Sam Ajilore and Mariah Carey

Music blog spotlight: That Grape Juice

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That Grape Juice is the number one music blog created by Sam Ajilore. Now over a decade old, That Grape Juice continues to be at the forefront of urban music and culture, with bases in London and LA. We caught up with Sam to find out what’s on the agenda for 2019, who are the greatest artists of all time and how the blog works with PR.

What are your plans for the blog in 2019?
Growth! If there’s one thing that’s a guarantee in the digital landscape it’s change. Thankfully, I’ve long approached That Grape Juice as being a ‘voice’ that can permeate a multitude of platforms. Hence, moving forward, the plan is to make the site’s ‘voice’ as accessible and omnipresent as possible – via the web, podcasts, and streaming services.

How is music changing and does this affect your content?
The music industry is most definitely in the midst of one its most pronounced eras of change thanks to streaming, which is now the primary means of consumption.

Because of this, the traditional rulebook has been tossed out of the window and artists have been gifted much more agency over what they release and when they release it.

This, in turn, has de-emphasised the immediate importance of ‘the single’ and ‘the album’ as well as the rigid promo schedules that used to define both. It’s made for a much more interesting arena, one where artists are now framing releases as they choose, which is evidenced by the surge in mixtapes, EPs and songs rolled out simply to feed fans.

As a music news and review platform, it’s resulted in much more content to cover – with some acts working multiple tracks at the same time. It’s really exciting.

Who’s your favourite band/artist?
I’ve always loved spectacle and performance as much as I have music itself. So, the genesis for me will always be Michael Jackson. More contemporarily though, I’d say Beyoncé. She pretty much carries the MJ baton for me personally.

Who’s going to be hot in 2019?
It’s always tough to call and there’s so many variables. I will say that I’m super excited about Normani (formerly of Fifth Harmony). She’s a dynamite performer and is navigating the solo landscape exquisitely so far. She’s making all the right moves and musically has ample potential.

On home soil, I’m really enjoying what I’m hearing from rapper Dave. He has a unique perspective and articulates it in a super compelling way.

Do you play any instruments?
I wish!

Humbly speaking, I feel I have a fairly good ear for melody. As such, I really hope (at some point in this life!) I can parlay that towards learning the piano.

What’s the best song ever?
Wow, this is so hard! And for that reason, I have to list at least three. In no particular order:

  • Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
  • We Belong Together by Mariah Carey
  • I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston

I have a thing for songs that are lyric/story driven while still being easy on the ear. Traits each of these tracks possess.

How do you work with PRs/brands on content?
There’s the standard influx of press releases – of which we receive up to 100… per day!

At a more involved level, we routinely collaborate with PRs on artist interviews, live show reviews, robust features and campaign-long story-telling.

What one thing should they know before contacting you?
A personal approach is often the best approach! We’re pleasant music-lovers who are dually committed to serving our audience the freshest content, while working with PRs, brands, and similar to achieve their campaign goals too.

As such, while mass targeted press releases are sometimes a necessity, it’s so much more impactful when we receive emails from folk who understand the platform they’re reaching out to and have a clear goal in mind when touching base.

It’s surprising to still see generic emails filled with all-encompassing verbiage such as ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ and ‘your blog’ instead of the blog’s actual name.

Put simply, the more personalised the better.

Do you accept press releases?
Yes! From all regions. Music is so universal these days, with the internet being a ‘global village’. So, we’re happy to receive content from everywhere.

What other blogs do you read?
Far too many to name! I will say, though, that I really enjoy reading personal blogs.

My field (music) is rooted in fantasy, spectacle, and escapism, whereas such blogs are anchored in the real, the here, and the now. All of which speaks to me outside of my ‘professional self’.

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Bionic Basil

Pet Blog Spotlight: Bionic Basil

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The Bionic Basil pet blog was created by Cathrine Garnell and inspired by Basil, the cat. Ranked in the Top 10 UK Pet Blogs, Basil and the ‘B’ Team of feisty felines share humour, brain training, mindfulness and cuteness. In this spotlight, Cathrine shares how she portrays each cats’ unique personality, why cats rule, and which kitty is most likely to endure a costume photo shoot.

How has your blog changed from when you first started? 
Where the blog began and where it is today is a lot different; it started out as just Basil’s blog but as it progressed the rest of The B Team joined in, and as time passed they each got an exclusive post which suits their personalities, sharing lots of really fun things to keep any cat fancier entertained on a weekly basis.

What’s the best thing about being a pet blogger? 
Crafting with Cats, Colouring with Cats, Gardening with Cats, Brain Training with Cats, Fashion with Felines, Feline Fiction etc… did I mention cats!

How conscious are you of the animal’s personality as opposed to your own when writing? 
Basil, Amber, Smooch, Parsley, Pandora and Fudge, aka The B Team, each have their own personalities, expressions and voice. They are all completely different individuals so when writing their posts, it’s all about them and what they’re doing at that moment.

Bionic Basil, the B team

What are better cats or dogs?
Oh now there’s a tough question, obviously I have many cats, but I love dogs too, though sadly don’t have the time to have another at this point. So at BBHQ, cats rule supreme at the moment.

Did you have a pet growing up? 
I had lots of pets, mainly dogs, though I also had ponies, donkeys, and my father used to keep rare breeds cattle, so from an early age I’ve been surrounded by all kinds of animals, hence the reason I have my own little cat-herd today.

What’s the best top tip you have for pet owners? 
If you can, do get pet insurance.

How do you work with PRs and brands?  
Most of the time, agencies, publishers and PRs will contact us via email and we simply take it from that point forward. Assessing the brand’s needs along with how we can best present their product/idea in the style of our blog.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?  
A couple of the best collaborations we have done recently are with Miaustore and Catit. Both are such great companies and produce such innovative products for feline enrichment.

Do bloggers need their own industry association? 
A dedicated Pet Blogger association/platform would be great in the UK. Our American friends have Blogpaws, so a UK counterpart would be great, and would help address questions and issues for new and seasoned pet bloggers alike.

What other blogs do you read?  
We read lots every week. On our blog we have a page dedicated to pet blogs, a directory of sorts and we visit most of those regularly. Though our favourite UK pet blogs in no order are:  Erin the Cat Princess, Katzenworld, Memories of Eric and Flynn, Speedy the Cheeky House Bunny and Athena, Cat Goddess.

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Zoe Ball

Zoe Ball takes on Radio 2 breakfast show as first female presenter

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Yesterday, Zoe Ball presented her first Radio 2 breakfast show after taking over from Chris Evans. From next week, Ball will be up against Evans – presenter of the show for nine years – when he starts presenting a rival show on Virgin Radio.

Ball said: ‘It’s going to be interesting times, I’m going to be up against Chris, I’m up against Jamie Theakston [on Heart], my old telly husband. But I feel generally it’s a really exciting time for radio, and I hope we can make a success of it.’

