Miriam Mannak in a nutshell
In short: I am a freelance journalist and freelance photographer based in Cape Town, South Africa, who has been working in the field of journalism since 2002. Born in The Netherlands (1977), I grew up in Angola and Rwanda - where my passion for Africa was born. Over the past years - decades, rather - I have traveled to many different countries including Canada, Turkey, Ghana, Vietnam, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Gabon. I have lived in the United States (Michigan and New York) and Israel. It's needless to say that traveling is one of my passions. In 2004, I settled down in Cape Town, South Africa, the most beautiful city in the world.
Education wise, I have quite a bit of baggage: a degree in journalism (2000), a Master's in American Studies (2004) and a degree in International Development Studies (2004). All three were obtained in The Netherlands. Finally, in 2007 I exchanged the security of a cushy office job at a PR-agency in Cape Town for the world of freelance journalism. Currently, my growing client database comprises newspapers, magazines, online publications and text bureaus in both South Africa, Europe and other regions. For a list of current and past clients, click here.
Education wise, I have quite a bit of baggage: a degree in journalism (2000), a Master's in American Studies (2004) and a degree in International Development Studies (2004). All three were obtained in The Netherlands. Finally, in 2007 I exchanged the security of a cushy office job at a PR-agency in Cape Town for the world of freelance journalism. Currently, my growing client database comprises newspapers, magazines, online publications and text bureaus in both South Africa, Europe and other regions. For a list of current and past clients, click here.
The list of topics I have covered, includes:
- The 2010 world cup soccer in South Africa (the implications / pro's and cons of the FIFA world cup in the broadest sense of the word, e.g economically, socially, politically, psychologically, and with regards to infrastructure, safety and security, investments, etc)
- The potential of the world cup when it comes to reconciliation in South Africa
- The different implications of HIV/AIDS in South Africa (economic, social, health, political)
- The structures of South Africa's workforce and employment law (Black Economic Empowerment)
- South Africa's film industry
- South African politics
- Safety and security in South Africa
- Xenophobia and the position of African refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa
- Zimbabwe's social and political struggles
- Malaria in the DRC
- The mining industry in the DRC
- Street children in Lubumbashi
- Health topics such as neonatal tetanus, TB and the relationship between TB and HIV, maternity health, cervical cancer in the developing world, etc.
- South Africa economy
- The potential of the world cup when it comes to reconciliation in South Africa
- The different implications of HIV/AIDS in South Africa (economic, social, health, political)
- The structures of South Africa's workforce and employment law (Black Economic Empowerment)
- South Africa's film industry
- South African politics
- Safety and security in South Africa
- Xenophobia and the position of African refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa
- Zimbabwe's social and political struggles
- Malaria in the DRC
- The mining industry in the DRC
- Street children in Lubumbashi
- Health topics such as neonatal tetanus, TB and the relationship between TB and HIV, maternity health, cervical cancer in the developing world, etc.
- South Africa economy
My personal 'victories'
In July 2009, I was awarded an International Aids Society Fellowship by the National Press Foundation. Other highlights of my career so far: being able to attend the Third High Level Forum on Development in Ghana (2008) as a journalist for press agency Inter Press Service, a work trip to Zimbabwe about water security in Southern Africa, and an invite on behalf of the Jordanian Royal Family to attend a peace camp organized by Generations for Peace (2009). I had the opportunity to speak to Prince Faisal for about an hour, which resulted in a magnificent story. I also met with the Vice prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. In 2007 and 2008 my feature about gangs and drugs in one of Cape Town's townships, written for The Big Issue, was shortlisted during two prestigious journalism competitions. Last but not least: becoming a correspondent for Het FInancieel Dagblad - the most important financial daily in The Netherlands - in 2007 was a highlight as well.
My other skilss, except for journalism:
Apart from journalism, feature writing, news reporting and photography, which are my passions, my set of skills include:
- Translating (Dutch <-> English)
- Copy writing
- Content writing
- Proof reading
- Events organizing
- PR and media liaison
- Research
- South African tourism industry (research, writing, PR)
- Dutch language: fluent
- English language: fluent
- French - advanced
- Translating (Dutch <-> English)
- Copy writing
- Content writing
- Proof reading
- Events organizing
- PR and media liaison
- Research
- South African tourism industry (research, writing, PR)
- Dutch language: fluent
- English language: fluent
- French - advanced