Your name: Giulia Penta
Preferred name (calling name): Julia
Age: 29
Preferred gender pronoun: She/her
Origin country/town: Riccione (Italy)
Other places where you have lived: Lewisham and Brighton (UK), Bologna (Italy), Montpellier (France), Brussels (Belgium), Waterville (Maine, USA)
Where are you living at the moment? Gothenburg
Languages: Italian, English and French
Academic background: Bachelors degree in Modern and Contemporary Literature + Masters degree in Italian Studies, European Literary Cultures, Linguistics. Elective courses: Digital Media Theories and
Techniques; Analysis of Political and Media Discourses (ERASMUS); Visual and Performing Arts Criticism (ERASMUS)
Work background: Translator, Interpreter and member of DIG Documentari Inchieste Giornalismi – ETS a non-profit organization that supports the pivotal role of journalism in preserving democracy and equality;
Performing Arts Critic and podcaster for Altre Velocità;
Copywriter and PR for Emilia Romagna Teatro ERT / TEATRO NAZIONALE;
Teaching Assistant at Colby College, Maine, USA;
Assistant art director @ Riccione TTV Festival
Journalistic experience: I conducted a public interview with Ilaria Cucchi – an Italian activist involved in civil rights advocacy since the tragic death of her brother, Stefano Cucchi, in 2009. This incident sparked her campaign for justice as he died while in police custody under suspicious circumstances;
used to chair Q&A sessions with various international investigative journalists @ DIG Festival;
4 yrs in Altre Velocità newsroom as art critic;
few months as freelance arts journalist for Artribune mag;
wrote a feature article for “Il Mulino” an Italian magazine that focuses on current affairs, politics, society and economics and got published in the column Vacanze italiane. How tourism and tourists have changed and how much does Italy depend on their economic contribution;
for Gli Asini Editions I co-written a critical article about Jovanotti’s summer tour which aimed to promote environmental awareness through music. However, it has drawn criticism for allegedly harming fragile coastal ecosystems;
for multimedia Italian magazine “Lucy. Sulla cultura” I wrote a long reportage that discusses the evolving landscape of Rimini tourism model;
Writing skills (English): taken an advanced course in Creative Nonfiction Writing in the US. Had to focus on memoir, personal, reflective, or juxtaposition essays; literary journalism. Advanced in academic essays.
I have used Excel (spreadsheets): YES
I have worked with Python: NO
I use other programming languages: NO
I have used WordPress: YES
Digital publishing/social media? YES I managed Riccione Teatro Facebook page + the Italian Department instagram account @ Colby College, USA
Audio/radio/pod? Curating and producing podcast series “Corpo alle ombre” – dedicated to musicians who compose for the theatre and the performing arts.
Photography? YES. Used to shoot with Nikon D3500. Would love to specialise in areas such documentary photography and post-production to combine it with journalism. Photographer Chris Killip (Isle of Man 1946 – USA 2020) is a role model, especially his work “In Flagrante“.
Video/tv/filming? NO
Other editing or publishing skills? Basics in InDesign, Ableton Live and Digital Performer
Special interests/knowledge relevant to research/investigative journalism: Environmental issues on coastline ecosystems due to overfishing and climate change / job market disruption linked to overtourism / immediate and long-term ecological impacts of warfare on landscapes / how war-induced changes affect land use patterns / human rights / how young people navigate crises in their countries / legal threats and censorship for investigative journalists
Other skills/hobbies: non-fiction writing, have a thing for headlines (McSweeney‘s and Il Manifesto‘s are my favs), cinema addict (mourning the lost art of the DVD Extra), into techno music festivals, snowboarding/skiing, hiking and trekking, 9 yrs of figure skating, horse riding, adventuring with my beloved dog Kilian
I think I will be able to support my fellow students with: teamwork, persistency, accuracy, research skills, translation
Is there something you want to add? Did some ghostwriting for Audi Magazine based on articles written in English (mainly from Business Insider) – had to rewrite the content in Italian making it appealing for Italian readers.
If you want to share a website or other personal links (LinkedIn for example), please write the url:s here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giulia-penta/
Contact details (preferred): +39 3339775596; pentagiulia@gmail.com