We’re fortunate to have developed many incredibly strong relationships with key journalists across all sectors over the years; a testament to our personal approach, we invest heavily – both time and financially – in establishing meaningful relationships with journalists. Case in point: the subject of today’s Meet the Journalist interview, Rik Henderson – currently news editor at T3.com, who sat down to chat through his career trajectory, the do’s and don’t’s for a reputable PR agency and some genuinely helpful advice for those considering a career in journalism.
How did you get started in journalism and what titles have you written for over the years?
I started way back in the late 80s on a video games weekly called Computer Games Week. It was a real baptism of fire as there were only four permanent members of staff producing around 48 pages of editorial per week. They were different times, for sure, although it stood me in good stead as online journalism is similar, considering how much needs to be written and posted each day.
By the start of the 90s I was the editor of Your Commodore (which became YC after a while) and then flitted around the games magazine scene before ending up joining TV production company Hewland International to primarily work on Sky One’s Games World, first as a researcher and eventually as series producer. Around that time I was also seconded to GamesMaster as one of the co-commentators/presenters.
Apart from those, I’ve worked on or written for a vast number of different newspapers, magazines, websites, TV shows and outlets. That includes NME, Empire, Bella, Metro, The Sun, Daily Telegraph, Camden New Journal, and Sky News. I’ve even been on The Apprentice (as a judge rather than contestant) and stood in for Alan Dedicoat as the “Voice of the Balls” on the National Lottery show.
Now I’m news editor of T3.com (having done a similar role on Pocket-lint for more than a decade) and loving every bit of it.
Why did you become a journalist?
As I was around the right age in the 80s, my friends and I were big fans of Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop role-playing games. This turned into a hobby whereby we edited RPG fanzines and hawked them around conventions and fares.
I actually wanted to be an actor (having attended Anna Scher’s Children’s Theatre school) and/or footballer at the time, but when they fell by the wayside, journalism kind-of found me. It was more about what you knew in those days, rather than the trade – so gaming got me in, then I had to learn the rest.
It was essentially the same story with TV. I was hired as a researcher because of my games industry knowledge and I learned the ropes of production along the way. Eventually, I was taking up roles behind and in-front of the camera, and the reason I was comfortable with it is I had the important part sussed – I knew the subject matter inside out.
What career highlight stands out to date? It could be someone you’ve met, a trip you’ve got to go on or a piece you’ve filed you’re particularly proud of!
I have been very fortunate to have done many things in my life thanks to my career path. I’ve stayed in 6-star hotels, interviewed genuine heroes such as David Bowie and Ian Rush, and flown around the world to essentially just write about something I’m already passionate about.
However, the ultimate highlight would be seeing my name in print for the first time – in a magazine available on shop shelves. I may have changed my name a tad since (there were too many Richards and only first-name bylines) but even seeing that same issue today raises the hairs on my arms – even though the quality of the writing was woeful.
Oh, and I’d better also mention meeting my (then future) wife at a Samsung event I attended as a guest. She was the PR person I met at the door and the rest, as they say, is history.
What advice or tips would you give someone wanting to start out in the industry?
It’s very different today than it was when I started. I barely had any qualifications as I left school soon after my O Levels/GCSEs, and it was more about what you know than academic teachings. But I wouldn’t advise that approach now.
That being said, as well as ensuring you consider taking media and English-based courses, decide early what type of journalist you want to be – whether it be crime, investigative, sports, travel, tech or even video games as I started out. And then make sure you are passionate about that subject. You can use a spell and grammar checker for the words, but enthusiasm cannot be faked.
I would also suggest that if you plan to be a professional writer or broadcaster in the future, consider carefully what you post on social media. That stuff can lurk around for years and could shape how you are respected or treated when you finally get a wider voice.
What is a typical day for you as a journalist?
I am not that typical as a journalist as I have been fortunate enough to work on contract for some top outlets yet also from my own home office – from long before the pandemic.
However, I still get up, get ready and head to work as if it is in a larger office, then I scout for news suitable for T3.com, assign stories to writers, and ensure the site looks fresh and up to date. I also still revel in writing articles myself, so tackle a few of those in a day – sometimes a review, sometimes a feature, but mainly news reports.
As one of the team members who lives closest to London (just on the outskirts) I also like to travel in for events when possible, and cover them live when needed.
How do you think journalism has changed over the years?
Perhaps the biggest change in how I operate is that information is so much easier to access. When I started, research could take days of hunting down the right books and speaking (by phone) to the correct people. Now you just need to scan the internet and/or send an email or direct message.
AI is also rapidly changing the way I work – not my written words (as I can spot an AI-written piece a mile off) but through handy tools such as automated transcription.
My least favourite part of journalism for many years has always been having to transcribe interviews. I used to use a small tape recorder and sit for hours typing out quotes I could barely hear. Now I use online AI tools to do the job and tidy the transcription afterwards. It saves hours of work – allowing me to do more and be more creative with the copy itself.
