Media, Darling: Julia McEwen

Julia McEwen has been fixated on all things beautifying since she
was a child sewing clothes for her dolls and giving them radical new hair ‘dos.
She’s a fashion sleuth, facial mask hoarder, self-described dog snob, and
purveyor of shiny fabrics. She briefly worked as an independent fashion designer and a
freelance wardrobe stylist before joining Canadian Living almost five years ago. Now, as fashion
and beauty director, McEwen is responsible for fashion and beauty photo shoots,
service driven beauty stories and testing the latest products and trends.

Twitter: @JuliaPJMcEwen @canadianliving

Website: Canadianliving.com 

Did
you always want to be in the media? If not, what other careers were on the
horizon?

Many
jobs — both real and fake — were on my wish list growing up, but a job in the
media was never top of mind. Like most little girls, the prospect of being a fairy princess or a mermaid sounded like a good bet. As I grew older (but not
so much wiser) professional gymnast or Olympic downhill ski racer was the goal.
Next came vet, marine biologist, lawyer, interior designer and then finally I
settled on fashion designer. I went to school for fashion design and fashion
business and while attending one of my electives, fashion journalism, I decided
that was my dream occupation.

Where
would you like to be five years from now?

I’d
still like to be working in print media, but on a larger scale with more of a
focus on fashion. I’d like to be writing and producing aspirational photo
shoots and articles. Ideally this future publication would be located in NYC or
London.

Any
advice for people getting started in your industry?

Try,
try and try again. Oh, and do one, two or even three internships. Perseverance
is the name of the game in this industry. You have to love what you’re doing
because it’s a ton of work for not a lot of pay. Also, never be rude to people.
Being an asshole will get you nowhere, fast.

What
are your favourite media outlets, not including your own? 

Fashion,
Elle, Vogue, Allure, W, Vanity Fair, HBO, Reddit, refinery29, style.com, TheCut.

Best
interview you’ve ever had?

Surprisingly
enough, one of my best interviews was also one of my first interviews. It was
with reality TV mentor, Tim Gunn. He was very media trained so for a newbie
journalist it was appreciated. He was also astoundingly insightful, charming
and inspiring. What more could I ask for?

Worst?

Carrie Underwood. Seconds before the interview I was instructed not to ask any
questions with a Canadian emphasis. I work for Canadian Living magazine……

Best
advice you’ve ever been given?

“Why
say no when it feels so good to say yes.” – Tommy Boy, the movie.

“Don’t
live in the past or the future, live in the now.” – My friend’s mom, aka Buddha
reincarnated.

What
rule(s) do you live your life by?

Likely
this rule is fuelled by my OCD, but for the last eight years, I plan out my outfit
for the following day. Every detail is decided on in advance, including
accessories and jewelry. It helps keep my closet tidy and gives me plenty of
time to map out the perfect outfit for the day ahead.

What’s
the most important tip you can give PR pros?

When
it comes down to it, a PR person’s success depends on their relationships with
media peeps. We’re all human, no need to send out mass emails or leave awkward
voicemails like you’re reading from a bad script. Just be real, talk openly and
be honest.

Things
that make me happy:
When
a press release has the name of the product, price, availability and arrives
early enough for it to be timely to feature in book for long lead media, events
on the subway line that are first thing in the AM and events/previews/interviews
that start on time and don’t last longer than an hour.

Things
that make me go crazy:
Massive
attachments in email, the
phone call follow up less than 24 hours after the initial pitch/event has been
sent or emailed, saying
something is exclusive when your direct competitors are being offered the exact
same thing and events/previews
in the middle of the day.

Best
experience you’ve had with a PR pro? We love to hear about #wins.

I’ve
had countless warm and fuzzy experiences with so many wonderful PR pros it’s
difficult to pick an all time best. So I’ll just give a few of them shout outs
for being my PR guardian angels: Katherine Hamilton, Lisa Kruger, Lindsey
Haywood, Caroline Duguay, Sarah Smithers, Anita Matte, Kelly Amsterdam, Isabelle
Randez and Jessica Shamess.

I
hate?