Ball isn’t the only new presenter for the channel, as Sara Cox launches her drivetime show, Jo Whiley begins a new evening solo slot, and Trevor Nelson brings his Rhythm Nation to late nights.

Ball told BBC news: ‘The thing we really wanna do is bring lots of music, lots of energy, not too much chat – but enough, and we want people to have learned something by the end of the show.’

The Telegraph said that Ball and the team began the show ‘fast-talking and jumpy, clearly excited to be there, if wary of the reaction’.

It continued: ‘The programme that unfurled after the first hour or so was warm and bright.

‘The really good news is that Ball was sparky and friendly, and not at all cheesy, braggy or shouty.’

The Guardian’s Mark Lawson gave the show four stars and said the first show was helped by celebrity guest John Cleese: ‘Cleese has helped start a dawn format that feels built to last’.

Ex-BBC boss Roger Mosey, writing for the Mail, was less impressed with the ‘underwhelming’ guests but is generally positive about the new breakfast show. He said: ‘This is an amiable programme with decent music, and Ball is warm and lively as a breakfast companion. I predict most of the audience will stay with Radio 2, and she’ll beat Evans’ digital-only offering by many multiples.

‘Whether it will be as compelling a listen as Evans at his best, I doubt, but the reduction in egotism is refreshing. I think the BBC can be optimistic that Radio 2 will at least stay afloat in these choppy waters.’

The Times’s Clive Lewis only gave the show two stars, as it was ‘too frantic’. He said: ‘At its best, Radio 2 manages to hold together an enormous, disparate audience by making the various shifts in tone seem unforced and perfectly natural. Ball, on the other hand, sounds as if she is still working her way through a recipe on how to bake a new personality.’

BBC director-general Tony Hall, who was at Radio 2, told the Press Association that Ball was ‘brilliant, absolutely brilliant’.

On Twitter, the reaction was generally positive:

 

 

 

However, some listeners were still wary about Ball presenting the show:

 

 

On The Radio urged listeners to give the show some time: ‘It isn’t fair to make a judgement on the first day. Any new breakfast show takes time to sound right to listeners as they get used to a new routine first thing in the morning, but Zoe and her team got off to a flying start. They’ve probably put in a lot of time doing “dry-runs” for the show and it certainly paid off.’

Zoe Ball and BBC Radio 2 are both listed on the Vuelio Media Database, along with thousands of other presenters, journalists, programmes and PR opportunities.

Fiona Bruce

Praise for Fiona Bruce’s first Question Time

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The reviews are in for Fiona Bruce’s first episode of Question Time, which aired last week.

Fiona Bruce took over from David Dimbleby following his departure at the end of 2018 after 25 years of presenting the show. Question Time has aired almost 1,400 episodes and still pulls in around two million viewers for each.

There were rumours that the BBC were choosing Bruce to give a ‘softer feel’ to Question Time, but before the show Bruce said: ‘They’d have the wrong person if they were.

‘The person I am in the newsroom, which you won’t particularly see on air because you’re so sublimated in a studio, is opinionated, feisty, argumentative.

‘That’s what I’m known for there. I think you’ll see more of that.’

Her debut was considered a success with positive reviews in the press and online.

Thursday’s show had a panel comprised of the Conservative deputy chairman, James Cleverly, the shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, columnist Melanie Phillips, comedian Nish Kumar and Jo Swinson, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats.

The Telegraph said: ‘She brought calmness, clarity and even some dry wit to her impressive debut’.

The Guardian said Bruce ‘felt fresh and effective’, however, it felt that perhaps ‘the BBC should have taken advantage of the succession to shake up the structure as well’.

Following the show, Press Gazette asked its audience what they thought – with 78% saying she ‘Smashed it’.

Some viewers said that Bruce needed to speak louder, but general feedback was very good.

Fiona Bruce and Question Time are both listed on the Vuelio Media Database, along with thousands of other presenters, journalists, programmes and PR opportunities.

Carly Rowena

Fitness Blogger Spotlight: Carly Rowena

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The number one fitness blog, Carly Rowena, is celebrating a triple victory after the birth of her baby and also picking up the Best Health and Fitness Blog at the Vuelio Blog Awards 2018. In the busiest time of the year for fitness, we caught up with Carly to find out what’s in store for 2019, how anyone can get into exercise and what advice she has when working with PRs.

Carly RowenaWhat are you plans for the blog this year?
I adore writing my blog and in all honesty never know what direction it’s going to take; all my posts are from the heart and are inspired by things happening in my life or issues that my clients or followers are talking to me about. This year you can expect more travel, fun and innovative workout challenges but also parenting honestly: the good, the bad and the bullshit.

How important is the new year to your content?
This year it took a little backseat as we had our little girl on the 9 December however I love a big spring clean in January and that includes my blog – it’s a brand new chance to analyse, rethink and refresh.

What advice would you give people who want to stay fit and healthy all year?
Sticking to a health goal is all about mindset and time, instead of denying yourself everything you love, how about adding new ingredients, recipes and meals into your day. When it comes to time, I want you to think long term, not just for that holiday you’ve booked. Too often we think short term and that’s why we end up crashing. If you focus on the future and plan to always have exercise in your life, you are far more likely to succeed and make huge changes.

What’s the best activity to get into if you’re new to fitness?
The best fitness activity is to do something you actually enjoy. Whenever I speak to a new client my first question is how they like to move because fitness is simply moving – so that can be dancing, walking, running, climbing, skating, bouldering, anything you like and if you like it, you’re far more likely to stick with it.

How much exercise should we be doing each week?
Personally, I feel everyone should be able to find 30 minutes a day to move, that can be walking to work or walking to go and get your food at lunch or simply following a routine at home or in the gym.

How important are your social channels compared with your blog?
Social channels are incredibly important, each channel shows a different side of you and attracts different people who may then fall in love with your blog.

What are the best PR campaigns you’ve collaborated on?
Oh there’s been so many but I have to say I loved being a part of Reeboks Girl Squad, it was incredibly empowering and I got to meet so many wonderful people, plus my face was on the side of a bus – I felt like a girl band!

Carly Rowena Do you accept press releases?
Unfortunately not, I prefer that all of my posts are written by me as they’re all so close to my heart.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
I appreciate that PRs have a huge task ahead of them, especially as there are so many platforms and bloggers to speak to, however, I think it’s really important to do your research before you email. Too often I get messages calling me by a different name and offering work with brands that have no relevance to my audience.

What other blogs do you read?
I love nothing more than to curl up at the end of the day and catchup with my favourite blogs, currently I am loving: The Adventures of Us and Sorelle Amore.

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Ben Hunte

BBC News appoints first LGBT correspondent

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The BBC has appointed Ben Hunte as the first LGBT correspondent in its history.

