The Dapper Chap

Blogger Spotlight: Adam Tanous, The Dapper Chapper

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The Dapper Chapper is a Top 10 Men’s Lifestyle blog written by a team led by founder Adam Tanous. The Dapper Chapper covers an eclectic mix of men’s lifestyle and fashion advice, with updates on the latest apparel, luxury cars, fitness, places to go and must haves. We spoke to Adam about his love of whisky (hint hint), pocket squares and his transition from a PR making his PR relationships excellent.

How would you describe your blog?
The Dapper Chapper is a men’s lifestyle blog with writers based across the UK. Our aim is to see every man have the confidence to explore their own individual style, no matter their taste or budget.

Why did you start you blog?
I was working as a sports PR and my reasoning was two-fold. Firstly, my weakest PR skill was press release writing, so I started The Dapper Chapper as a creative space to improve my writing. I found it far easier to write about topics I am passionate about and I quickly improved. Secondly, I wanted to be involved with, and gain access to, a lifestyle that I was genuinely interested in. I’ve always loved sports and fashion, so The Dapper Chapper was my route into the latter.

What are the latest trends in men’s lifestyle we should be aware of?
We obviously remain as cutting-edge with our content as possible but we take fashions and trends with a pinch of salt. We tend to try and focus on brands that boast timeless style and if there’s a modern twist, even better.

How does the modern man compare to men of the past?
I believe men are more aware of various aspects of their lifestyle that previously may have been overlooked, from grooming to styling. I think different industries, like grooming for example, have done a far better job of expanding into the mainstream. The fashion industry has a bigger job to do and I think things like London Fashion Week Men’s haven’t resonated with the masses yet, hence why the blogosphere is so crucial.

What’s going to be the next big trend in men’s lifestyle?
Every other day we’re emailed about a new athleisure brand and lots of them are really good. Mainstream brands are also releasing athleisure collections too which reflects the demand. On the other side, gin is very much in. I’m drinking Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength at the moment, I recommend you do to.

What one thing could you not live without?
I wouldn’t want to live without a pocket square, but I suppose I’d just about survive without one, so I’d say my Apple Mac. It was hacked a few weeks ago and it’s genuinely scary to realise how much I rely on it every day.

How do you like to work with PRs?
I used to be a PR so I found this transition very easy. I read all the time about PR horror stories but the ones I deal with regularly are first class.

What’s one of your favourite collaborations?
We’ve had some amazing collaborations, we’ve worked with The Royal Exchange, Jaguar, Clements and Church, Oris and The Jockey Club on some amazing projects that have taken us everywhere from backstage at the British GP to parties in Basel. But, if I have to pick one, I think it would be our takeover of Maserati GB’s Instagram account.

I love Maserati and was really proud of that partnership, it was blogger/brand cross-pollination at its finest. Not many people know this but I actually broke my leg 48 hours before the shoot. The team pulled together and we produced 20 images to take over the brands account for August.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
We’re very PR-friendly but if you send a generic email, it won’t be read. Also, I like Whisky, particularly from Islay.

What other blogs do you read?
Men’s lifestyle blogging is now really strong and we’re proud to be part of that. I think MenswearStyle produce good blogs with genuine takeaways and I also have a lot of time for bloggers attached to Individualism, most of whom create effortlessly cool content.

Adam Tanous and The Dapper Chapper features on the marketing-leading Vuelio Influencer Database along with thousands of other bloggers, influencers and journalists.

Table about broadcasters

Broadcasters criticised for lack of diversity

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The latest report from Ofcom has revealed that women, ethnic minorities and disabled people are all under-represented by broadcasters.

The report, Diversity and equal opportunities in television 2017, has led Ofcom to call for more diversity among broadcasters, with a particular focus on the BBC who should be ‘leading the way’.

Channel 4 is currently the most diverse channel with 59% female employees, 18% ethnic minority employees and 11% disabled employees. The equivalent staff breakdown at the BBC is 47% female, 13% ethnic minority and 4% disabled.

By 2020, the BBC wants its employees to comprise 50% women, 8% disabled people, 8% lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people and 15% people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds. Ofcom is currently reviewing all the responses to its draft operating licence for the BBC, and will finalise the licence in the autumn.

Ofcom also discovered that many broadcasters don’t know their staff make-up, with poor monitoring widespread.

To improve diversity across the industry, Ofcom has announced a series of measures it plans to implement. They include changing the way it monitors broadcasters, holding broadcasters to account in line with their licences and even taking action against broadcasters who fail to provide the required data. On this occasion, 57 licensees failed to respond to the request for information before the deadline, and as such the regulator has begun enforcement action.

Sharon White, Ofcom’s chief executive, said: ‘Television is central to the UK’s cultural landscape, society and creative economy, and we believe that creativity in broadcasting thrives on diversity of thinking.’

Ofcom announced three measures which all broadcasters should take as a starting point to increase diversity:

  • Broadcasters should regularly measure and monitor the make-up of their workforce
  • Ofcom expects broadcasters to set clear diversity targets so their employees more accurately reflect the society we live in
  • Diversity transformation should be led from the top. We want chief executives to be accountable for delivery against their diversity targets

Across the whole of the UK, women make up 51% of the population, ethnic minorities make up 14% and those with a disability make up 18%.

Whimsical Wonderland Weddings

Blogger Spotlight: Louise Baltruschat, Whimsical Wonderland Weddings

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Louise Baltruschat is the Top 10 Wedding Blogger behind Whimsical Wonderland Weddings. Whimsical Wonderland Weddings provides beautiful photography promoting eye-catching features, accompanied by real life stories. We caught up with Louise to talk about what makes her blog successful, the latest wedding trends and working with brands.

How would you describe your blog?
Whimsical Wonderland Weddings is a welcoming, friendly and stylish space on the internet to assist in planning a day which represents each couple totally. Our ethos is all about focusing not on trends but on allowing a couple to express themselves through their wedding.

With a focus on real weddings in the UK, which are utterly gorgeous, we only feature the best photography the wedding industry has to offer and here in the UK we really are spoilt for choice with talented photographers. We also feature weekly international features and styled shoots for an array of ideas and destinations. We love to share planning advice and ideas too, with expert contributors for real life dilemmas and solutions.

We work with our valued sponsors to connect like minded couples and wedding suppliers through our advertising packages, which are made up of banners, our Supplier Love wedding directory and editorial features as well as our new social media advert options.

