If you want to know more about the day-to-day life of an Movies Editor, Leandra tells us why she loves her job.

Leandra is a TV and Movies Editor for a South African entertainment and gossip website, based in Cape Town. She gave us a sneak peek into her day-to-day life so we could learn more about her career in online journalism.

From a young age, Leandra loved writing and telling stories. “I had always been that person at school who had to read a passage or poem during school assembly. I was about 10 years old when after reading a passage at a school event a priest from the local parish came up to me and said, “You read so beautifully one day I am going to see you on TV reading the news”,” she tells us. Those words stuck with Leandra, and from that moment on, she knew she should follow a career in journalism.

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Leandra completed her BA degree with majors in Communications and English as well as her Honours in English. It was during a stint at the University of the Western Cape that she received an email with a list of vacancies at Health24. “I started out there as a Junior Writer and then a Content Producer. Through work I also completed a BTech in Journalism at CPUT.” However, as someone with a passion for entertainment news, it was a vacancy at Channel24 that sparked Leandra’s interest.

“I immediately applied. The rest is history!”

Entertainment journalists are responsible for covering a wide range of news stories and events within the entertainment industry. It is the responsibility of entertainment journalists to produce quality news, features and photos on events, people and related industry issues. With experience, entertainment journalists can usually become trusted sources of information and insight within their respective fields.

Leandra tells us that she loves her job because it hardly ever feels like work at all. “I have always been into celebrity culture, TV and movies so it’s really cool to do something that you like.

“How many people can say that watching TV and movies is their job? I get the opportunity to interview and meet celebrities, attend red carpet events and live TV broadcasts, get to go behind the scenes on productions and see the newest movies first.”

Find out everything you need to know about becoming a Journalist

Leandra’s job has also given her the opportunity to travel locally and internationally. “Last year I attended a press junket in the London where I met Chris Hemsworth and the cast of In The Heart of The Sea, which is definitely one of my career highs so far. Earlier this year I went to Nigeria to attend the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.”

Leandra advises others who would like to pursue a career in online journalism to get formal training from a tertiary institution. However, she also says that besides the theory, it is also important to receive practical training. “Get involved in a community newspaper and community TV or radio, intern and job shadow to get into the field.” It’s also essential to develop news skills and to stay up to date with industry developments, whether it’s through a photography, video, presenting or social media course.

Lastly, Leandra says it’s important to be active on social networking sites. “Companies look at your social media accounts so be careful what you post! Build a portfolio online or have hard copy on file where you keep copies of your work.”

If you’d like to be featured in this Instagram series, send a mail to editor@careers24.com, telling us why you’re proud of your career, and we’ll be in touch!