Ben will report on the stories, issues and debates surrounding sexuality and gender, and focus on providing insight and analysis on matters affecting the LGBT community in the UK.

Ben played a key role during the coverage of the BBC’s Gay Britannia season, and presented his own series of LGBT-themed programmes on BBC Radio 4 and 4 Extra called The Ben Hunte Interviews.

Dedicated roles that are focused on highlighting underrepresented communities provide more diverse views, and richer information for UK news.

Across the media, outlets including Buzzfeed and Thomson Reuters Foundation have added positions such as LGBT editor and LGBT correspondent.

Job titles that feature the patch a journalist covers make it easier for PRs to know what to pitch to a specific contact. For PRs with news relevant to the LGBT community, this increase in focused positions provides access to the right contacts, and in turn helps keep audiences informed with the issues that matter to them. It’s a win-win.

Ben Hunte is listed alongside thousands of other journalists, editors and influencers in the Vuelio Media Database.

Shortlist website

Shortlist Media rebrands as the Stylist Group

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Shortlist Media has rebranded as the Stylist Group following the closure of Shortlist magazine at the end of last year. Stylist will continue to be published, while the Shortlist website will live on as a ‘product recommender’.

After 552 issues and 11 years, Shortlist magazine released its final issue on 20 December 2018. Signing off with, ‘Bye, then’, Shortlist staff photos and names were displayed on the final page, marking its end with a short, sharp farewell.

A Shortlist writer told the Press Gazette that staff had been ‘under the impression that the magazine was essentially bulletproof’ before it closed.

Joe Mackertich, editor of the title, explained the appeal of a print product like Shortlist: ‘Magazines, with their beginnings, middles and ends, are a soothing counter agent to the internet’s infinite hall of shrieking mirrors.

‘A good publication flatters you with grown-up language and smart references. The amount of thought, care and attention that went into Shortlist was testament to the respect we had for you.

‘This counts for a lot in a world in which we’re all constantly subjected to a horrifying torrent of hyperbolic, dumb-by-design headlines.’

Shortlist is, for now, still publishing news online with a regular output of stories. It has followed a similar path to The Independent – the first national newspaper to become digital-only.

The benefits of digital publications have been known to PRs for years, though there is still a strong desire at both an agency and in-house level for the prestige of a printed product.  While print is by no means dead, the rise of digital – often at the detriment of printed publications – continues.

All the latest moves and changes in the media are updated in the Vuelio Media Database. 

Top 50 political influencers

Coming January 2019: the UK’s Top 50 Political Influencers

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Vuelio is renowned for its rankings, with the top blog rankings, compiled by our in-house media research team, famous the world over. To prepare for what could possibly be the most tumultuous year in politics, we’ve now turned our attention to political influencers from the world of media including broadcasters, editors, columnists, journalists and bloggers.

Launching in January, the Top 50 Political Influencers is being compiled using automated metrics as well as human intelligence. It will be the most comprehensive guide to media commentators, and those with the power of persuasion, ever produced.

Each entry in the ranking will be profiled, making it the who’s who of political media influencers of 2019.

Make sure you don’t miss out on the Top 50 Political Influencers – sign up to Vuelio political updates here.

Vuelio specialises in both media and political communications software, allowing a truly integrated approach to both stakeholder and reputation management. There’s an increasing expectation on many PR teams to also understand the political landscape, and those in public affairs to also understand the media.

Find out more about identifying, understanding and engaging with both media and political influencers.

PRCA

Jessica Ozdemir elected vice chair of the PR and Communications Council 2019

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Jessica Ozdemir, senior marketing manager, international at WE communications, has been elected as the vice-chairman of the PRCA’s PR and Communications Council 2019.

The PR and Communications Council provides a formal mechanism to consult with the industry’s most senior practitioners on the issues PR and communications faces, it acts as a think-tank for the industry, informs the PRCA’s strategic priorities and produces helpful commentary, advice, and best-practice guidance for professionals.

Jessica was elected by the 2019 Council members, who were themselves elected in November. She will take on the role in January 2019, at the same time Amanda Coleman, head of corporate communication at Greater Manchester Police, becomes PR and Communications Council chairman. Jessica will then succeed Amanda as chairman of the Council in January 2020.

At WE communications, Jessica is responsible for leading a cross-functional team of marketing specialists across the entire marketing mix: increasing brand awareness, driving demand for WE services and converting demand into business opportunities.

Jessica said: ‘I am thrilled to be elected as vice-chairman at such a pivotal time for the PR industry. There is much to do to help solidify our industry’s stance, particularly around diversity and inclusion, and I’m really looking forward to working with Amanda and the terrific team at PRCA to help make a difference.’

Easy Cheesy vegetarian

Foodie blog spotlight: Amuse Your Bouche

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Amuse Your Bouche began as a hobby but Becca Heyes quickly found success with her food content and recipes and has turned the blog into a huge success. Aside from Becca’s love of cheesy pasta bakes, she shares a great range of useful and tasty vegetarian food content that her readers love. By creating multiple recipes using single products, Becca enjoys showing the versatility of the brands she works with.

How has your blog changed over time?
I started my blog in 2011 after I graduated from uni, to give me something to do while I was searching for a job. It was originally only intended to be a hobby – I never even considered that it could turn into what it has (my full-time job!). At first, I talked about my daily life, and posted whatever I felt like, with no real thought for what my readers would actually find useful. As the blog has evolved, I’ve tried to think a lot more about what my readers will actually want to see, and now I try to make my blog posts as valuable as I can. It’s definitely more of a food resource now, rather than functioning as my personal diary.

Amuse Your BoucheHow much does your audience influence your content?
I always try to think about my readers when I’m creating recipes. I only post recipes that I truly enjoyed, but I do try to produce a wide variety of content that will keep my readers engaged –  otherwise it’d be cheesy pasta bakes day after day! My readers make it possible for me to run my blog as my job, so if they’re not happy, I’m not happy either.

What are the best channels for promoting your content?
It’s getting harder and harder to get noticed on social media, with Facebook’s constantly changing algorithms, and new food blogs being started every minute of the day. At the moment I’m really enjoying my private Facebook group, Easy Vegetarian Dinners. I’ve built a community of over 1,700 people who love interacting every single day – it’s a big community but feels intimate. It’s so nice to get real feedback on the posts I publish there – on my public Facebook page, it sometimes feels like I’m shouting into a black hole!

What’s your favourite ingredient?
I’m known for my love of cheese! I have to consciously rein myself in and publish non-cheesy recipes every now and then, as I know not everyone is as much of a cheese fiend as I am. Most things are improved by cheese!

What’s the best restaurant you’ve ever eaten in?
Honestly, I’m not one for fancy restaurants (especially now I have a toddler; a noisy baby and a posh restaurant aren’t a good mix!). I prefer a casual, family-friendly place with decent food – to me, a relaxed atmosphere and nice meal is much more attractive than going somewhere posher, even if it serves outstanding food.