Why did you start your blog?
The blog began back in 2010 when I started planning my own wedding. It was a bit of a hobby, sharing my finds and making online connections. It gradually grew into me sharing other weddings and organically built a following over the years. We did cancel our 2010 wedding just six weeks before, due to severe anxiety I was suffering with, but kept the blog going. Don’t worry though – we made it down the aisle in 2015.

Whimsical Wonderland WeddingsWhat makes your blog successful?
I think it’s a combination of many factors. A real passion, addiction and drive to work on something I loved, without making any income. It’s about evolving and developing consistently, for example the move from popularity on Twitter, onto Facebook, then Pinterest and now it’s all about Instagram. Making connections and networking with others in your industry to support and inspire one another is vital. I also think there was a lot of luck with the timing of the start of the blog, there were not as many wedding blogs back in 2010 when I began. Above all it’s about trying again and again, even when there are set backs and hard times. For example, I have two children and didn’t have maternity leave when having my youngest, it was a big decision, but the blog wouldn’t be where it is today without that level of commitment.

What’s the biggest trend in weddings at the moment?
I think authenticity. It’s not too much about the bells and whistles, details and décor. But the feel and atmosphere of a day. Couples are looking more and more at alternative options, which really sing their personality and story. That in itself really brings an authentic feel to a wedding. Not to mention incredible photography and film making to capture it all forever.

In terms of trends in style, greenery and floral backdrops have been huge. As have bohemian style dresses and natural touches. I think this will continue into 2018 too.

What’s going to be the next big thing?
This is a toughie, you never really can predict where couples will go next. There have been copper and marble elements over this year too, which has filtered down from interior and fashion trends. So often it’s worth looking at trends in other industries to see what will affect us.

I think couples, especially in the UK will increasingly be looking for outdoor ceremonies and humanist led ceremonies.

What was the best thing you’ve seen at a wedding?
Ohh I have seen so much over the past 7/8 years. I think it’s just the little moments that really speak volumes. Making time to visit loved ones that can’t be there on the day, that’s such a touching and emotional thing to do. Emotional speeches that have everyone in tears. That feeling of joy captured as a couple exit a ceremony. It’s those intangible moments that mean the most to couples and guests.

Weddings seem seasonal – how much does this affect your blog?
The busiest time for the blog is always at the beginning of the year. It’s following swathes of festive proposals and it’s that time where you say ‘right let’s get cracking with the planning’. Both in terms of couple’s wedding planning and suppliers planning for the year ahead. I love it, there is such a buzz and there is so much excitement in the year ahead.

There are predominately summer wedding features on the blog due to the number of them taking place in the summer months. But we are definitely seeing more and more Spring weddings and the trend for Autumnal weddings really has increased in recent years.

How do you like to work with PRs?
I love hearing from PRs that are inviting us to super fun events and we subsequently share our outings over on Instagram stories. We also work with PRs that represent our sponsors to share all about their latest news.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
We have worked on so many wonderful collaborations. One of my most memorable was the campaign with Lomography back in 2012. It was such a great fit with our readers, both planning couples and photographers. It created such a great buzz.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
I’m really friendly and approachable but time efficient. WWW is made up of myself and my assistant Rachel, so we can’t always reply to all of our emails sadly, but we always read them and follow up on those that work for the blog.

What other blogs do you read?
I read a lot of blogs, many wedding blogs and interior/lifestyle blogs. My favourite right now is Roses and Rolltops, as we too are our renovating our home – so love all the interior inspo.

Louise Baltruschat features on the Vuelio Media Database along with thousands of other bloggers, influencers and journalists.

Jo Arnold, Guy Parker, Jon Riley, Vuelio, ASA, CMA

Regulators on influencers

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The ASA and CMA discuss blogging, brands and the rules of disclosure.

PRWeek’s Influencer Breakfast Briefing focused on brand and influencer collaborations, with a fireside chat between Guy Parker, CEO of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and Jon Riley, project director at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), hosted by Vuelio’s own CEO, Joanna Arnold.

Both the CMA and ASA are responsible for policing marketing ethics in the UK; the CMA chiefly focused on enforcing consumer law and working on a macro level, the ASA leading on the administration of the UK Advertising Code on a day-to-day basis.

The organisations are primarily concerned with the labelling of advertising in the media, which includes blogs and social posts. There are two aspects of influencer collaboration to be aware of – a reciprocal arrangement, what we may think of as traditional advertising where payment or something of value is exchanged, and editorial control, where the brand has controlled content.

It is when these types of content are mislabelled or not labelled at all that the regulators can rule against the brands and bloggers in line with the CAP Code.

What happens when you’re in the wrong?
Guy gave an example of a ruling from this morning – Geordie Shore’s Sophie Kasaei’s post about the product Flat Tummy Tea. The post, misleading in both name and benefits, was ordered to be removed. This is the second time the product has been called out by the ASA, and Guy explained that cases of sustained non-compliance could be reported to the Office of Fair Trading to bring criminal charges.

Guy pointed out that putting #sp for an advert wasn’t sufficient, as advertising and sponsorship are fundamentally different things. Drawing parallels with broadcasting, sponsorship of a TV programme appears like an advert before the show begins but doesn’t lead viewers to think the sponsor has editorial control over the programme content.

The same applies to blogging and digital influence – if the content has, in any way, been paid for then it must clearly be labelled as an advert.

What about gifts?
Gifts are a murkier area, where ethics and the law don’t align. Guy likened it to ‘bad journalism’, where positive content has been secured in exchange for a gift. While there’s no current law against this, content creators and brands should be ethically wary of such content as, when the gifts reach a high value, they could be deemed to have a ‘corrupting effect’.

The CMA and ASA are fighting to raise awareness of these rules. No one can create a national broadcaster from their bedroom but the next big blog could be started without the author realising it’s a media outlet that must play by the same rules as everyone else.

Both organisations see themselves as playing catch-up with technology, but by design rather than through failings. Guy explained that the codes and rulings were reactive so as not to hamper innovation and advancement in any way. The language around blogging and social media influence is all new – it’s easy to see where adverts are on television, but the digital boundaries are still be created online and the ASA hopes to mould rather than create them.

The blogging industry is ethically aware and for the large part almost there. The Vuelio Bloggers Survey revealed 87% believe disclosure is important for all collaborations. What the CMA and ASA are hoping is that this majority will continue to promote best practice and put pressure on the 13%, calling them out when they’re in the wrong.