What do you expect for the future of print and journalism?
Print is in sad decline, as many know, but I do see a future for it still. We all love something tangible to hold and covet – which is why vinyl records are in resurgence. We just have to ensure that a magazine or newspaper offers something different to a website – big glossy pictures, in-depth analysis, long-form features and interviews. They often don’t, which is why many struggle, I feel.
But while the printed form may be diminishing, online activities are thriving. Admittedly, there is consolidation there too, with plenty of big name websites failing in recent times, but there will always be new ones that pop up along the way.
It’s also worth tipping a hat to influencers. Many journalists (especially those around my age) are sceptical about influencers, but they have a vital part to play in the wider industry and generally tick the boxes I’ve mentioned above – namely, they are very passionate about the subjects they post about.
Being an influencer isn’t easy, especially today, and it’s a lot more work than many realise, but it’s actually closer to how I got into journalism than the traditional academic route.
What do you think makes a good story?
There’s a big difference in what makes a good story for a print magazine or newspaper, and what makes one for online. The latter isn’t just determined by the subject, it’s ruled by SEO. So, when choosing a news story that will work online, I have to consider whether it will be picked up either by Google (and, namely, Google Discover) and/or social platforms.
That being said, it’s slightly different at T3 than on Pocket-lint, say. T3 has a defined target readership, so it makes it easier to decide what products will work and what won’t.
As a tech lifestyle site, we aim for more premium devices and subjects. They have to be products that someone doesn’t just own, but covets – whether it costs £20,000 or £20.
Knowing who you are targeting is a very important aspect of editing in any medium, and it’s not always the case.
What do you think makes a great PR agency?
A great PR agency is one that is easy to keep in contact with, rapid in response to queries, and takes the time to know the journalists it works with.
We are all colleagues ultimately, working towards the same goal – supplying information to an enthusiastic audience – so understanding that it is a collaborative effort goes a long way to getting products and details from a client’s brain to a page, be that on the newsstand or online.
What are your dos and don’ts for PRs?
Do answer queries quickly or at least give updates when there is a chain of enquiry.
Do keep in touch, even when you might not have a product or press release you need to place.
Do know your audience – there is absolutely no reason to send a tech journalist a press release about the betting odds on the next England manager, for example.
Do consider than the average inbox of a journalist receives 100s of emails a day, so a punchy subject header helps for your mail to stand out.
And don’t be disheartened when your story doesn’t appear on a site or in print. We don’t always get it right, but journalists and especially editors have to make fairly quick judgements on what’s suitable for our readers.
What has been your favourite press trip/press event?
Just about every trip I have ever been on has been amazing, for all manner of different reasons (some I have made lifelong friends on, for example), and there are the numerous CES and E3 trips I remember fondly, but one really does stand out more than the rest.
When I was on Home Cinema Choice during my first stint at Future PLC, myself and several other tech journalists were taken to South Korea by LG for almost an entire week. We travelled the country visiting R&D labs, production lines, and met several high-level executives, as the company was switching strategy from a cheap AV brand (in the UK) to the higher-end display manufacturer it is today.
The thing that stands out most about that trip is that every second day was a day off experiencing Korean culture, sight-seeing, and even being taught karate by Buddhist monks in a mountain-top monastery. The fact that it still sticks in my memory so firmly is testament to the organisation of the trip, and that for all the hard work, it was appreciated that we should have time to enjoy the surroundings too.
What makes a tech brand/product stand out for you?
There are so many tech brands that innovation always helps elevate a product above others – something, even tiny, that makes it different to rivals. If there is, accentuate it – really push that minor (or major) difference.
I’ve also personally favoured companies and brands that are approachable. When there is so much regurgitation of stories online, original content can be hard to come by. But one way of ensuring a decent, original piece is to have a rapport with a brand and its employees that are willing to talk passionately about a product.
If you weren’t a journalist what alternative career would you have chosen?
I may have stuck with acting had I not entered the world of journalism, but then I did end up on TV anyway, so life has a funny way of coming full circle sometimes.
I was also a PR person myself originally, as my first job after school was as a PR assistant at a small (what would now be called “boutique”) agency in Camden. We handled Haven holidays, the Battersea Dogs’ Home and the Austrian National Tourist Office. My first day was cutting out news clippings of giant tics landing on people’s heads in the Black Forest, and an accident in the Austrian Alps. It was quite an eye-opener.
I also spoke to Bob Monkhouse about the Dogs’ Home in my first week, and then many years later co-wrote his script for the Golden Joystick Awards. Again, full circle.
Is there a big story you wish you could have written/broken?
There’s not a story I wish I’d broken per se, but there are a fair few people I wish I’d interviewed over the years. Steve Jobs is one, Prince another, but then I have to pinch myself sometimes over the incredible opportunities I’ve had (and continue to have), so there are very few regrets… especially considering that there are so many future opportunities to come.