What’s your favourite dish to make?
Apart from cheesy pasta bakes?! I do love making a good curry, with plenty of veggies – it can be perfectly healthy, but still feels like a real treat. Especially with onion bhajis on the side!

What one thing should PRs and brands know about you?
I LOVE what I do, and I truly care about my blog and my readers. This is more than just a job to me – I love nothing more than truly connecting with my readers and helping them to discover new brands and products that can make their life easier (and tastier!). It genuinely makes my day when a reader messages me to tell me they loved one of my recipes, and discovered a new product because of something I’ve posted.

Amuse Your BoucheDo you like being sent food by PRs and brands?
Who doesn’t love being sent food?! I don’t generally accept free samples of food, as I never used to have the hours in the day to promote everything I was sent, but if I’m working with a brand on some recipe development, it’s always fun to receive a parcel. I love to experiment with a product for a week or so before coming up with a recipe, so I can really think about how it can best be shown off.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
I prefer long-term collaborations with brands, where I can show off their products in multiple recipes. It helps to show the versatility of a product, and I’m sure it feels more genuine for my readers to see how I’ve used a product many times, rather than just mentioning it once. This autumn I worked on a three-recipe campaign with St Helen’s Farm, who make gorgeous goat’s milk products, and it was really fun to be able to show off several different ways that their products could be used.

Do bloggers need their own industry association?
Luckily, we bloggers are an awesome bunch, and most of us are always happy to support others if it’s ever needed. Nobody ever feels alone in this industry. I’m sure if there was an official bloggers’ association, though, it could only be a good thing! Blogging is a relatively new industry, but it’s growing quickly, and is finally starting to be viewed as a viable career option – an official association would help to confirm its legitimacy.

What other blogs do you read?
With a toddler to look after and a business to run, I don’t get as much time to relax and read blogs as I used to, but I always try to make time for some of my favourites – especially those written by my good blogging friends. I love Happy Veggie Kitchen, Hungry Healthy Happy, Supergolden Bakes, and Kitchen Sanctuary. Sometimes I just sit and ogle their incredible photos!

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Rachel Spencer the paw post

Pet blog spotlight: Rachel Spencer, The Paw Post

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Rachel Spencer started The Paw Post in 2017 to talk about everything pet related with her dog Daisy. Sadly, Daisy passed away earlier this year. Here, Rachel has opened up about the loss of her beloved pet, how the blogging community supported her and how The Paw Post has carried on in Daisy’s memory and also now features Patch.

Rachel spencer with DaisyCould you tell us how things have changed recently?
We lost our dog Daisy [pictured with Rachel, right] in April this year. She was a senior dog at 13 but was always so young. In October last year she had pancreatitis and was very poorly but recovered. Then in December we started noticing changes in her. She lost her depth perception, became restless at night and started growling at sudden movements. It was out of character and she had a few accidents in the house.

When we learned she had dementia, it really hit home she was getting old. But I did lots of research and had amazing support from her vets, and we were positive about the future.

But after a few months she deteriorated, becoming anxious and started vocalising, one of the advanced dementia symptoms. We became worried about her vision as she couldn’t see her favourite blue ball and kept walking into things.

The vet checked her visual field and confirmed our fears. She suspected a tumour was pressing on her optic nerve. We took some time to consider having an MRI scan to see what was there but she went downhill so quickly and we knew around the corner would be a seizure or haemorrhage which would have been terrifying and painful. We wanted her to go peacefully and in April we made the decision to put her to sleep.

What’s it like having to deal with a loss so publicly?
I didn’t tell anyone apart from people we knew in real life or who had grown close to on social media and in the pet world for the first couple of weeks. But I knew I had to publicly share it and it took a lot of strength to write the post saying goodbye.

Although she was old, it was a shock. Daisy was so young at heart and was still chasing sheep and squirrels just a few weeks before we lost her. Like all dog owners, I expect them to live forever.

Things escalated really quickly – she went from playing with her ball on the beach to being scared of the outside world because she could no longer see and was in pain in the space of a week.

What happened afterwards was amazing. People were so lovely and supportive and sent cards, flowers and gifts. It completely blew me away and it totally opened my eyes to the lovely community the pet blogging world is. I felt really grateful because had I not done the blog I never would have had that.

What did you think you’d do with the blog after Daisy died?
I didn’t know what to do with myself at the time but after the lovely response I had, I decided to carry it on in her memory. She is still on my profile on all our social media channels – I can’t bring myself to change it yet. And I decided that I’d continue to write about the things that affected Daisy, how to cope with a senior dog and how to cope with loss. I’ve tried to use our experience to help others.

What advice would you give anyone who loses a pet?
Nothing can prepare you for how you feel but the main thing is to give yourself time and be kind to yourself. It’s ok to grieve for a pet and I even spoke to a bereavement counsellor to find out the best ways to cope, how to handle telling my partner Tommy’s young daughters and things like that. I know some people might feel like it sounds a little over the top but it helped me.

Can you tell us about getting Patch?
We knew we wanted to adopt another dog rather than get a puppy. I felt we were in a situation where we could adopt – we didn’t have small children and were fairly experienced with having had Daisy – so that’s what we did.

We found Patch on a rehoming page for Patterdale Terriers on Facebook. I knew straight away he was the one. His family were rehoming him as his owner had died. We stay in touch with them and we’re so glad to have found such a lovely dog.

The Paw Post Patch

Are you conscious of Patch filling in on the blog where Daisy did before?
Yes, he’s a different dog, he’s only two whereas Daisy was a senior dog, so I write about him and try to put his personality across. He’s in training so we’re doing his training diaries, and we’re looking forward to writing about his holidays, new things he’s tried out and what life is like with a young dog.

But I also still write about issues affecting dogs of all ages, like anxiety and the importance of dogs being trained and well mannered. I feature Daisy whenever I can too.

Do you still work with PRs/brands in the same way?
Yes, I have a lot of PRs who come to me as a journalist first then that leads to content for my blog.

Because I have a younger dog, I can do things like ‘running for dogs’ and other activities that might not have been possible or appropriate for a senior dog.

I ensure my posts are well researched, produce informative posts that aim to be helpful to my readers and always meet deadlines.

I would love more PRs to approach me as a blogger – I only write about things I (or someone I know well and trust) have tried and tested and I don’t use guest posts but other than that, I’m open to all kinds of ideas.

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6 tips from the top

Working with bloggers: 6 tips from the top

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The Vuelio Blog Awards annually recognise the best bloggers in the UK, but how do these champions work with PRs and brands?

This year’s winners have all appeared in one of our renowned Top 10 Blog Rankings and many have taking part in interviews. We know how they like to work with PRs and brands because they’ve shared best practice advice for collaborations.