This model of self-policing might work for now, but in the long run a standardised authority for blogging would carry more weight, providing clear rules and support for bloggers of all shapes and sizes. Bloggers want to be trusted more than their traditional journalistic counterparts, and they’re in a unique position to learn from the mistakes of their forerunners and forge a clearer, more ethically sound, future.

Navaz Batliwalla

Blogger Spotlight: Navaz Batliwalla, Disneyrollergirl

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Navaz Batliwalla is the Top 10 Fashion Blogger behind Disneyrollergirl. Launched in 2007 while Navaz was working as fashion director at CosmoGirl!, Disneyrollergirl is the go-to platform for insights on the fashion world, through the eyes of an industry insider. We spoke to Navaz about London Fashion Week, fashion trends, collaborations with brands and all the wonderful blogs she reads.

How would you describe your blog?
Disneyrollergirl hasn’t changed that much since I started it ten years ago. It’s still a place to share my informed opinion on goings-on in the fashion, beauty, media and retail industries. I also publish original fashion editorials, films and shopping pages, sometimes in collaboration with selected brands. What’s changed is the community.

I have a great community of likeminded enthusiasts across several platforms so rather than considering just the blog, Disneyrollergirl extends cross-platform to offline including, recently, a style book. I try to keep my focus on the brands that speak to me on a personal level but I’m very interested in emerging movements and product categories. Currently that includes the rise of affordable fine jewellery, non-gendered beauty, positive fashion,  re-commerce and niche fragrance.

Why did you start your blog?
I was working full time as fashion director of CosmoGIRL! in 2007 and simply fell in love with this new, immediate and opinionated way of speaking to likeminded fashion enthusiasts. I had a background working with online communities since contributing to Handbag.com as far back as 1999. In this case I liked the rawness of uploading content in real time and having a direct dialogue with readers.

What are the latest fashion trends we should be aware of?
There is a big growth in women buying luxury jewellery and watches for themselves. It’s no longer just the husbands buying for their wives. So the designers doing well are those creating simple, beautifully-made pieces that are adaptable, that can work from day through to night and can be worn as a signature piece, even if it’s understated.

How does London Fashion Week fit in with your blog?
I attend LFW mainly as part of my freelance work as a fashion writer and editorial consultant. And then I’m happy to support my favourite designers on my platforms as well as keeping my readers up to date on trends. LFW content can be industry news, it can be catwalk highlights (from my personal point of view), consumer-based news (see now, buy now or buying a beauty look straight from the show), or tech innovation such as shoppable social media. I will go to events to support PRs and meet clients but I don’t cover parties or celebs on the site.

What’s going to be the ‘next big thing’ in fashion?
Currently I feel like there’s a real sense of product and content fatigue. I think we’ve all over-consumed so people want a breather. So there’s an interest in slow, considerate fashion, buying things to keep long term, an appreciation of handmade craft or ‘circular fashion’  – i.e. having frequent clearouts via eBay, Depop, Grailed or Vestiaire Collective. Arket will be an interesting business to watch as it’s based around building a wardrobe, not chasing trends.

Content-wise, the ubiquity of social media has caused the downfall of many legacy print magazines. They adopted the same mediocre tone of voice and forfeited their point of view in the process unfortunately. Niche magazines have stepped into that ‘meaningful’ space and are disrupting the traditional magazine market. I imagine a similar thing could happen with blogs and influencers.

Consumers are getting bored of glorified salespeople who don’t seem to have any other interests and the algorithmic changes of popular social platforms has caused disillusion among users.

What makes your blog successful?
I measure success by creative fulfilment and I get that by doing work that interests me. I work to build relationships with brands and PRs that have the right fit to gain access that my readers wouldn’t get otherwise. If you focus on producing editorial that has meaning to you and your readers, rather than successive sponsored posts, then you win the long term game. It hasn’t been smooth by any means but I’m still enjoying it and I’m still here!

How do you like to work with PRs?
I’m a fan of the targeted approach. I like to get to know PRs and their brands over the long term so that there is a mutual understanding. I’m happy to give pure editorial if I’m genuinely passionate about a story. I’m also happy for PRs to send me general info/press releases etc. if it’s a brand/product/category I’ve expressed interest in. I hate being added to generic mailing lists and I instantly unsubscribe! I’m not a fan of being sent unsolicited product – that’s unnecessary and wasteful. The dream is to be asked to collaborate on a multi-platform project that’s well researched with ample  time to deliver quality content. However, I’m equally very used to last minute briefs!

What collaborations are you proud of?
I love the series of Petit Dejeuner shoots and films I have made with filmmaker and photographer Emma Miranda Moore. They celebrate new beginnings and reinvention or interesting morning routines and can be stills shoots or short films. I’m also very proud of my book, The New Garconne: How to be a Modern Gentlewoman, published last year by Laurence King Publishing. I worked with the PRs of my favourite heritage and luxury brands to profile the modern considerate consumer and her approach to style, work and lifestyle.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
I’m very much a behind the scenes kind of person and I like the get to the root of a story. So I’m happiest sharing the story of an amazing designer, collection or start-up through words and images, rather than taking outfit pictures of myself.

What other blogs do you read?
Glossy.co and The Fashion Law for business insights; Keep It Chic, The Women’s Room Blog and That’s Not My Age for grown up style; Coco’s Tea Party, The Very Simon G and Fashion Foie Gras to keep up with my mates; The Anna Edit and The Lifestyle Edit (not strictly a blog) for life stuff; British Beauty Blogger and Into The Gloss for beauty intel and Style Bubble, What Olivia Did and Peony Lim for eye candy.

Navaz Batliwalla features on the Vuelio Media Database along with thousands of other bloggers, influencers and journalists.

From Bedrooms to Boardrooms, the evolution of blogging

Influencer outreach: From Bedrooms to Boardrooms – WEBINAR

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The biggest annual survey into the habits and behaviours of UK bloggers has been published, revealing the industry is professionalising, not all bloggers believe in disclosure and relationships with PRs vary wildly depending on the industry.

A whopping 87% of parenting bloggers have good PR relations, but with politics, that falls to just 17%. How are these PRs getting it so wrong? Or are some sectors just better at influencer outreach?

Who better to talk about working with PRs and all the Bloggers Survey results than Jo Middleton – author of the award-winning Slummy Single Mummy and parenting blogger extraordinaire.

As more and more influencers see blogging as a valid career path, PRs have no choice but to have a clear strategy for handling influencer relations. Jo will reveal how she manages her own excellent relationships with brands and agencies and discuss the future direction of this burgeoning industry.