Leggings,
UGG boots and Canada Goose jackets. Especially when worn all together with a
Starbucks in hand. #fashionfail #lifefail

I
love?

Day
sequins, rice and Norwich terriers.

Reading?

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver.

Best
place on earth?

Somewhere
I’ve yet to discoverer. My money is on Anna Dello Russo’s apartment-sized
closet.

Dinner
guest?

Dead:
Alexander McQueen. Alive: Jon Stewart.

Hero?

I
don’t have one overarching hero in my life but there are lots of influential
women out there who inspire me — and one man. Jenna Lyons, Julianne Moore,
Grace Coddington, Cate Blanchett, Gwen Stefani and Tom Ford.

Favourite
app (or whatever you are downloading these days)?

Vine
is the newest app added to my social media roster. So far it’s tied with
Instagram for top spot. Followed by Twitter, Pinterest and Viddy.

Pool
or ocean?

Ocean.
Public, resort and/or hotel pools are cesspits. 

Voicemail
or email?

Emails
all the way. Even if it takes me one, two or seven plus days I’ll eventually
reply to your email. Voicemails make me ragey.

Media, Darling: Liem Vu

Liem Vu is the news/social media host of The Morning Show on Global. Before landing his current hosting gig, his passion for storytelling has brought him to the front lines of breaking news. He has written for the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, the National Post, and hosted a series of features for MTV News, focusing on issues like suicide and the radicalization of Somali-Canadian youth.

During the G20 summit in Toronto, Vu was detained by riot police in the Queen St. ‘kettle’ while shooting a video report for the Post. Prior to his career as a journalist, he moonlighted as the lead singer of a barbershop quartet called ‘The TemptAsians,’ performing at weddings. 

Image courtesy of The Morning Show on Global.

Twitter: @liemvu
Website: morningshow.ca 


Did you always want to be in the media? If
not, what other careers were on the horizon?
I always knew I wanted to do something related
to storytelling. In high school I wrote for the student newspaper, which helped
me push through my undergraduate and graduate studies. It didn’t matter if it
was print, broadcast, or radio, I was satisfied as long as I was able to tell
someone’s story well.

Where would you like to be five years from
now?
Hopefully, I’ll still be working in
television! There are so many creative opportunities in the TV world that I
don’t think I’ll ever get bored. I honestly haven’t even thought that far ahead.
With the launch of The Morning Show across Canada, I’m focused on
coming up with new ways to tell different stories that resonate with viewers
across the country.

Any advice for people getting started in
your industry?
Intern. Intern. Intern. I know the financial
reality of being an unpaid intern may not be that appealing, however it’s the
best way to cut your teeth in the media world. People say you should actively
network and shake hands, but I have a different view on things. You shouldn’t pre-occupy yourself with “networking.” Yes, it’s important, but the key is to do
good work. Doing good work will get you noticed, not just schmoozing. Trust me…I
was a shy 240-pound guy seven years ago…

What are your favourite media outlets, not
including your own? 
Full disclosure: I love the Oprah Winfrey
Network. Next Chapter and Master Class are such inspirational shows. The
types of interviews she conducts inspire me to pick up my journalistic game on a
weekly basis.

Best interview you’ve ever had?
It was a series of interviews I did for MTV
News about Somali-Canadian youth in Toronto’s Little Mogadishu neighbourhood.
Since 2005, over 30 young Somali-Canadians died because of violence and at least
another 30 were recruited by a terrorist group called Al-Shabab. I had the
opportunity to interview a man who spent six months in the extremist group along
with young men who had lost their friends. It was an eye-opening experience that
I’ll never forget.

Worst?
There are always bad interviews, but you just
got to roll with it.

Best advice you’ve ever been
given?
Treat others how you want to be treated, and be
humble.

What rule(s) do you live your life
by?
Sleep. Nap. Exercise. It’s the only way you
can survive the early morning TV grind!

What’s the most important tip you can give
PR pros?
Be willing to discuss the direction of an
interview/segment. As Vanilla Ice once said: Stop, Collaborate, and Listen.

Best experience you’ve had with a PR pro?
We love to hear about #wins.
Working with High Road Communications for my
inside look at Facebook Canada HQ. And working with APEX PR for my feature on
Google Canada. Both pieces turned out amazing, thanks to their patience and
willingness to give me access to these unique office spaces.