Here’s top advice from six 2018 winners, including the Best UK Blog and Women’s Fashion Blog, Inthefrow [pictured]; Best Travel Blog, Hand Luggage Only; Best Interior Design Blog, Mad About The House; Best Mummy Blog, Slummy Single Mummy; Best Daddy Blog, The DADventurer; and Best Pet Blog, Steph and the Spaniels.

VBA 2018 Inthefrow

Victoria Magrath, Inthefrow
I like to be straightforward wherever possible. It’s great to get a friendly introductory email where you can discover a new agency, brand or designer but there’s nothing that stands out more to me, than someone who is professional and forthcoming with how they can see us working together and what the both of us can gain from partnering. That way, as a team, we can instantly work out if our brands are well suited and if working together successfully is a possibility for all parties. Efficiency is a big priority for me, and most important with everyone’s schedules being so hectic.

Lloyd and Yaya, Hand Luggage Only
I guess that we are pretty openminded and always flexible in how we work with people. No two destinations or brands are exactly the same, no two people are and so it would be unrealistic to expect two projects to be. We always see collaborations as a two-way conversation (not just one party telling the other what to do or not do), which always helps when working with brands.

Kate Watson-Smyth, Mad About The House
I like them to get my name right – the emails addressed to ‘Mad’ tend not to get opened! There are so many blogs now that I really appreciate when a PR has taken the time to read the blog and work out if I really am the right person for their idea. These days I think it’s much more about focused collaboration and I tend not to work on huge campaigns that everyone else is doing if at all possible.

Jo Middleton, Slummy Single Mummy
I’m pretty open to any kind of approach as long as it’s well researched, friendly and honest. I’m not saying I end up working with everyone who gets in touch, but I try to read most things. I like it best when I’m given plenty of rein creatively, but with clear goals too – I want the brand to be able to measure whether or not they’ve got what they want from working with me, so they come back!

Dave Hornby, The DADventurer
My blog is a business and that this is my job. Blogging as a career is still pretty new and some brands/PRs haven’t fully grasped that this means it should be viewed as business-to-business. On the whole, the majority of brands I work with get this and value what a blogger brings to the table – some are still learning though. They wouldn’t be happy having to continually chase late payments, having briefs changed with no warning or being asked to work for free – neither should bloggers.

Stephanie Walton, Steph and the Spaniels
In many ways, we really love campaigns with substance and that can really get us creating fun and interesting content. We love being able to collaborate with pet brands, as well as lifestyle brands that we can bring a dog aspect into, as it shows how important pets really are to everyone.

Want to work with bloggers? Need to improve your influencer outreach? Find out how Vuelio can help. 

Becky Bowden

Blog spotlight: Becky Bowden, LifeStyleLinked

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LifeStyleLinked is the fashion, travel, food, beauty and lifestyle blog that author Becky Bowden started 16 years ago. With everything from product reviews and tasting notes to car-buying advice and interiors tips, LifeStyleLinked is a one-stop-shop for lifestyle content. Becky spoke to us about Christmas, planning content, getting creative with brands and the joy of homecooking.

Why did you start your blog?
I started my blog when my (now 16-year-old) daughter was born. My Dad actually suggested it and even paid for my very first theme and registered the domain name. I have always loved writing and it felt like a great way to share my thoughts and meet other likeminded people online. I knew nothing about the ability to earn from a blog at that stage or how to work with brands and PRs so it really always has been a labour of love!

How has your blog changed over time?
I think as with all bloggers mine has gone through a number of different changes. I found that I wanted to cover many more topics than I initially planned and as the years went by there were so many amazing WordPress themes available that it made designing the blog itself so much easier and effective to navigate.

How do you plan content around such a broad topic base?
I spend a lot of time researching the different trends in all areas that LifeStyleLinked covers. I’ve been lucky enough to build up some amazing contacts with brands and PRs over the years and I do find that it really helps to be on their radar when it comes to new launches and news. These will very often spark an idea for a feature series or a product review that I think my readers would like. I also keep a pretty tight editorial calendar on my PC and a huge notebook of ideas, schedules and daily to-do lists. I’m a bit of a workaholic deep down but I think that comes when you are really passionate about your industry!

What’s your favourite restaurant?
I’m a bit of a home-bird so I love to cook or order in and curl up with the family. If we go for day trips I love finding sweet little country pubs with a cosy vibe. Or just point me in the direction of anywhere that sells amazing pizza and pasta and I’m happy!

How important is Christmas to your blog?
Christmas is such an exciting time of the year for me. I absolutely love planning our yearly gift guides and readers really seem to enjoy those along with all of the festive features. I think there’s such scope at this time of the year to really get creative with your content and write everything from personal blogs about how you celebrate, to image-driven features and gift guides with inspiration and shoppable links.

How do your social channels feed into your blog? Which one is the most important?
I think social obviously still plays a big part in how we promote content and it is great for keeping that line of communication open with everyone. I know Instagram has its ups and downs but I do think it’s still my favourite social platform. I love how interactive the ‘stories’ aspect of Instagram allow me to be and although I don’t shoot the beautifully edited ‘selfie’ type shots that seem to get the big hits on Instagram these days, I do still love giving sneak peeks of products and features that are going out and putting my own spin on things.

What’s going to be the big topic for you in 2019?
Home decor, for sure! We have just bought our first family home here in Somerset and we’re really excited about renovating it. I’m a huge fan of home decor blogs myself so I’m really excited to create blog content around any work that we do to the house over the next few years as well as how we eventually style it. It is such a beautiful Victorian house that there’s going to be some real scope to get creative.

What one thing should PRs and brands know about you?
That I’m always open to new and exciting ways to create content online. I really want to push boundaries with blog content going forward and think that online editorial and exciting copy is still such a solid way to share our passions.

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What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
I absolutely loved working with Thatchers cider in the summer. Not just because I got to sample a lot of cider-based drinks (honest!) but because they let me be so creative with the campaign. I came up with a summer cocktail using Thatchers and the brand loved my finished drink so much that they ended up taking it one step further and commissioning it for their official website! I really enjoyed styling and shooting the imagery for this one too.

Tesco Jersey Royals was an amazing campaign to work on and once again really allowed me to get creative. I was cooking, shooting and styling content to show some delicious ways to use the potatoes in your summer meals.

I also love beauty and fragrance collaborations. One recent campaign that was really fun to work on was with Nivea. I was challenged to shoot and style an Instagram post for a shower gel release and I really enjoyed using Instagram stories alongside this to explain a bit about why I chose a specific family photo alongside this and what the inspiration behind the finished image really was.

Essentially, I just really love when brands communicate to you the basic elements of what they want from the campaign but allow you that creativity to really put your own spin on the finished coverage.

What other blogs do you read?
I read a lot of renovation blogs at the moment for obvious reasons and I’m loving seeing what other people have done to their homes. I’ll also always have a love of beauty blogs and lifestyle blogs as there’s always something exciting to read about in these topics!