The webinar: UK Blogger Survey 2017 – the Results, takes place on Tuesday 26 September at 11am. Jo will be joining us live to take you questions throughout the webinar and share some of the secrets of her success.

Click here to register for the webinar. Even if you can’t make the live broadcast, we’ll send you a recording after it airs.

Ofcom finds Channel 4 News in breach of code

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Ofcom has found Channel 4 News in ‘serious breach’ of the broadcasting code. The episode in question, broadcast on 22 March, wrongly identified Abu Izzadeen as the Westminster terror attacker.

As reported in the Guardian, Channel 4 News has also been criticised for a string of other major mistakes in recent years, including:

  • A 2014 news report covering the publication of the Ellison review in to possible corruption and the role of undercover policing in the Metropolitan police in the Stephen Lawrence case. Short interview clips with five supposedly random members of the public asking whether they trusted the police turned out to all be from the same organisation, with which the reporter had links.
  • A 2014 report on Russia’s assertive military and foreign policy that included an audio clip supposedly of an RAF pilot intercepting and warning a Russian military plane in British airspace. It turned out to be an intercept of a Latvian cargo plane.
  • A 2015 report into the aftermath of the Shoreham air show crash reported the names of two members of the public that had died before their deaths had been officially confirmed.

This latest error has led the media regulator to rule that Channel 4 must broadcast Ofcom’s investigation result – a rare move against a national broadcaster.

A spokesperson for Ofcom told journalists: ‘This is the fourth time in three years we have found Channel 4 in breach of its requirement to report news with due accuracy. We are particularly concerned that another serious breach has happened, given Channel 4’s previous assurances to Ofcom that improvements to its compliance processes were being made.

‘Considering the seriousness of this breach, we are requiring Channel 4 News to air a summary of our breach decision.’

The wrongful accusation was corrected on air but this was not enough to avoid the more dramatic ruling.

Channel 4 said: ‘We note that Ofcom acknowledges Channel 4 News made appropriate corrections while on air; removed the programme from other platforms and carried a full correction and apology the following day.’

Channel 4 news has accepted the ruling, a statement said: ‘Channel 4 News takes its obligations under the Ofcom Broadcasting Code extremely seriously and is committed to providing audiences with high-quality, accurate and impartial news programming. We have participated fully in Ofcom’s investigation and note the regulator’s ruling which takes into account the immediate steps taken to correct and clarify the error during the course of the programme.’

Why aren’t all bloggers disclosing collaborations?

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Vuelio’s latest Bloggers Survey suggests 13% don’t believe disclosure is important for every collaboration. The number, unchanged from 2016, is a worrying trend that could be flouting the Advertising Standards Authority’s rules.

The Survey showed only 87% believe sponsorship disclosure is important for every collaboration. Therefore, the number that don’t hold this belief translates to over a thousand individual bloggers across the UK industry.

The ASA’s rules apply to influencers, blogs and traditional media outlets equally. In terms of disclosure they include:

2.1 Marketing communications must be obviously identifiable as such.

2.3 Marketing communications must not falsely claim or imply that the marketer is acting as a consumer or for purposes outside its trade, business, craft or profession; marketing communications must make clear their commercial intent, if that is not obvious from the context.

2.4 Marketers and publishers must make clear that advertorials are marketing communications; for example, by heading them “advertisement feature”.

The ASA has ruled that both the business and the affiliate marketer are responsible in spite of the fact that the ads may have been created solely by the affiliate rather than by the business themselves.

And, as the Press Gazette points out, those who pay bloggers for coverage that is not declared may also fall foul of the Bribery Act 2010, which states it is against the law to pay someone to perform their functions improperly.

How to stay within the law for influencer marketing is an upcoming topic of a PRWeek Breakfast Briefing, which will be hosted by Joanna Arnold – CEO of Vuelio, with guests Guy Parker – CEO of the ASA and Jon Riley – project director of the Competition and Marketing Authority.

Joanna said: ‘It is important that PRs truly understand the landscape before they engage. There are plenty of pitfalls alongside the potential, particularly in this phase of development, when the rules of the game are still being written and the transactional nature of some relationships threatens to become the story itself.’

For the first time, ‘Ethical concerns around promoting brand content to my audience’ became one of the most important issues facing the surveyed bloggers. Vuelio’s blogger spotlights reveal that some PRs do put pressure on bloggers to not disclose, but equally the survey shows that some bloggers (albeit it a small minority) are clearly happy to flout the rules to achieve their goals.

This is clearly an industry-wide issue – encompassing agencies, brands and influencers – and without a standardised approach or blogging authority, it is unlikely to change anytime soon.

Debby Wong

News Corp pays the Tab

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Tab Media, the publisher behind the Tab and babe, has raised $6 million dollars in a financing round, with the majority coming from Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.

The Tab was started by three students at Cambridge University in 2009 and has since become a popular media source for students across campuses in the UK and US. Known for its young staff, the Tab is aiming to grow beyond the student readership and capture the 18-25 demographic.

The Independent reports that 70% of Tab Media’s revenue – $600,000 in August – comes from sponsored stories commissioned by the likes of Spotify and Unilever, which are written to resemble news articles. The rest is from display advertising.

The new funding will support original reporting and training for young journalists. In return, the Press Gazette reports that News Corp has taken a minority stage in the group and Times deputy editor Emma Tucker has joined its board of directors.

Jack Rivlin, one of the founders of Tab Media, reportedly met Murdoch right after Glastonbury, covered in glitter while wearing borrowed shoes. He had printed out 100 of the Tab’s stories which was enough to impress the media mogul and his top team to invest on the spot.

Tab Media’s sites enjoy over 9.5 million unique users a month and they claim the Tab is now the second biggest 18-24 publisher in the UK, after Buzzfeed.

Joshi Herrmann, editor-in-chief at Tab Media (at a frankly ancient 28), said: ‘In five years, what we’re going to be doing might be a bit broader. We’ll keep passing this on, kind of recklessly throwing the keys to very young editorial people and see what they come up with.’

This model may keep the site fresh for the youth demographic where other sites struggle to retain their ‘edgy’ voice, as the audience broadens and ages. The parallels with the social media giant that started at an elite college campus, then grew among students before widening out to the general public will surely be on the minds of those behind Tab media and consciously shaping its future.

Blogger Spotlight: Charlie Watson, The Runner Beans

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Charlie Watson is the author of The Runner Beans, which was recently ranked number one in the Top 10 UK Fitness and Exercise Blogs. Charlie is a marathon runner, fitness fan and self-professed foodie. We spoke to her about keeping it real, her favourite kit and working with PRs. 

