In the hot seat: Scarlett Russell, Entertainment Editor at The Sunday Times Style
A week for Scarlett:
- Her main job is to book the cover stars.
- Interests and focus include entertainment, film, music, TV and celebrities.
- Best day to meet or for screenings is Monday — quiet day in the office. Can’t get to Soho. At London Bridge or The Ned.
- Email is best for initial contact. Once working together, then phone conversations are better.
- Does regular slots on Radio Five Live, and appears frequently on other stations. Hosts The Side Hustle podcast, and will be doing more podcasting in the future.
Brush up on your PR knowledge
Browse through our PR tips blog posts and read through some of the very best advice and exclusive insight and PR tips from professionals and from the journalists you try to speak to every day.
The Sunday Times & Style
- Weekly team meeting is on a Monday.
- Newspaper conference is held on a Tuesday.
- Scarlett’s weekly meeting with Style Editor Lorraine Candy is on a Thursday.
- They go to print on Thursday for the following Sunday.
- Scarlett works about six months in advance.
- Demographic: 38/40-65 female.
- Readers love anything about marriage, divorce, dating, career stories.
- 92% of readers only consume information about fashion and beauty products from Style.
- The team use google analytics and SEO trends to tailor content to what their readers are searching for.
- The special issues run in March and September.
- Themes are trends, accessories, fashion and men.
- Summer issues focus on music and festivals.
- Everything in print is repurposed online.
- Want to be doing more stand-alone online features.
- Competitors = Vogue, Grazia, Elle, Stella, ES Magazine, Stylist.
Top tips
- Having a strong fashion link helps. They want to be diverse and inclusive of everyone – champion a variety of people, but they must have a connection to the fashion world.
- If you need an answer fast, let Scarlett know upfront so she can reply promptly.
- When pitching, mention where in Style you envisage coverage featuring and what other press you have lined up.
- Only pitch to one person in the team – they all talk!
- Funny male writers do very well.
