Esme Clemo is the home and craft editor across a plethora of women’s magazines including Woman, Woman's Own, Woman's Weekly and Chat. Esme covers crafts, home and hobbies, as well as features and news stories.
Esme took some time out of her busy crafting schedule this month to take on the SBPR Journo of the month questions…
What are the 5 words that best describe you?
Creative, caring, wild, contrary, happy
What magazine do you love reading and why?
Country Homes & Interiors, despite being a city dweller and having just bought our first place in Lewisham, I’ve still got a hankering to up sticks and move to the countryside. A cottage in the Cotswolds with a white picket fence would suit me perfectly.
What is your favourite book?
I’ve just jumped on the Sally Rooney bandwagon and devoured Normal People, which I would recommend to anybody. But my ultimate fave has to be Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman.
Which song makes you dance?
Studio 54 vibes get me grooving, anything by Chic, Cher, Donna Summer
What has been your best career moment?
Being asked to be the bride-to-be columnist for Wedding Ideas, a role I’ve cherished for the past year and half leading up to my wedding.
What advice would you give your 20 year old self?
“Shy bairns get nowt” which is a phrase I learnt from my Geordie husband. Basically, go out and ask for the things you want in life because nothing will be handed to you on a plate.
Where are you happiest?
Rambling about in a pair of walking boots, preferably with a dog at my side.
Who would be your number one dinner guest and why?
I’d just like to eat dinner with all my best friends. It’s rare that we’re all in a room together anymore, people move away and time is more precious.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
Time travel. At the end of a night out, what I wouldn’t give to click my fingers and be home in bed rather than facing an hour-long slog on tubes and trains.
If you had to ask us one question what would it be?
What advice would you give to someone starting a career in PR?
SBPR:
Alex and Laura both recommend that you read, read and read some more! Getting to grips with the different media types, what is topical and what journalists are covering is essential if you want to be pitching to them.
Lizzie adds that you shouldn’t forget that getting to know influencers and bloggers and their style is important too - follow, read, and engage with them so that you get a feel for their content styles.
Annabel advises that you familiarise yourself with new social media trends, algorithms and tools for analysis as often as you can. Social media can be integral in introducing a product, service or idea to your audience, but if you don’t know how to work with the algorithms the content you work hard on producing won’t reach the right audience.
Finally, Sunny’s advice is to remember that PR is as much about selling the stories as it is about creating them. This is because you can have the best story in the world, but it won’t achieve any coverage if you can’t sell it to the journalist!