Gillian Jones

Lecturer, Financial Journalism

Gillian Jones has spent over 20 years in building a depth of experience in the communications field, in particular in financial services communication. Of this, 15 years were spent as a journalist, covering mainly business, economics and financial services. Gillian was financial services editor for Business Day, Financial Mail and BDLive, an online platform before leaving media to gain experience in the corporate world.

Gillian spent four years as head of communications for one of South Africa’s largest asset managers before opening her own communications agency, Story Studio Communications, which develops communication strategies, corporate narratives and key messages for a number of blue-chip financial services companies.

Gillian was previously Financial Services Editor for all of BDFM’s platforms – Business Day, Financial Mail, BDlive and Business Day TV. She reported on and edited stories about the financial services sector – mainly banking, insurance and asset management.

She has also held the roles of Business Editor at the South African Press Association (Sapa), a news agency, and Editorial Director of Wag the Dog Publishers (Wag), responsible for The Media magazine, themediaonline.co.za, Strategic Marketing magazine, and Marketingweb.co.za, a joint venture with Moneyweb Holdings.

Education

Masters in Journalism (cum laude): University of Witwatersrand (2016-2019) – Thesis topic: How the media reports on the Asset Management industry

Post Graduate Diploma in Management: Henley Business School (Completed November 2019)

Financial Markets and Instruments NQF 6: Novia One (Completed September 2018)

Management Advancement Programme: Wits Business School (Completed May 2008)

Diploma in Marketing Management: Rand Afrikaans University (now University of Johannesburg) (2001- 2002)

Honours in Journalism and Media Studies (cum laude): University of Port Elizabeth (1999)

Bachelor of Arts: University of Witwatersrand (1990 to 1992)