Melanie de Klerk
Burnaby,Canada
Summary
Compelling Storyteller. Global Reporter. Documentary Producer. Seasoned journalist with almost two decades of experience in conceptualizing, developing and producing engaging and informative pieces for television and digital channels. Offers a keen sense of compelling storytelling, skillfully weaving content with visually engaging components to draw in national audiences. Highly accomplished and recognized in the field of journalism, with numerous awards, fellowships, and grants. A strong leader, experienced in coaching, mentoring, inspiring and driving junior journalists to challenge themselves. Fluent in English and Dutch, with basic working knowledge of French and German.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
President
Get Lost Productions
05.2015 - Current
- Partnered with two colleagues from Global News to launch Get Lost Productions with the goal of producing quality, journalism-based travel programming, focused on covering countries recovering from war, natural disaster or dictatorship
- Produced Get Lost: Myanmar and Colombia, the first installments in a series that has won more than forty awards to date, including a Prestigious Humanitarian Award from the Accolade Film Competition and an Accolade Award of Excellence as well as an Indiefest Award of excellence for concept
- Can be seen on Amazon in the US and Germany
- Currently in planning stages for additional pieces
Assignment Editor
Global National News
01.2014 - 08.2024
- As Assignment Editor set the editorial focus for the daily newscast, managed a team of reporters. Also responsible for vetting and assigning stories, and working with national and foreign correspondents
- Managed long-term projects and series, including the Everyday Hero segment, dedicated to honouring those making an impact within the community
- Served as a key liaison for other affiliate stations in the network and other shows such as Political show The West Block and investigative program 16x9 and The New Reality.
- Set up the Global National internship program, building the case for a paid internship and establishing two scholarships for students enrolled in UBC's Master of Journalism program
- Worked closely with interns, providing them with guidance on pitching and developing stories as well as mentoring them throughout their internship
Field Producer/Producer/Online Contributor/Reporter
Global National News
01.2005 - 08.2024
- Wrote for Globalnews.ca as well as reported for Global Television. Topics covered varied from local BC news and features to globally significant news. Reported from five different countries including, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Germany both on television and web.
- In 2019 was selected as one of only a handful of Global News Television journalists to do longer form Youtube and digital explainer videos on topics such as Crispr technology and the rise of lyme disease.
- Drew on exceptional time management and interpersonal strengths to field produce long term projects and live events; among these, the 2012 US presidential election, the end of the Canadian combat mission in Afghanistan, the 2011 Royal Wedding, the Federal Election, and Federal Budget specials in both Canada and the US
- Balanced daily news responsibilities with long term projects in Canada, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States
- Played an integral role as a member of the first Canadian news team to win the RTDNA Edward R Murrow award for Overall Excellence in 2013
Arthur F. Burns Journalism Fellow
Deutsche Welle Television
01.2016 - 03.2016
- Selected as one of two Journalism Fellows and completed a three month exchange in Berlin with Deutsche Welle Television
- During this time, seized the opportunity to report, write, edit and voice several stories for an international newscast, as well as to hone technical skills in various software
- Additionally, branched out to partner with the network's social media team in Bonn to develop and edit social media content and contributed articles for online publication
- Spearheaded an effort to overall the Deutsche Welle Politics department's social media presence by optimizing the use of key platforms such as Twitter
Senior Vice President
Rampart Films
01.2008 - 01.2017
- Complemented my work at Global News as the Senior Vice President of a family-run production company, producing numerous films with worldwide distribution
- Played a key leadership role in producing CBGB, Beijing New York and Repeaters, and securing various placements including at The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and the Moscow International Film Festival, among others
- Also helped secure funding and distribution deals for these films.