I hate?
Stepping on gum.

I love?
Spinning. For real.

Reading?
Toronto Life. Esquire. The Walrus. Daily
newspapers.

Best place on earth?
Canada!

Dinner guest?
Mark Zuckerberg. That man fascinates me…

Hero?
My parents. They risked their lives by
escaping the Vietnam war just so I could have better opportunities. I will be
forever grateful.

Favourite app (or whatever you are
downloading these days)?
Instagram

Pool or ocean?
Ocean.

Voicemail or email?
Email. I always forget to check
voicemail.

Media, Darling: Susan Catto

Susan Catto is deputy editor of Hello! Canada and
has been with the magazine since 2009. After studying at Columbia and Oxford,
she returned to her native Toronto and became a freelance journalist with
regular gigs at the New York Times,
the Economist.com, TIME Canada and Lucky. Susan lives in the east end with her husband and two young
kids.

Twitter: @sjcatto, @HelloCanada

Website: www.hellomagazine.ca

Did you always want to be in the media? If not, what other careers were on the horizon?

As soon
as I discovered magazines, I wanted to be a freelance writer. I did a detour,
earning a doctorate (in eighteenth-century literature, yay!) and even teaching
university courses for two years. I was freelancing at the same time, though,
and journalism always felt like a privilege, not a job. It was a pretty easy
call to make.

Where
would you like to be five years from now?
Still finding my work as interesting and challenging as I do now. 

Any
advice for people getting started in your industry?

Read a
newspaper every day — and if you read it online, at least scan each headline,
don’t just click on the stories you are already interested in. Young people who
are curious and well-informed with good general knowledge really stand out. The
people you are working for or pitching to may be decades older and it helps to
understand their cultural reference points. Plus, life is just more interesting
when you know stuff!

What are your favourite media outlets, not
including your own?

For work, Celebitchy
and the Daily Mail; for fun, The New Yorker and HBO Canada. 

Best
interview you’ve ever had?
I recently interviewed Joan Rivers, which was a kick because I had interned on
her talk show when I was in university. She didn’t remember me, of course, but
it made for a nice rapport and she was as funny, frank and interesting as you
would expect.

Worst?
As a
stringer for the New York Times I once had to knock on doors in rural Muskoka
— at night — trying to find a guy who’d just been accused of child molesting.
I didn’t find him but just thinking of what that interview would have been like is bad enough. 

 Best advice you’ve ever been given? 

“No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money.” 

What
rule(s) do you live your life by? 

Find the bright side and practice gratitude.


What’s
the most important tip you can give PR pros?

Get to know what we do and don’t cover so you can tailor your pitch to our
magazine.

Best
experience you’ve had with a PR pro? We love to hear about #wins.

I
screwed up the time of my Joan Rivers interview and Lia Caponecchia at the
Shopping Channel had to take the flack for it…but still helped me get a new
slot. Lifesaver!

I hate?

People
who are routinely rude or dismissive. Are they really so important/stressed out
that general standards of politeness don’t apply to them?

I love?

Godiva
dark chocolate-covered pretzels.

Reading?

Yes,
compulsively and indiscriminately…

Best place on earth?
Outer Banks, N.C.

Dinner guest?

MartinAmis.

Hero?

Tina Fey.

Favourite app (or whatever you are downloading these days)?

Netflix,
to catch up on the first few seasons of Breaking
Bad.

Pool or ocean?

Ocean,
no contest!

Voicemail or email?

Email.

Media, Darling: Doug O’Neill

Doug O’Neill is the executive editor of Canadian Living magazine,
where he also produces the weekly Travel Talk blog.  Doug’s career in
magazines has taken him to a slew of Canadian titles including Toronto Life, TV
GUIDE, Homemakers, and he’s also freelanced for a variety of Canadian and
American magazines. He most recently taught “Service Journalism” in
the Magazine Publishing Program at Ryerson University.

Twitter: @DougONeill, @canadianliving

Website: www.canadianliving.com 

Did
you always want to be in the media? If not, what other careers were on the
horizon?

