- Brainstormed and coordinated with fellow announcers
- Fine-tuned time management to meet tight deadlines
Volunteer Magazine Writer and Editor
RSPCA Queensland
12.2017 - 01.2018
- Produced novel and humorous animal-related stories for magazine
- Researched animal behaviour and pet care
- Liaised with animal handlers
Paid Internship
PropertyMash
11.2015 - 02.2016
- Wrote feature-length reviews of new property developments
- Interviewed developers and real estate agents to produce arresting copy for discerning online audiences
- Researched suburbs, properties, developers, architects and council planning
Internship
Queensland Magazines
11.2016 - 02.2017
- Produced dynamic copy for three separate lifestyle publications
- Researched fashion, events, real estate and product releases
- Contributed to social media management
- Copy edited stories
Education
Bachelor of Journalism -
University of Queensland
Brisbane, Queensland2017
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) -
Queensland University of Technology
Brisbane, QLD2006
Skills
- Advanced writing, editing
- Communications and engagement planning
- Collateral design
- Crisis communications
- Event planning
- Speech writing
- Detailed research
- Strategic advice
- Deadline-driven time management
- Social media oversight
- Media monitoring, reporting
- Photography and videography
References
Claudia Campbell
Principal Project Communications Officer
Road Infrastructure Delivery, Logan City Council
0419 408 660
claudiacampbell@logan.qld.gov.au
Lachlan McClure
Acting Group Manager
City Assets Group, Redland City Council
0449 272 350
lachlan.mcclure@redland.qld.gov.au
Jeni Faulkner
The Daily Telegraph State News Director
0434 023 668
jeni.faulkner@news.com.au
Languages
- German
- Afrikaans
Hobbies and Interests
Severely addicted reader
Lover of all things design
Timeline
Senior Project Communications Officer
Logan City Council
07.2023 - Current
Communications Advisor
Redland City Council
06.2022 - 07.2023
Journalist
Quest News, News Corp Australia
05.2019 - 06.2022
Journalist
The Northern Miner, News Corp Australia
02.2018 - 05.2019
Volunteer Magazine Writer and Editor
RSPCA Queensland
12.2017 - 01.2018
Radio Internship
4ZZZ FM Radio
11.2017 - 01.2018
Internship
Queensland Magazines
11.2016 - 02.2017
Paid Internship
PropertyMash
11.2015 - 02.2016
Bachelor of Journalism -
University of Queensland
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) -
Queensland University of Technology
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