How would you describe your blog?
An honest, attainable approach to fitness and running. I share the trials and tribulations of marathon training, fear of the weights section at the gym and my uneasiness with shedding for a wedding.

My goal is to champion the journey to a healthy, more active life where honest fitness and food makes wellbeing more accessible to all – without losing sight of the real lives we lead.

Why did you start your blog?
I started my blog when I signed up for the London marathon in 2012 – originally it was to coerce friends and family into sponsoring me, then it helped keep me accountable to my fitness goals and has developed into a training journal as well as a source (I hope) for information and inspiration for runners, newbie gym goers and fitness enthusiasts alike.

Charlie Watson - The Runner Beans 2What makes your blog different from other fitness blogs?
I don’t have abs, I’m not a fast runner, I’m just an average enthusiast sharing the ups and downs of real life and training… with a side of chocolate and gin! For me, it’s all about balance. I like to train to complete challenges, like marathons, ultra swims, and an Ironman 70.3 in the future rather than strength or aesthetics.

What’s the next big fitness trend going to be?
I think Swim/Run races are going to get bigger, and I think Ultra races will increase in popularity (as they already are). I am tempted to sign up for one – I’ve heard the aid stations are way more fun than marathon aid stations!

What piece of equipment or tech is your go-to workout companion?
I love my Adidas Ultra Boost trainers and my Garmin watch to track my runs.

What’s your favourite workout class or routine?
Favourite workout class is Barre and BodyPump (aside from running, obviously!).

What was your favourite blog post to create and why?
I love sharing the marathon race recaps as I work really hard to train for them and create content during the races, but I also love the more open/honest posts such as my feelings on losing weight for the wedding.

How do you see your blog developing in the future?
I’d like to develop my YouTube channel further as well as creating more active travel content, and sharing my knowledge as I continue my Dietetics degree.

What makes your blog successful?
I think it’s my honesty, my realness and my persistence to train for my goals. I’ve been blogging for five years and am growing, developing and changing online as well as in real life. I’m average, and proof that others can achieve their goals if they work hard and believe in themselves.

How do you like to work with PRs?
I love partnering to make creative, interesting content that’s helpful and fun for my readers (and me!). I like to brainstorm ideas that match with brand campaigns on longer term partnerships to create value for both the company and my audience.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
I love to travel and I am studying to become a dietitian. I love working with brands that want to work together to create awesome content!

What are your favourite blogs to read?
I love a lot of American fitness blogs such as Pumps and Iron, Run to the Finish and the Real Life RD, plus I get inspiration from beauty/fashion blogs such as Inthefrow, Lydia Millen and Hello Fashion. I also really enjoy watching YouTube videos from lifestyle, fitness, fashion and beauty bloggers.

 

Charlie Watson features on the Vuelio Media Database along with thousands of other bloggers, influencers and journalists.

GBBO

Bake Off ratings hit Channel 4 high

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The consolidated viewing figures for the first episode of Great British Bake Off make it one of Channel 4’s most watched programmes of all time.

Taking into account time-shifted viewing over a seven-day period, the episode drew an average of 9.5 million viewers, which was a 35.4% share of the audience. This makes it Channel 4’s seventh highest rated show ever, and the best since Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, which had 9.7 million viewers in February 2011.

The show also attracted 2.7 million 16-34 year-old viewers, making it the best performing programme among this demographic in 2017.

Channel 4’s highest rated show ever was A Woman of Substance, which drew 13.9 million viewers in 1985 – surprisingly comparable to the 13.4 million that watched Nadiya Hussain win Bake Off on BBC One in 2015.

The total figures for the first episode of Bake Off, including repeats on Channel 4, E4 and 4Seven, and views on Channel 4’s online service All 4, make the total well over 12 million.

Jay Hunt, Channel 4’s chief creative officer, said: ‘Bake Off has well and truly landed on Channel 4. I’m thrilled viewers have warmed to Paul, Prue, Noel and Sandi and are enjoying the exceptional standard of baking.’

The strong start has been bolstered by the second episode, which enjoyed overnight viewing figures of 6 million. Though this is down on week one, the 16-34 year old demographic grew and it’s still double the number Channel 4 needs in order to ‘break even’ on its £75 million purchase of the show.

Fashion Foie Gras

Blogger Spotlight: Emily Johnston, Fashion Foie Gras

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Emily Johnston is the author behind Fashion Foie Gras (FFG), which was recently ranked third in the Top 10 UK Fashion Blogs. Covering her own personal style and fashion news, Emily also writes about her adventures abroad. Here we spoke to Emily about being yourself, her changing attitude towards Fashion Week and PRs as bridesmaids…

How would you describe your blog?
FFG has truly become a blog that has evolved from being just about fashion to covering every aspect of life, from travel to food, style to beauty.

Why did you start your blog?
I started FFG to be a part of the conversation that was starting to erupt online around fashion and lifestyle. I had no idea it could become a career. I was doing it for fun!

What are the latest fashion trends we should be aware of?
For autumn/winter I would say embrace the art of layering, playing with different fabrics and print clashing to really showcase your own unique style. Leave the trends behind. Wear what makes you happy and feels good!

How does London Fashion Week fit in with your blog?
It used to play a huge role, but these days I use the catwalk for inspiration for later features, when readers don’t have to feel frustrated by waiting to purchase. People want to see it now and have it in hand tomorrow, which has really changed my own views on covering LFW.

What’s going to be the ‘next big thing’ in fashion?
I don’t think there is a next big thing. Things aren’t ‘big’ like they used to be. Trends are a flash in a pan and they change daily. Tough for anyone to keep up, that’s why I say be true to yourself!

What makes your blog successful?
Luck. Haha. Kidding. I think the blog is successful because I have integrity and am pretty much a slave to it. I don’t cut corners, it’s hard work and there’s no cheating that. But I love every minute of it so it’s worth it. And my readers are just insanely loyal and fabulous and, at this point, we’ve more or less grown up together over the past decade.

How do you like to work with PRs?
First of all, I have to say that when I finally get married I can guarantee you that the women that make up my bridesmaids will be mostly PRs that I have met through this crazy blog life. They are amazing men and women. But, I do really appreciate when people are straight forward. If there’s a job, let’s talk about. If you want support for a new brand, let’s discuss.

