5 minutes with...

Please provide a brief introduction to yourself & the titles you work across?

I'm a freelance journalist and I specialise in lifestyle, health and fitness as well as commercial copywriting. I work for so many different publications including the Daily Express, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, the online Telegraph as well as many magazines including Woman's Own, Woman, Good Housekeeping.

I've written several (six to be precise) lifestyle gift books and I used to edit a triathlon magazine and the membership magazine for Diabetes UK. In short, there's nothing I can't write about.

Give us the inside scoop, what is your favourite part about working as a Freelancer?

I love meeting new people and am always privileged when individuals share their stories with me. I view my role as one that gives people a voice who wouldn't otherwise have one.

What is it you look for from brands you're looking to feature?

It really depends what I'm working on - if it's a gift guide I'm looking at relevance or price point. But if it's for a larger feature I'm usually looking at the story behind the brand - the more personal and emotional the better!

What’s the most memorable approach you’ve had from a PR (good or bad)!

Often it's something thoughtful or personal like adding a handful of sweets or a treat to a product drop. This went down really well in lockdown with my kids when they got lots of things like colouring pencils. It creates a real connection, to the point one PR was giving me tips for days out near where she lived! The worst was when I got a personalised Christmas bauble with the wrong name on! Sorry Danielle but you never got your tree decoration!

What types of products and price points are you personally looking to feature?

It really depends on which publication I'm working on - but rarely do I feature things for thousands of pounds.

If you could give a PR advice on what to do to get your attention and secure coverage with you - what would it be?

It's always a long game. I know PRs have clients to answer to, but rarely do you get immediate coverage, however because I move around so much, it's good for me to have product information at my fingertips so when I do need that information, I can fire off an email to the right person and get what I need, without having to do a generic call out.

Did you always know you wanted to get into journalism? How did you get into it?

I've wanted to be a journalist since I was 13 and did work experience on my local newspaper - the Watford Observer. I covered a fashion show at the Harlequin Centre (the local shopping centre). I went on to do a postgraduate diploma at City University and then trained on the Daily Express. I've been so lucky to work with amazing editors and teams across so many different publications over the last 20 years. I wouldn't change anything for the world.

Tell us something fun that people don't know about you?

I lived in Ghana for six months, which is where I met my husband!

What are you most looking forward to this year as things open up?

Long lunches with friends.