Eva and Amelia

Pet blog spotlight: Eva and Amelia’s World

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Eva Thompson created Eva and Amelia’s World to showcase the dog-friendly side of London. Joined by her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Amelia, the pair visit parks, cafes and cupcake shops, as well as featuring the latest in dog products and accessories. We spoke to Eva about Amelia’s personality, why dogs are better than cats and how she works with PRs.

Has your blog changed from when you first started?
Unfortunately yes – I long to visit dog friendly cafes and restaurants just for fun again! Life has gotten so busy I really feel I need to refocus!

What’s the best thing about being a pet blogger?
It’s wonderful that people know your dog! It puts such a smile on my face.

How conscious are you of the animal’s personality as opposed to your own when writing?
Oh I very much consider Amelia and myself one and the same! Our personalities bounce off each other.

What’s better (and WHY) cats or dogs?
Oh… dogs!! Dogs will partake in all activities with you throughout the day. However, I must say, some cats are like that too – ragdolls in particular.

Did you have a pet growing up?
I’ve always had various dogs and horses.

What’s the best top tip you have for pet owners?
Spend as much time as you can with your pets – you’ll see the bad behaviours go away and how they adapt to whatever it is you want to do in the day.

How do you work with PRs and brands?
I love working with PRs! The best feeling is getting the same representative come back to you again and again for more work. It’s a great way to make friends in the industry.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
For me, the best collaborations aren’t the big pay check campaigns but the moderate ones that continue organically for months and months.

What other blogs do you read?
I must admit I tend to keep up with Instagram a lot more nowadays than I do websites. In general my interests are with human lifestyle blogs.

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Marcel Le Corgi 2018

Interview with THE Marcel Le Corgi

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Marcel Le Corgi is the adorable Pembroke Welsh Corgi living his best life in London. A leading pet blog, Marcel Le Corgi is a social media star, therapy dog and the co-founder of the UK Corgi Club. A travel, food and fashion addict, Marcel has worked with leading brands and is often the go-to authority on all things Corgi in the UK.

We caught up with Marcel’s maman, Aurélie Four (who helps with the typing!), and she told us about the joys of being a pet blogger, working with Marcel and his needs, and the amazing campaigns they’ve worked on (and the types they want to work on in future!).

How has your blog changed from when you first started?
‘Le blog’ has not changed so much since I started it last year… I am focusing more on travel and lifestyle now because these are close to our heart and what we’re best known for. I am planning on relaunching it with a new design in the next few weeks, and focus more on my photography (of Marcel, I have my own website www.photobya4.com for the rest). With 2018 having been such a busy year, I’ve focused on social media and my own business more, but being once again named in the Top 10 UK Pet Blogs and being named a finalist at the Vuelio Blog Awards has motivated me to go back to writing and posting more.

Marcel Le Corgi

What’s the best thing about being a pet blogger?
Getting to do the things we love the most! Spending time with Marcel, travelling and eating good food. I love how it’s improved my photography and writing. We get to connect with some very inspiring people (and pups) too, some have become very good friends and we support each other in our blogging and social media journey. I also love to be able to share and return that love – by using our ‘voice’ to promote causes that are dear to us (and help charities, pet charities especially) but also, and most importantly, making others smile and happy. Two of our personal highs this year were helping a fan propose in July and Marcel being invited as the ring bearer and fluffy guest of honour at the wedding of two fans (we’d helped them propose too) in Tuscany this September.

How conscious are you of Marcel’s personality as opposed to your own when writing?
I write ‘le blog’ as Marcel, so showing his bubbly personality when writing is my main focus, the same as for his social media. He is fun, extremely clever, charming, liked by everyone (and loving everyone back!), enjoys his food very much and to be with us, so becoming a ‘food and travel critic’ was an obvious progression! Our adventure on @lecorgi has always been about him and focused around him and I intend for this to continue.

Marcel Le Corgi

What’s better (and WHY) cats or dogs?
Do you mean ‘who’ is better? ;) They all are the best! I have a preference for dogs, obviously, but Marcel loves all living beings equally, including cats (they just rarely return the favour).

Do you dress up your pets for Halloween?
Halloween and other occasions, but it’s rarely for more than a few minutes/a few photos and only because he does not mind. We knew that our first few weeks with him were primordial to making sure he had as many experiences as possible and always make sure everything we do with him is a positive experience – from travelling and dressing up to going to the vets or photoshoots. I avoid getting him into situations where he will be uncomfortable and if he shows signs of not being happy, even in the middle of filming, then we adapt, take a break or stop if needed. He is and always will be going first and while everything we’ve been doing during this adventure has been amazing, I insist on him being what we decided to take him for – a dog, a family member and a companion.

Marcel le corgi

Did you have a pet growing up?
Absolutely! I grew up with dogs – a spaniel and then a poodle cross. I also had a fish at Uni. I always knew I wanted a dog of my own but waited until it was the right time and I knew I would be able to give them the care they deserve.

What’s the best top tip you have for pet owners?
Keep every experience as pawsitive as you can and do not force your pets to do anything they don’t want to – this will only damage your bond. Staying positive for Marcel helped me in my own life too! You know your companion more than anyone else and they count on you to be their voice when needed, remember that you chose to have them not the other way around, and you have a duty to make sure they are well cared for and trained (training also helps with the human-animal bound).

One thing that I see a lot with corgis is people thinking them being overweight is cute but it is not. Overfeeding an animal is not loving them, it is reducing their life expectancy. Ah, last one… no amount of ‘likes’ or ‘shares’ is worth endangering your companion’s safety or wellbeing!

Marcel Le Corgi 2018

How do you work with PRs and brands?
I only work with brands and PRs that have ethos similar to ours. Paid or not, I would not accept to recommend or feature a product or experience that we did not enjoy or that I would not be comfortable using for Marcel and/or myself. I love to communicate, discuss ideas, being allowed to be creative and for my work to be respected and valued. I also love to think and go outside the box and get to work with ‘human’ and lifestyle brands. No one knows our audience better than me and I like to work with PRs and brands that take this into account.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
They’ve all been amazing, so I’ll only select a few that I know we’ll all enjoy. I have wanted to visit the Isles of Scilly for years, and to get Marcel to fly (but not in the haul) so when we got to do both for our wedding anniversary this summer (we had to postpone plans for a big tropical trip after both our car and boiler had to be replaced within weeks) in collaboration with the local tourism board, this was extra EXTRA special! And it turns out there is no need to leave the UK to get that tropical feel!

2018 has been quite the year with many travel opportunities (including to our beloved Scotland, twice, to shoot a festive campaign on board the Royal Britannia Yacht and on a ski press trip – and also filming in France with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle); our first lifestyle collaborations (the latest one being with MADE.com); a campaign to encourage and promote dog-friendly restaurants (with Compare the Market); and going ‘mainstream’ when we started reviewing dog-friendly eateries and activities for the Evening Standard’s GoLondon digital platform (Marcel is one of their first rePAWters, but really I write and take the pictures).