What collaborations are you proud of?
There are so many and too many to spotlight just a few. My designer collaborations, however, have been the favourites. I’d love to do a dress collaboration in the future!

What one thing should PRs know about you?
I’m easy and I’m an adult (and I worked as a PR for ten years before starting the blog… so I get it).

What other blogs do you read?
Again, too many to list. London is full of so much talent!

Emily Johnston features on the Vuelio Media Database along with thousands of other bloggers, influencers and journalists.

photojournalism

Reuters launches photojournalism grants

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Reuters has launched a new grant programme to encourage the next generation of photojournalists to share original visual stories from around the world.

Reuters is offering up to eight grants, worth $5,000 each, to photojournalists or students for work on photo assignments and projects that will enhance their visual storytelling abilities and tell ‘original human stories’.

Pictures taken by the grant recipients will be distributed globally on Reuters platforms.

While the photojournalists do not need to be professional, the candidates must be passionate about the medium and be able to pitch a concept that they can successfully complete in order to secure the grant.

The grant winners will be advised on their assignments and projects by Yannis Behrakis, Reuters photojournalist and senior editor of special projects. Yannis will provide advice and planning assistance throughout the process.

The application period opens 10 September. Entrants need to submit a CV and a 25-50 picture portfolio of both single images and multi-image stories. They must also detail their project or idea, which is recommended to be, ‘focused on a subject in a community or location within close proximity that can be completed in a few weeks or months’.

The deadline for entries is 10 December, and the grants must be used in 2018.

More information about the competition including entry details is available on the Reuters website.

UK Bloggers Survey 2017

How big is your influencer budget?

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More bloggers are turning professional according to the latest UK Bloggers Survey from Vuelio.

The annual report, published by Vuelio, in conjunction with Canterbury Christ Church University, surveys hundreds of bloggers about their habits, intentions and perceptions of the blogosphere. You can download the survey for free, by clicking here.

While a majority (62%) of bloggers are still hobbyists, there’s been a 4% rise in the number for whom it is now their main source of income and a 6% rise in those who see it as their future main source of income. This points to a legitimisation of blogging as an industry, as more people now see it is a valid career path.

The professionals are also blogging in a different way to the hobbyists, unsurprisingly posting more frequently with 33% of professionals publishing five or more times a week, compared to just 7% of hobbyists managing the same frequency.

Though the blogging industry is legitimising itself, the number of largest blogs (with a monthly audience of over 10,000) is nearly unchanged from 2016, suggesting that the established influencers are here to stay and there’s not much room for many more.

Bloggers may be a force to be reckoned with, but they still feel they lack the credibility that journalists – their traditional media counterparts – have. It is improving, but slowly; this year saw a 5% rise in those disagreeing with the question, ‘PRs regard traditional journalists as more important than bloggers’.

Is trust and respect from PR professionals and brands the best way to gain that integrity? Collaborations are typically a blogger’s largest source of income and good relations with PR is the best way for the industry to grow further. Most bloggers (75%) do have these good relationships, though it varies wildly depending on if they are blogging about parenting (87% good relationships) or politics (just 17%).

Relationships work both ways and PR needs to be giving something back to the industry, as 71% of bloggers believe PR professionals expect support for their brand for little in return. As 58% of bloggers expect to be paid for all the coverage they give brands, there’s clearly still some ground to be made up between the two fields.

2017 awards for bloggers

Shortlist revealed for the Vuelio Blog Awards 2017

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The shortlist for the Vuelio Blog Awards has been announced, with more finalists than ever before. Taking place on 24 November at the Bloomsbury Big Top, the Vuelio Blog Awards 2017 is a highlight of the blogging calendar.

With 84 of the very best blogs on this year’s shortlist, the judges will have their work cut out to determine the overall winners when they meet on 18 September.

This year’s judging panel includes journalists, PR professionals and an award-winning blogger: click here for more information.

The finalists all specialise in one of our 14 categories, and every shortlisted blog will also be eligible for the grand prize – Best UK Blog of 2017.

Without further ado, the shortlist of the best bloggers in the UK and Ireland for 2017 is as follows:

Best Newcomer

  • Best Before End Date
  • That Butterfly Effect
  • Man vs Globe
  • Modish Male
  • A Mundane Life
  • Pip and the City

Arts and Entertainment

  • Creative Bloq
  • FlickeringMYTH.com
  • Nialler9
  • Photography Blog
  • Pop Justice
  • That Grape Juice

Beauty

  • A Model Recommends
  • British Beauty Blogger
  • Caroline Hirons
  • Estee Lalonde
  • London Beauty Queen
  • Pixiwoo.com

DIY & Interior Design

  • Abigail Ahern Blog
  • Dear Designer’s Blog
  • Design Sheppard
  • Fresh Design Blog
  • Love Chic Living
  • Swoon Worthy

Fashion

  • Ape to Gentleman
  • Fashion Foie Gras
  • Fashion Me Now
  • In the frow
  • Menswear Style
  • Raindrops of Sapphire

Fitness & Healthy Living

  • Carly Rowena
  • Fitness on Toast
  • Lunges and Lycra
  • The Fat Girls’ Guide to Running
  • The Runner Beans
  • Zanna Van Dijk

Food & Drink

  • Amuse Your Bouche
  • Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen
  • Deliciously Ella
  • Hungry Healthy Happy
  • Lavender and Lovage
  • My Fussy Eater

Men’s Lifestyle

  • Ape to Gentleman
  • Average Joes
  • Buckets and Spades
  • The Everday Man
  • Menswear Style
  • The Dapper Chapper

Parenting

  • Boo Roo and Tigger Too
  • DadBlogUK.com
  • The Dadventurer
  • The Mad House
  • Slummy Single Mummy
  • Toby & Roo

Political

  • Bella Caledonia
  • ConservativeHome
  • Guido Fawkes’ Blog
  • LabourList
  • Political Scrapbook
  • Wings Over Scotland

PR, Media & Communications

  • MK
  • Natasha Courtenay-Smith
  • NevilleHobson.com
  • PRcareers
  • PRexamples
  • Stephen Waddington

Travel & Leisure

  • A Luxury Travel Blog
  • Bruised Passports
  • Global Grasshopper
  • Hand Lugguage Only
  • Two Monkeys Travel
  • Wish Wish Wish

Wedding

  • Boho Weddings
  • Brides Up North
  • Love My Dress
  • Rock My Wedding
  • Rock N Roll Bride
  • Whimsical Wonderland Weddings

Women’s Lifestyle

  • Coco’s Tea Party
  • Liberty London Girl
  • Lily Pebbles
  • The Londoner
  • Poppy Deyes
  • Poppy Loves

 

Every finalist is listed in the Vuelio Influencer Database.

