Tell us a bit about yourself and what you've been doing since you graduated?

I studied English and Creative Writing at Leeds Beckett between 2016 and 2019 (via New York with Leeds Beckett’s study abroad programme) before an MA in International Journalism elsewhere. 

After graduating with my MA in 2020, I secured a job as a News Explainer at The Telegraph before joining Future Plc, the publishing house where I currently work in London. I started as an interior design News Writer across some of their lifestyle titles, including Livingetc and Homes & Gardens, before moving exclusively to Homes & Gardens as their News Editor. In December 2023, I became the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens  – a role that still involves writing but also managing a team of writers and editing all articles that fall under that category.

What have been the highlights of your career so far?

Of all the questions, choosing a career highlight is the one that I have struggled to answer the most. Interviewing celebrities, including Drew Barrymore, Kristin Cavallari and Joanna Gaines, and sharing our conversations with the world will always feel surreal. I’ve also visited some buildings I never expected I would have the opportunity to experience, such as various embassies (to celebrate global design festivals and companies). Another stand-out was a press trip to Älmhult (Sweden) and Copenhagen with IKEA. As someone who can’t say no to a wander around IKEA, staying in a themed hotel in the brand’s birthplace is something I’ll unashamedly never stop talking about.

Tell us about your job, what does this entail and did studying at Leeds Beckett help you get there?

As the Head of Celebrity Style News, I split my time between writing design-focused celebrity news stories and managing my team of writers. This involves planning stories (or, at least, the best way we can for news, which can be tricky because we need to be so reactive/ plan for the unexpected), organising and conducting interviews, editing and publishing my team’s pieces, and attending PR events. I am so fortunate to work in a team that is driven by their love for digital success and, of course, their simultaneous love for both writing and interior design. I tell everyone that the best part of my job is the people – and it’s consistently true. H&G and Future’s lifestyle vertical, as a whole, has introduced me to some of the most talented and inspiring people in the industry. 

On the surface, the similarities between a job that involves writing and a degree in creative writing may seem rather obvious. However, there’s so much more to both the job and degree than it may initially seem. The creative writing degree wasn’t only about refining our writing skills but also learning to critique literature and understanding the cultural importance of context. Knowing how and why a text came to be, alongside how it is written, changes its meaning entirely, and this is just as important in journalism. When writing (or editing), it’s important to know there’s so much more to an article than how it sounds (though that is, of course, important, too), and this was something that became increasingly clear to me during my BA. 

How has your experience studying at Leeds Beckett influenced you and your career?

During my time at Leeds Beckett, my interest in journalism and the fact I wanted to pursue it for my career, became increasingly clear to me – so I balanced my studies with opportunities that offered experience in the industry. This included freelance writing and working for a Parisian travel company (which I shared in a blog at the time) and editing student news sites to try and try to break into the industry.

I tell everyone I know that Leeds is one of the best cities for aspiring journalists because of the volume of opportunities available. I can’t encourage people enough to sign up to write for student news sites and papers or find a local blog that you can contribute to whenever you can. In my case, I often wrote about the fashion shows and events around the city (something that Leeds is great for), and I got involved in planning local fashion shows to try and build press connections that could teach me more about lifestyle journalism.

Studying abroad in New York via Leeds Beckett’s exchange programme also gave me the opportunity to write for US-based sites and refine my American English writing skills (something that I now use every single day, as H&G is a US-facing site). 

What attracted you to study your course at Leeds Beckett University?

I grew up nearby in Bradford, so I spent much of my teenage years in Leeds. By the time I was looking at universities, I knew it was one of the best cities in the country (though I may be biased), so the choice was not too difficult. As someone who always wanted to move to New York, I was also sold by the study-abroad option, as it was my plan as soon as I joined the university to apply for the exchange in my second year. 

What did you enjoy about your course, and what advice would you give someone thinking about studying this course?

When applying to university, I didn't know I wanted to be a journalist (this became clear to me at the start of my second year), but I knew I loved writing, and so, a course that encouraged me to be creative, while also offering the opportunity to study iconic literature (such as Shakespeare) felt like the perfect medium. If you don’t know what you want to pursue as a career but know you enjoy English Literature and take pleasure in writing, the course equips you with academic skills but also the freedom to experiment with different writing forms and find the one you excel in the most. All these skills will assist you in your career, whether it’s journalism or not. 

What's next for you?

I’ve been in this specific role for nearly six months, so my plan is to continue settling into this more managerial position, working with my team and enjoying every opportunity that comes with the job. I love London (just like I love Leeds), and it’s a fun place to be a graduate (if I can still call myself a graduate, I am trying to cling to my youth). With my family (and beloved cat) still in Yorkshire, I’ll also no doubt be back for a few slices of pizza at Belgrave and margaritas in Below Stairs along the way…