Marcel Le Corgi

Do bloggers need their own industry association?
Absolutely! So, they can get support and information, exchange more, collaborate, grow and know what’s ok or not, what the rules and regulations are. Right now, the rules are very confusing and I feel like the fraudulent actions of a few throw shade on all of us. It’s an industry that is often more used (and trusted and has more impact) than traditional media. I feel like we need to talk more between us and that will benefit everyone – so there is less abuse too (both from bloggers and the brands that work with them).

What other blogs do you read?
After meeting them at last year’s Vuelio Blog Awards, I started reading Katzenworld and love their work! City Dog Expert and Miss Darcy’s Adventures have been an inspiration too and I’m glad to have connected with them all! I also read quite a few travel, food, lifestyle and beauty blogs – monitoring trends on social media and blogs used to be my job until I made the switch to freelance last year.

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The Dogvine

Pet blog spotlight: The Dogvine

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The Dogvine is written by Teresa Keohane as the ‘London Lifestyle Blog for the Urban Dog’. Highlighting the best dog-friendly cafes and restaurants, as well as reviewing the latest products and accessories, The Dogvine features Teresa’s 2.5 Brazilian dogs: Belinha, Moleque and Nina (who comes to stay) and was recently featured in the Top 10 UK Pet Blogs. 

We caught up with Teresa to find out more about the joy of dogs, the benefits of a pet plan at the vets and how PRs works with brands.

How has your blog changed from when you first started?
Everything has changed from the content to the look and feel! I’ve become much clearer about my blog’s purpose although I would still say this is naturally evolving. I’ve also recently started guest features from other London dogs, which has opened up a whole new part of my blog and has been an amazing experience getting to know other Londoners and their pups.

Teresa Keohane

What’s the best thing about being a pet blogger?
Dogs, dogs and more dogs. My day job is not related to dogs at all so for me it’s a passion project and the chance to be creative about something I truly love.

How conscious are you of the animal’s personality as opposed to your own when writing?
Very conscious. Both for my own dogs and of other dogs that I feature. Dogs have such funny and individual personalities that make them so special, so I try my best to capture that on the blog.

Teresa Keohane

What’s better (and WHY) cats or dogs?
That’s a bit unfair as I write about dogs! I love cats too, but dogs are my passion. Dogs truly are your best friend and there’s a human-hound bond that is undeniable. Cats are more independent creatures doing their own thing.

Did you have a pet growing up?
Yes, both cats and dogs and even some goldfish!

Teresa Keohane

What’s the best top tip you have for pet owners?
Last year I signed both of my dogs up to a pet plan at my vet where you can pay one monthly fee which includes unlimited consultations as well as yearly vaccinations and flea and worm treatment. Especially when you have a senior pet, for me this makes a lot of sense both financially and emotionally. It wasn’t something I had previously been aware existed so worth asking your vet if they have one.

How do you work with PRs and brands?
It’s important to have a collaborative approach with PRs/brands to come up with a unique way of presenting the product or service that is genuine and fits with my blog. If a blogger just puts content out for the sake of it (or because it’s sponsored), people will see through that very quickly.

Get in touch and let’s see what amazing content we can create!

Teresa Keohane

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
I’ve been lucky enough to work with some great brands such as Airbnb which is probably my favourite collaboration since starting the blog. This year, one of my most enjoyable collaborations has to be our dog-friendly Go Boat London experience taking several London dogs on a boat down Regents Canal! I also enjoyed working on the recent Fizzy Living collaboration as both the brand and PR company were great to deal with and it felt very collaborative.

Do bloggers need their own industry association?
I think that would be a positive thing for sure as bloggers put in a lot of work to create amazing content and are often not recognised for it as they should be. Especially in a niche like pet blogging which is still developing compared to something like beauty and fashion.

What other blogs do you read?
Lots! Here’s a few… for dog design to aspire to it would be US blog Dog Milk (of course), for UK dog-friendly travel Steph and the Spaniels and for stories that warm your heart, Paw Post.

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Ricky Willis

Personal finance blog spotlight: Skint Dad

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Skint Dad is written by husband-and-wife team Ricky and Naomi Willis. Sharing tips on saving money and growing wealth, the blog was recently ranked in the Top 10 UK Personal Finance Blogs. We caught up with Ricky to find out how the blog has become an accidental business, why  making money is as important as saving money and how the pair work collaboratively with PRs.

How has your blog changed over time?  
It’s definitely got more professional. It started off as a hobby blog using a free WordPress theme. We never intended for it to become what it has, and it was an accidental business that now supports both myself and my wife.

We now look to run Skint Dad as more of a community. We talk with our readers daily and they have a massive impact on how the site is shaped – it’s no longer just about us sharing how we cut back; we want everyone to be in financially better off.

How much do you plan your posts in advance?
We do, and we don’t. We write a lot of content based on what’s happening in the world of saving money right now, so we never know the next thing that will come our way. However, we do plan and research into longer guides in a lot more depth.

What’s the biggest takeaway from the Autumn Budget for our personal finances?
The rise in the personal allowance will probably make the biggest impact for most people as they’ll see the change directly in their pay packet.

Is it more important to save money or find new ways to make money?
It gets to a point where you’ve saved all you can save, so it’s definitely about looking for ways to increase the amount of money you’ve got coming in.

How do you work with PRs for the blog?
Most of the time, PRs and agencies reach out to us about new collaborations via email. We then just take it from there to see what they are looking to achieve and how we can work with them to meet their targets. It’s important for us that it fits with our core values and works for both parties.

What campaigns have you collaborated on that were really good?
We’ve worked with many different brands, from supermarkets to banks, on many different campaigns; not just producing content, but also video and supporting with media campaigns beyond the blog.

What’s best practice for when PRs contact you?
I’m not sure there’s a one size fits all approach. It’s helpful that they read our blog and know a bit about us before approaching us with an idea that might not fit. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t look to brainstorm some ideas that may work.

I think, sometimes, PRs can just reach out hoping to get what they want, whereas we look to see if it will work for our audience too.

It’s not that we want to be overly picky, we just want to collaborate on things that will be genuinely useful to the readers and we believe in as well.

Do you think bloggers should have their own industry association?
I can’t see it working in the short term. There are so many different niches that nothing could really be settled. There are a number of blogging networks set up already if someone wanted to be part of a wider group.

Personally, I could see an association costing bloggers money to join, to get a newsletter once a month, but there would be little overall value.

I’m happy to be proved wrong.

What other blogs do you read?
I rarely read other blogs in our niche, to be honest, but do sometimes take a look at more technical sites like Search Engine Round Table and Moz to keep up with the fluctuations in the Google Algorithm.