I‘ve
always been smitten with words. Storytelling was part of my Gaelic heritage.
But for some reason, I took a detour and studied environmental science at
university. Two semesters spent mucking about swamps was all I needed and I
transferred to the English department. After graduation I made a bee-line for
the magazine world.

Where would you like to be five years from now?

I’d like to be in a position that
enables me to work overseas for chunks of the year. I spent seven months in
Paris in the mid-1990s and it was a daily brain-twister – and a lot of fun. A
project (long-term or short-term) that would take me to Asia would turn my
crank.

Any advice for people getting started in
your industry?

Follow your gut. If you have a
quirky interest, make time for it. Those signature passions are what define you. No job is 100% perfect – but make sure one part of your job is a
perfect fit for you. And play with technology, even if you’re technophobic.
New gadgetry will unleash more creativity.

What are your favourite media outlets, not including
your own? 

Podcasts: Ted Talks, CBC’s “Definitely Not the Opera” and “The Amateur Traveler.” Print magazines (in no
particular order):  Afar (travel), Vanity Fair, Geez (new age, alternative
spirituality), Gourmet, National Geographic, Globe
and Mail Focus section (and anything penned by Elizabeth Renzetti), Food &
Drink (for the pretty pictures), Enroute and the Springwater News (the
tiny community weekly that covers my home town – my aunt buys me a subscription
each year). Digital – where do I begin? Too many to mention but a
few off the top include Tyee, Spacing,  Macleans.ca (I still can’t read
the print version but love what they’re doing digitally), Toque & Canoe,
and the social media/community sections of CBC.ca (their news packaging has
been dull of late, but some great bloggers right now!).

Best interview you’ve ever had?

Irish
singer Sinead O’Connor.  She swore, then I swore, we both swore. I swear
it was the best interview ever. We talked about religion and dysfunctional
families.

Worst?

Margaret
Atwood. I was a junior researcher at Toronto Life in the mid-1980s. Ms. Atwood
answered the phone by saying,  “So, what’s your problem?”. I was quaking in my Birkenstocks.

Best
advice you’ve ever been given?

From a former boss/mentor:
“Keep asking yourself questions. Invite your inner editor to perch behind
your ear and  then listen to him/her. You discover your best answers when
the questions come from within.”

What rule(s) do you live your life by?

I’d like to say I live by this
rule, but sometimes I falter. In short:  Do what you want – not what
you should. If you do as you ‘should,’ sure you could probably have a really
good job. Do as you ‘really want’ – and you’ve got an amazing career you
absolutely love.

What’s the most important tip you can give
PR pros?
Don’t
be dismayed if we don’t return your call or reply to your email right away. If
we like your pitch, we’ll definitely get in touch. It just may not be the right
moment. 

Best experience you’ve had with a PR pro? We
love to hear about #wins.
I
worked on an intensive editorial partnership at the London Olympics sponsored
by P&G. Their on-the-ground team, Toronto-based MSL Canada, frequently used
a phrase that is pure magic to media: “Okay, Doug, we’re going to leave
you alone now so you can do what you’ve gotta do.”  H-E-A-V-E-N. They
knew when to pull back. Some PR folks tend to shadow media a little too much at
 media events and when working on projects. The MSL team were there when I
needed them, and then gave me the autonomy I required to get my story. It
worked for everyone. (Oh, and if you’re going to sit in on interviews — be sure
to ask the interviewer in advance if that is okay.)

I
hate?

#1. Mid-day PR luncheons.
 They wreak havoc on the schedule – and my tummy. Immediately after work
is so much better.

#2. Shopping – unless it’s for
kitchen gadgets and travel accessories.

#3. Small talk.

I love?

#1.When PR folks make a specific
reference to a recent editorial item in the print mag or online. It shows they
really know us.

#2. Patsy Cline. And not just
because we share the same birthday.

#2. My Bose iPod dock.

Reading?

I tend to read a few books at
once, but not all of the same genre. Currently: Linden MacIntyre’s Why Men Lie (fiction, not a self-help book!),  Rita Golden Gelman’s Tales of a Female Nomad (a travel memoir), and Naomi Duguid’s Burma: Rivers of Flavours (food meets history.)

