Jennifer Sprinks has been in the journalistic trade for eight years and has vast experience in writing about public sector issues and politics, particularly local government. Her specialist subject areas are health, environment and regeneration. She has also written about race relations, economic development and architecture. Prior to going freelance, she worked for a range of newspapers and magazines, including The Local Government Chronicle, The Southern Daily Echo and The Independent. She regularly writes for Nursing Standard, Primary Healthcare, Third Sector and Planning. 

As well as being a journalist, Jennifer also provides communications and PR expertise to a number of organisations and consultancies. Between 2007 and 2009, she worked as a media manager at the The Local Government Information Unit, which is a think tank aimed at promoting and strengthening local democracy. She helped to substantially raise the profile of the LGiU and was responsible for the unit's success in winning the Public Affairs Think Tank of the Year Award in 2008.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS 

She has an MSc in Development Studies from London Southbank University and a BSc in European Union Studies from Cardiff University. After graduating from Cardiff University in 2002, she worked for a volunteering organisation, which gave her the opportunity to do teaching and conservation work in Ecuador and Mexico. She then worked as a communications assistant for B&Q and Transport for London before signing onto a course in Periodical Journalism at the London College of Communication. She has an NCTJ qualification in Teeline shorthand (90wpm) and an RSA qualification in touch typing (65 wpm). She is highly proficient in using Microsoft Excel, Word and Powerpoint. Lastly, she speaks Japanese, Spanish and French and is currently learning German.