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Facebook news

Facebook launches Community News Project to fund local journalists

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From January 2019, Facebook will be facilitating the recruitment of paid trainee journalists as part of its Community News Project.

The social network has pledged £4.5 million for the project as a donation to National Council for the Training of Journalist (NCTJ). The scheme will fund 80 new UK journalists over two-year period. Recruits will be trained up by the NCTJ before joining local and regional newsrooms across the country. Contracts for the new recruits will be held across a partnership of regional publishers including Reach, Newsquest, Archant, JPI Media, and Midlands New Association.

A focus of the project will be to fund trainees from different backgrounds, reflecting diversity across local communities. Another major focus will be to place recruits in areas affected by local newspaper cuts. NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher said: ‘The goal here is to encourage more reporting from towns and villages who may have lost their local paper or beat reporters to ensure these communities benefit from high-quality journalism.’

Roles will be added in addition to current reporters, not as a replacement. And although the scheme does not guarantee a job at the end, trainees will expand their skills and provide valuable input across busy regional and local press outlets.

Archant content director Laura Adams said the initiative, ‘aligns with our core objective, which is to engage with our communities, be reflective of them and have our reporters on the ground to be able to do that job effectively’.

This is the first time that Facebook has put money into local journalism in the UK, and the scheme will sit alongside the BBC’s Local News Partnership, which has provided some 140 local democracy reporters to newsrooms across the UK.

New community journalists joining newsrooms is a great benefit to PRs. These trainee journalists are going to be open to speaking to PRs, hearing about the latest news stories in their area, looking for leads and ready to build new relationships.

Ready to reach the right journalists? You need the Vuelio Media Database.

Fake news and facts

FAKE NEWS: tackling disinformation in society

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Thanks to Donald Trump, ‘fake news’ is what people typically think of upon hearing the phrase ‘disinformation’, though in reality it covers a whole host of sharing false information, from misconstrued comments to propaganda.

At the recent newsrewired event, a panel of disinformation experts discussed its impact on news today. The session covered both sides of what makes disinformation spread – newsrooms not verifying information before publishing as well as audiences sharing information they are unsure is real.

BBC’s Alistair Baker Coleman thinks the responsibility to verify falls on publishers, platforms and tools, saying: ‘People don’t have time to check if something is true’.

Many publishers already have a process for confirming information is correct and factual, but now people are turning their focus towards platforms and tools where content is being shared by individuals.

The major social media platforms continue to implement techniques for spotting and removing false and malicious content, but these are far from perfect and not nearly comprehensive enough to tackle fake news completely.

Tom Phillips of Full Fact believes that there should be more focus on the end user and there is a need to show people how to trust. Phillips suggested that a toolkit helping people understand when to trust, and when not to, could assist in curbing the spread of disinformation.

A piece of information has very few ways of being right and infinite ways of being wrong, and it’s now so easy to access and share that the wrong information can quickly become the ‘accepted’ information. Accurate or not, if people are seeing content they agree with, or even strongly disagree with, they are more likely to distribute it on social media or across private messenger services.

Aoife Gallagher of Storyful thinks that teaching children from a young age could be the key, she said: ‘Students need to know how to spot disinformation and navigate the internet’. There was a general consensus that education about fake news, and the dangers of spreading it, was currently lacking but rolling out education for the masses is a huge job with questionable results. What is clear is that disinformation is now an undeniable part of our society.

An element not introduced to the discussion was the role PRs and comms professionals can play. They have the ability and the power to help set the record straight, providing authoritative expert analysis and opinion and help both the media and audiences with the truth.

Ready to reach the right journalists with the truth? Find out more about the Vuelio Media Database.

Steph and the Spaniels

Pet blog spotlight: Steph and the Spaniels

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Stephanie Walton is the blogger behind Steph and the Spaniels, which was recently named in the Top 10 UK Pet Blogs. Charting the adventures Steph has with her husband and two spaniels – Severus and Lily (Always) – Steph and the Spaniels is known for its beautiful aesthetics and for showcasing the best of dog-friendly UK. We spoke to Steph about how the blog has changed, the joy of loving dogs and how lifestyle brands can become dog-friendly.

How has your blog changed from when you first started?
I started blogging around nine years ago so it has changed a lot; it’s grown and changed as I have. Now being a very dog-friendly lifestyle blog, it really is a large part of my life.

Just like our passions and hobbies change, that’s what has happened to what I’ve shared. I’m also sharing the fact I’m a 30-year-old fur mum.

Steph and the Spaniels

What’s the best thing about being a pet blogger?
The community is lovely, as well as the ease of it. Like I mentioned, what I blog about is literally my everyday life with the dogs, our travels tips for others or what we wear. I love that it’s such a diary for me to look back over.

How conscious are you of the animal’s personality as opposed to your own when writing?
It’s not the dogs’ personality at all actually, I think it’s very important to showcase a dog’s life and that isn’t without the owner. It’s a lifestyle blog with a dog-friendly topic, so it’s all about our spaniel life, both human and hounds. Of course, I showcase what the dogs like and want to be sure my readers get to know them too.

Steph and the Spaniels

What’s better cats or dogs?
I’ve not owned a cat, so I can’t say which is better. It’s such a personal opinion, and I’d never take that away from a cat owner – as only they know.

I know I adore my dogs, I’d do anything for them because they make me so happy and all I want to do is make them happy. They make me a better person, they get me out adventuring and exploring and they make me passionate about something.

Steph and the Spaniels

Did you have a pet growing up?
I did, we had a lovely show cocker called Megan. She no doubt started my love for spaniels.

We also got Alfie and Tilly, our family dogs while I was still living at home. Sadly, Alfie has now passed but we love having Tilly over and inviting her on our adventures too – she loves being with Sev and Lily.

What’s the best top tip you have for pet owners?
That’s a hard one! I have so many. But I think enjoy them, let them love you and be loved. Have fun with them and get to know them, they have so much to give.

Steph and the Spaniels

How do you work with PRs and brands?
In many ways, we really love campaigns with substance and that can really get us creating fun and interesting content. We love being able to collaborate with pet brands, as well as lifestyle brands that we can bring a dog aspect into, as it shows how important pets really are to everyone.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
Again, such a hard question because we’ve had some wonderful collaborations.

Our travel work is amazing, it gets us out and exploring and holidaying with your pets is so popular now too, so sharing that is great for my readers.

Being able to work with brands we love is so exciting and such a proud feeling.

We’ve adored working with Barbour and Haven Holidays particularly this year, but every collaboration we are thankful for and so excited we get to create content to share.

Steph and the Spaniels

What other blogs do you read?
I love reading dog-friendly blogs, any lifestyle and travel blogs too. I’m a big blog reader and I love finding new pet blogs like mine. I enjoy reading everyday life and snippets into travelling with your dog or day to day life like walks and outfits.

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