National Research Director
Global National News
01.2008 - 01.2014
- As National Research Director took the helm for scheduling national and foreign correspondents, as well as managing all long term projects and series such as Global's coverage of the War in Afghanistan
Weekend Assignment Editor
Global National News
01.2007 - 01.2008
National Research Coordinator
Global National News
01.2005 - 01.2008
- As National Research Coordinator gained valuable experience in generating story ideas and seeing them through to production, as well as field and chase producing
Researcher/Intern
Global National News
01.2004 - 12.2004
Education
Master of Business Administration - with Merit
Warwick University
United Kingdom01.2015
Master of Journalism -
University of British Columbia
01.2005
Master of Arts - European Studies
University of British Columbia
01.2002
Bachelor of Arts - History & International Relations
University of British Columbia
01.2001
Skills
- Story Development
- Story Telling
- Reporting
- Project Management
- Team Leadership
- Daily News
- Digital News
- Current Events
- Documentary Production
- Research
- Field Producing
- Grass Valley
- Open media
- Basic WordPress
- Basic Camera Operation
Accomplishments
2017- Impact Doc Award of Excellence women Filmmakers for Get Lost in Colombia.
2016- Arthur F. Burns Journalism Fellow.
2016-Humanitarian Accolade Award of Excellent for Get Lost in Myanmar.
2016- Indiefest Award of Excellence for Concept, Get Lost In Myanmar.
2015- Asia Pacific Foundation Reporting Fellowship.
2015 Finalist for the Canadian Harvard Nieman Journalism Fellowship.
2015- Howard G. Buffet International Women's Media Foundation grant winner.
2013- Part of the news team that won the RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence.
2010- Canadian Women in Communications Career Accelerator fellowship award in digital media.
2008-Jack Webster Foundation Broadcast Journalism Fellowship.
Certification
- HEFAT (hostile environment) Certificate, 05/16, Centurion Risk Assessment Services
- Doing Business in China Certificate, 05/14, Peking University
- Digital Media Technology Certificate, 05/10, Ryerson University
- Complete TV Producer Certificate, 05/08, Poynter Institute
Awards
- 2017, Impact Docs Award of Excellence Women Filmmakers
- 2016, Arthur F. Burns Journalism Fellow
- 2016, Humanitarian Accolade Award of Excellence for Get Lost: Myanmar
- 2016, Indiefest award of Excellence for Concept, Get Lost: Myanmar
- 2015, Asia Pacific Foundation Reporting Fellowship
- 2015, Finalist for the Canadian Harvard Nieman Fellowship
- 2015, Howard G. Buffet International Women's Media Foundation Grant
- 2010, Canadian Women in Communications Career Conference in Digital Media Technology Fellowship
- 2008, Jack Webster Broadcast Journalism Fellowship
Hobbies and Interests
- Social Justice
- Travel Journalism
- Business of Journalism
- Human Rights
- Healthcare
- Politics
Professional Highlights
- Assignment Editor, 01/14-12/24, Global National News - Vancouver, BC
- Field Producer/Producer/Online Contributor/Reporter, 01/05-12/14, Global National News - Vancouver, BC
- National Research Director, 01/08-12/14, Global National News - Vancouver, BC
- Weekend Assignment Editor, 01/07-12/08, Global National News - Vancouver, BC
- National Research Coordinator, 01/05-12/08, Global National News - Vancouver, BC
- Researcher/Intern, 01/04-12/04, Global National News - Vancouver, BC
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Dutch
Limited Working
German
Limited Working
French
Elementary
Hindi
Elementary
Timeline
Arthur F. Burns Journalism Fellow
Deutsche Welle Television
01.2016 - 03.2016
President
Get Lost Productions
05.2015 - Current
Assignment Editor
Global National News
01.2014 - 08.2024
Senior Vice President
Rampart Films
01.2008 - 01.2017
National Research Director
Global National News
01.2008 - 01.2014
Weekend Assignment Editor
Global National News
01.2007 - 01.2008
Field Producer/Producer/Online Contributor/Reporter
Global National News
01.2005 - 08.2024
National Research Coordinator
Global National News
01.2005 - 01.2008
Researcher/Intern
Global National News
01.2004 - 12.2004
Master of Journalism -
University of British Columbia
Master of Arts - European Studies
University of British Columbia
Bachelor of Arts - History & International Relations
University of British Columbia
Master of Business Administration - with Merit
Warwick University
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