An Ode to the Written Word and My Love Affair with Media Relations

At the time of writing, it’s mid-July. The garden is in full bloom, Wimbledon has just finished and the summer holidays are about to begin. For many, this is the season of beach reads and holiday paperbacks. To me, it’s a reminder of something I’ve loved for as long as I can remember: the written word.

Long before social media, podcasts and newsletters found their way into our pockets, I was head over heels for magazines. As a teenager, Kerrang!, RAW and Metal Hammer were my bible. While many of my classmates spent their work experience in family businesses, 16-year-old me was writing hopeful letters to magazine editors, record companies and media organisations, searching for any route into an industry I was desperate to join. Most never replied, but enough did. Those letters led to work experience, my first glimpse behind the curtain of publishing and, ultimately, a career in journalism, PR and communications. They also sparked a lifelong passion for media relations.

Decades later, that love affair with media relations is as strong as ever.

British Magazines

There is something magical about opening a magazine. Horse & Hound has been a constant companion for as long as I can remember. Like many equestrians, I spent years poring over every page and dreaming of one day seeing my own horse featured. When Delta graced the coveted “Hunter of a Lifetime” pages, I genuinely felt like I’d made it – a ridiculous claim perhaps, but one that horse people will completely understand.

Red remains one of the smartest, warmest magazines on the shelves. I’ve loved following its evolution over the years, particularly through the pages of Mary Norden, whose writing and styled shoots I devoured long before the baton passed to Sarah Keady, James Cunningham and now Bella Evenett-Watts. Great magazines are built on great voices, and Red has always understood that.

And when it comes to interiors, few pleasures rival settling down with a stack of favourites. My own dream team includes House & Garden, The World of Interiors, Homes & Gardens, Elle Decoration and Livingetc.

And of course, Country Life, which deserves a category of its own! Part rural institution, part property fantasy, it’s my ultimate house-porn magazine, fuelling endless imaginary moves, renovation plans and lottery-win dreams. Every issue offers a different vision of how we might live, decorate and dream.

What these titles share is an intimate understanding of their readers. They know exactly who they’re writing for and never underestimate their audience’s intelligence. The best magazines don’t chase clicks or trends; they create worlds you want to disappear into.

The British Newspapers

Then there are newspapers. I’ve loved the Sunday papers for as long as I can remember, ever since I was a child raiding my dad’s copies. I can still picture myself sprawled across the living room floor, surrounded by towering stacks of newspapers, making my way through them section by section.

As I got older, I discovered the incomparable A.A. Gill, whose writing I devoured and whose columns remain some of the finest examples of journalism I’ve ever read. Sharp, funny, acerbic and impossibly clever, he remains, in my view, the greatest journalist of all time.

These days, it’s FT Weekend I covet most. Every Saturday begins with a brief hunt around the house to discover where my husband has disappeared with it before I can settle down and savour its brilliant blend of news, culture, property, food and life.

Newspaper journalists are also some of the most interesting people to meet: some committed to a beat and topic with ardent passion and others who are newsroom stalwarts with the best stories. Media relations with the British press is never a dull moment!

But my love of words isn’t confined to the printed page.

 Substack

In recent years, Substack has become one of the most exciting homes for writers. It captures something of magazine journalism’s golden age: distinctive voices, loyal audiences and the freedom to explore ideas in depth.

Few people do this better than Kate Watson-Smyth, whose writing remains as thoughtful, knowledgeable and entertaining as ever. Her ability to blend interiors, lifestyle and practical advice is a masterclass in understanding an audience.

Then there is Patti Smith’s Substack, which feels less like a newsletter and more like an ongoing conversation with one of the world’s great storytellers. Every post carries the same sense of curiosity and humanity that has defined her work for decades.

Podcasts

And while podcasts may not be written in the traditional sense, they are often powered by  the same ingredients: great storytelling, strong editorial judgement and authentic voices. The format may be different, but the appeal is the same. It’s about people sharing ideas, passions and experiences in a way that feels personal and genuine. One of my favourites is Uncanny on BBC Sounds. Equal parts fascinating, spooky and unsettling, it brings first-person stories to life in a way that keeps me hooked. Whether you’re a believer or a sceptic, the magic lies in the storytelling itself – proof that a compelling narrative can captivate an audience, whatever the medium.

Reading for Pleasure

Technology changes. Platforms evolve. Formats come and go. But the things that matter most remain remarkably constant.

We’re drawn to expertise. To personality. To writers and creators who challenge our thinking. To people with something worth saying, and the skill to say it well.

Whether those words appear in a glossy magazine, a Substack newsletter, the pages of Horse & Hound, an FT Weekendsupplement or a podcast on a long walk, the principle is the same: great content starts with great voices.

As summer approaches, I’ll be doing what I’ve always done: adding magazines to the pile beside my bed, saving newsletters to enjoy over a morning coffee and building a podcast queue for train journeys and dog walks.

Above all, I’ll be celebrating the written word – and the journalists who bring it to life. A lifelong love affair with media relations  that shows no signs of fading.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a fresh magazine waiting to be read.