Guardian charity

The Guardian Launches US Non-Profit

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The Guardian has launched a US-based non-profit organisation in an attempt to support quality independent journalism.

Its website, theguardian.org states that its mission is to advance and inform public discourse and citizen participation around the most pressing issues of our time through the support of independent journalism and journalistic projects at the Guardian.

The new organisation will raise funds from individuals and foundations and direct them towards projects that advance public discourse and citizen participation around issues such as climate change, human rights, global development and inequality.

The Guardian Media Group states that the non-profit has already raised more than $1 million in grants, including:

  • Skoll Foundation funding for a solutions-oriented series on climate change in America
  • Support from Humanity United to allow the Guardian to continue its in-depth look at modern day slavery
  • A grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to support compelling journalism on the subject of early childhood development.

The Guardian has a long history of partnering with ‘like-minded philanthropic organizations’ and already counts the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Ford Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation as longstanding philanthropic partners.

The project is headed up by Rachel White who is also the Guardian’s global EVP of philanthropic and strategic partnerships.

Commenting on the launch of the new organisation, White said: ‘The connection between powerful story-telling and social cause has never been more vital. Across the past six years, philanthropy has played an increasingly significant role in supporting Guardian journalism on issues that critically inform the public–climate change, inequality, women’s rights, and more. The creation of theguardian.org makes it possible for us to forge key strategic partnerships, and engage a wider range of individuals and philanthropic organizations in supporting our global ground-breaking storytelling and reporting.’

As news companies continue to look into new ways to fund investigative journalism, we can expect to see a number of publishers adopting philanthropic models and this is certainly a smart move by the Guardian, helping them fund expensive journalistic projects.

2017 awards for bloggers

Presenting the Judges for the Vuelio Blog Awards 2017

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We are delighted to announce that this year’s judges, who will together decide the winners of every category at the Vuelio Blog Awards 2017, represent a genuine variety of skills, experience and perspectives.

Ahead of the announcement of shortlisted bloggers next week, the judges have been chosen and are preparing themselves for the biggest blogging decisions of the year

The judging panel includes the best blogger of 2016, journalists and PR experts, and they will be choosing one winner from six finalists in each of the 15 categories.

This year’s judging panel is:

Katie Constable Vuelio Blog Awards 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katie Constable
Katie currently handles the social media at PZ Cussons Beauty for iconic beauty brands St.Tropez and Fudge Professional. Having worked in the industry for five years across fashion, beauty and lifestyle, she is always on the pursuit for new exciting content to further engage and evolve brands. In launching St.Tropez’s first ever series of Facebook Lives called ‘Studio Glow’, Katie has been working closely with global influencers across a variety of categories.

 

Anna Doble Judge Vuelio Blog Awards 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anna Doble
Anna is Digital Editor at Radio 1 Newsbeat, leading the team’s web, video and social presence. Before that Anna was Head of Online at Channel 4 News and a newsreader at Independent Radio News. She is about to join the BBC World Service as Digital Editor, looking after English language services.

 

Holly Hodges Judge Vuelio Blog Awards 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holly Hodges
Holly Hodges is a senior media researcher at Vuelio. Specialising in bloggers and traditional media, Holly manages the influencer database and has been directly involved with the shortlisting process for this year’s Vuelio Blog Awards. Also responsible for Vuelio’s Top 10 rankings, Holly’s knowledge of the UK blogosphere is second to none.

 

Charlie Lindlar Judge Vuelio Blog Awards 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlie Lindlar
Charlie is the Blogs Editor at HuffPost UK. He manages the site’s community of 18,000 bloggers, mostly working across current affairs and politics. You can follow him on Twitter @charlielindlar.

 

Frank Marr Judge Vuelio Blog Awards 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frank Marr
Regarded as one of the industry’s brightest stars (he was named in PR Week’s ‘top 30 under 30’), Frank has been behind numerous world-class campaigns and helped shape an agency built on a culture of hard work and innovation. He’s the PRCA Travel & Tourism Chairman and an occasional PR lecturer at Regent’s University.

 

Kate Watson Smyth-Judge Vuelio Blog Awards 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kate Watson-Smyth
Kate is an award-winning journalist and blogger, who in 2016 scooped the prestigious Best UK Blog prize for Mad about the house, at the Vuelio Blog Awards. Specialising in interiors and design, Kate has also published her first book ‘Shades of Grey: Decorating with the most elegant of neutrals’, with her second out in March. She also runs the ‘personal shopping for the home’ service, Mad about your house.

For more information about this year’s Vuelio Blog Awards, please contact Jake O’Neill.

SocialBookshelves.com

Blogger Spotlight: Dane Cobain, SocialBookshelves.com

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Dane Cobain is the author behind SocialBookshelves.com a Top 10 UK Literature Blog. With a catalogue-style review site, Dane also constricts his review word counts to the number of pages the book has. Here we spoke to Dane about his favourite novel, the rise of audiobooks and his preferred way to work with PRs.  

How would you describe your blog?
SocialBookshelves.com is a book blog with a difference. I don’t specialise in particular genres, I just keep a running list of reviews for every book that I read – over 1,000 so far. My reviews also have a particular quirk – their word count is the same as the number of pages in the book, so a 350 page book has a 350 word review.

Why did you start your blog?
I’ve always liked writing reviews. I remember in secondary school we were asked to write reviews for every book that we read. For the other kids, it put them off reading because they didn’t want to write the reports. For me, it meant I was writing 3-5 reports per week. The teacher eventually told me I could stop doing them.

I started blogging because when I left university, I got a full-time job in social media marketing. I thought that starting a blog would give me a great excuse to get some hands-on experience with a blog of my own. Once I started, it was hard to stop!

What’s your favourite book, and why?
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman because it’s a masterpiece. He’s got a new book coming out that’s a companion novel and it’s great to see a new generation of readers picking up his books because of all of the publicity.

What makes a good book?
It’s a combination of a whole heap of things, from pacing and plot to aesthetics and the cover. For a book to get a 5* rating on my blog, it has to leave me feeling like a slightly different person after reading it and it has to be pleasurable (as opposed to a chore) from start to finish.

