3. What The Media Want - Catherine Bennion-Pedley Lifestyle Editor at Fabulous, The Sun

28 minutes

Description

What the Media Wants – Episode with Catherine Bennion-Pedley, Lifestyle Editor at Fabulous

In this episode of What the Media Wants, host Nikki Snell, founder of Press Loft, sits down with the brilliant and long-standing lifestyle editor Catherine Bennion-Pedley. With over 20 years of experience in women’s media, Catherine shares her insights on pitching effectively, what kind of content and imagery journalists really want, and how to stand out, especially if you’re a small or independent brand.

In this episode, we cover:

Catherine’s journey from Company magazine to heading up interiors and lifestyle content at Fabulous

What Fabulous covers across print, digital, social, and YouTube, and how PRs can contribute across all platforms

Stats: over 1 million print readers, 4 million monthly website visitors, and a growing presence on YouTube and social media

Key opportunities for PRs to pitch to gift guides, trend features, the Lust List, newsletter giveaways, and YouTube content

Why she champions small and eco-conscious brands and the importance of standout, high-quality product images

How to pitch successfully: pricing, timing, formatting, and what not to do (hint: no WeTransfers with no context)

Lead times for Christmas content and why September is critical for festive pitching

Got something new? January, February and late summer are great times to pitch fresh collections and concepts

Smaller brands are not only welcome, but actively encouraged. Catherine loves spotting unique, feel-good products with a strong story

Key Takeaways:

Keep your pitch short, visual, and to the point. Include prices and downloadable high-res images

JPEGs, drop shadows, overhead cutouts, and affordability matter more than you think

Pitch early. Fabulous starts Christmas content in early September and wraps gift guides by mid-October

Products launching in early spring or post-summer are ideal to pitch in January, February and August

Smaller and independent businesses with eco stories or standout design have a real shot if the imagery is strong

22 Jul 2025