Digital books disrupted an age-old industry, what do you think will be the next big disruptor?
They have, although I personally don’t read them. That’s because I like to collect my books, so I only ever read paperbacks and then I keep them in my rapidly expanding library. I keep needing to move to slightly bigger houses to accommodate them all.

As for the next big disruptor, that’s hard to say. I think audio books will continue to pick up steam and it’ll be more commonplace for people to listen to them, and I think the standard of them will continue to pick up. Over the next ten years or so, there will also be a lot of indie writers breaking through to the mainstream thanks to word of mouth – the market will decide whether their work is good or not , not a literary agent or a junior editor at a publishing house. On top of that, I think we’ll see more and more books coming out from YouTubers, Instagrammers and other social media celebrities who see it as a way to monetise their audience.

How many books do you own (roughly)?
Well I’ve reviewed every book I own and I have 1,129 reviews, so somewhere around that. The true number is probably closer to 1,250 counting the books I haven’t read yet – 1,300 if you count the copies I have of the books I’ve released myself.

What makes your blog successful?
I think consistency and longevity have played a big part. I update it regularly and work with plenty of authors and PRs to add other content such as interviews, and I also run competitions and use social networking sites. I think a big part of it has been the fact that I’m an author myself and so it’s pretty linked to my daily life. It’s just part of who I am.

How do you like to work with PRs?
I like them to email me with a little bit of information about the books and then I get back to them if I’m interested. I don’t get time to respond to every enquiry unfortunately because there are so many of them.

What’s the one thing PRs should know about you?
I only accept physical copies.

What other blogs do you like to read?
I’m going to be honest here – I don’t actually get much chance to read blogs because I’m so busy with other stuff. I do, however, watch a bunch of different ‘BookTubers’ – i.e. YouTubers who talk about books. They mostly talk about YA and middle grade, but I find their passion for books inspiring. Some of my favourites are Jean from Bookish Thoughts, Katytastic and Brock from Let’s Read. It’s great to see how creative people are.

That said, I do follow friends’ blogs as they post – but they’re mostly authors rather than other book bloggers.

Dane Cobain features on the Vuelio Media Database along with thousands of other bloggers, influencers and journalists.

Gay pride

Manchester Evening News Wins Praise for Defending Pride

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The comments sections of many newspaper websites are hardly the bastion of tolerance and fair argument. Seemingly left unmoderated, user-generated comment is, by and large, a free-for-all for trolls and haters of all shapes and sizes to rant about their views of the world behind the anonymity of an avatar.

While many online editors may be following Rule 1 of online debate – don’t feed the trolls – many others will tolerate ‘unacceptable’ comments because they fuel greater engagement and keep their websites sticky.

If you really want to know how unbalanced huge swaths of the population are, don’t bother reading the stories, just head straight for the comments section.

However, one newspaper has recently won praise for tackling intolerance in the comments section of its website and actively fighting back against trolls, haters and the intolerant.

The Manchester Evening News has jumped to the defence of the city’s Pride event and posted the following comment regarding negative posts regarding the LGBT festival:

‘Quite remarkable how many negative comments we have to remove or hide on stories like this.

‘To those asking when is ‘straight pride day’ or questioning why we still have Pride we’d ask this: did you know that homosexuality is punishable by death in 12 countries? Celebrating Pride in those places can literally get you killed.

‘Did you know there’s been a recent rise in homophobic hate crimes? Did you know that in Britain homophobic attacks rose by 147% in three months from June last year. Did you know nearly half of all trans children in this country have attempted suicide? Or that 80 per cent have self-harmed?

‘Did you know it’s only been 50 years since homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK? This is why we still have Pride marches. And Manchester’s is the best in the world.’

In writing this comment, the Manchester Evening News are doing so much more than defending a sizable section of the community they serve but they are also taking ownership of their own editorial platform.

It should be remembered: a publisher is responsible for the comments left on their website and if they provide a home to intolerance (whether they believe in it or not) – they must take responsibility for any repercussions generated by such content.

Well done to the Manchester Evening News for not only defending the LGBT community in Manchester and beyond but also for taking pride in its own online editorial platform and the content they carry.

Michael 84

Blogger Spotlight: Michael Adams, Michael 84

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Michael Adams is the author behind Michael 84, which was recently ranked in the Top 10 UK Men’s Lifestyle Blogs. Michael is a Newcastle-based t-shirt and fashion designer who writes about the latest style trends, music, films, tech and travel. Here, Michael told us about his favourite collaborations, bloggers moving to Instagram and the modern man.

How would you describe your blog?
Michael 84 is a men’s fashion and lifestyle blog with a focus on menswear and style tips, and covers everything from the usual guy’s life; from tech, travel and products reviews to entertainment including film, TV and music.

Why did you start you blog?
I love technology and the web, and have always had an interest in building and creating things online. It started off with simple websites, then I created forums, e-commerce stores and then I moved into blogging seven or eight years ago, writing about my interests.

What are the latest trends in men’s lifestyle we should be aware of?
It’s hard to say the latest trends in men’s lifestyle, as that could cover a large number of things. Minimalist style, for things such as watches, is big now and has been growing for a couple of years, with more and more brands offering a simplistic style of watches.

How does the modern man compare to men of the past?
I think it depends on how far you go back for comparison; I think that guys are taking better care of themselves more than ever now. Working out or going to the gym has become part of daily life, rather than a temporary or part time activity.

What’s going to be the next big trend in men’s lifestyle?
I think there could be an increase in using smart technology, it’s getting more popular with more brands offering various products from Amazon, Apple and Google, as well as smart home products.

What one thing could you not live without?
I think it has to be my iPhone. As we know, phones these days aren’t just phones, they do so much, so it’s the one thing I’d want to have.

How do you like to work with PRs?
I prefer it when they have a campaign or a clear idea in mind, and let me have some freedom to go with it. It’s always important to be on the same page so we have an understanding of what’s expected and going to happen, as sometimes but rarely there can be some miscommunication.

What’s one of your favourite collaborations?
There has been a few, I was part of a TOPMAN campaign called ‘Great Britain, Great Suits’ which showcased my city (Newcastle) and one of their great suits, and working with LG for London Fashion Week was also a highlight.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
I am always open to work with great brands on different projects, so if they’re looking for exposure or have a campaign which they think may fit, they should get in touch.

What other blogs do you read?
I actually don’t really read too many blogs these days. A lot of other bloggers have been putting a lot more focus on Instagram, so they aren’t updating their blogs as frequently as they used to.

Michael Adams features on the Vuelio Media Database along with thousands of other bloggers, influencers and journalists.