Best place on earth?

A toss-up: Haida Gwaii off
Northern British Columbia or Southern India.

Dinner
guest?

Annie Lennox.

Hero?

Jane Goodall because she is
forever breaking the mould. And my late Dad, who single-handedly raised eight kids
on his own. He, too, broke the mould.

Favourite
app (or whatever you are downloading these days)?

Packing Pro. Seriously, I can pack
for a 10-day trip with no stress, no fuss. I simply do what my Packing app
tells me.

Pool or ocean?

Ocean, preferably at dawn.

Voicemail
or email?

Email. 

Media, Darling: Carlene Higgins

Carlene Higgins started her publishing career as an
administrative assistant at Salon Magazine before joining Flare nine years ago. As
beauty director, she’s responsible for award winning photo shoots,
up-to-the-minute beauty stories and testing the latest products and trends.

Twitter: @carlenetweets
Website: www.flare.com


Did you always want to be in the media? If not, what
other careers were on the horizon?

I graduated with an Environmental Studies degree with a
minor in English. I worked in advocacy for a bit but it didn’t suit me. I felt
good about making a difference in the world but ultimately, I wasn’t happy and I
don’t believe that’s doing anybody any good. I needed more structure and
creativity and once I stepped foot in the magazine world, I knew I was in the
right place.

Where would you like to be five years from now?

Dunno. I’m really happy with where I’m at right now. I
love my work, I’m being challenged, I’m learning and I’m given the freedom to
push my work creatively in different areas I want to go. Sometimes I think
about being an editor in chief or starting a website, and other times I dream
about going in on an independent project with somebody and making trillions of
dollars on a really great idea instead of writing about other people’s all the
time.


Any advice for people getting started in your industry?

Be really good at whatever it is you do. If you suck at
photocopying and filing, nobody is going to keep you around long enough to find
out what you really are good at. Make yourself indispensable, pay your dues,
and every once in a while, push to go in the direction you want to go. Also,
forget the attitude problem you mastered in high school. It won’t work in the
real world (my tongue bled from all the biting those first few years). You need
to quickly adjust to find new ways of settling matters. Hint: it involves
removing your feelings from any work situation. It’s tough. Practice your poker
face in the meantime.

What are your favourite media outlets, not including your own? 

I took a year long break from TV watching but television
seems to be having a moment right now. I’m pretty convinced Game of Thrones and
Girls could be the best shows ever to air, just comparing to a few years ago
when I actually thought Lost was a really good show.

Best interview you’ve ever had?

Justin Timberlake. My husband still questions my
daughter’s true DNA.

Worst?

I’d tell you, but I’d get in shit from the PR
company tomorrow.

Best advice you’ve ever been given?

Writing well is using the least amount of words to say
the most you want to say (thanks Dad).

What rule(s) do you live your life by?

Be brave and forgive yourself when things don’t always
work out. It was worth a shot.

What’s the most important tip you can give PR pros?

Calling an editor to follow up on whether a package
arrived is the equivalent of telemarketers calling during dinner.

Best experience you’ve had with a PR pro? We love to hear
about #wins.

I am so happy when a press release comes in with
A) the name of the product B) a description of its benefits including key
ingredients C) the price D) the launch date E) arrives 3 months before the
launch date. 

I hate? 
Haters.

I love? 
Lovers.

Reading? 

A book that is so similar to Downton
Abbey it’s a bit scary.

Best place on earth? 
Home.

Dinner guest? 
Ellen DeGeneres.

Hero? 
Ellen DeGeneres.

Pool or ocean? 
Both.

Voicemail or email?
Email.

Media, Darling: Fiona Forbes

Fiona Forbes is a Canadian television personality who currently hosts Urban Rush, an award-winning entertainment talk show based in Vancouver. Fiona earned a degree in history from the University of British Columbia. While she initially planned to pursue a law degree, Fiona applied to a journalism program instead on a whim. She has now interviewed over twenty thousand people, including everyone from Michael Buble to The Pussycat Dolls to Arnold Schwarzenegger, and received many accolades including praise from none other than Regis Philbin. It seems she has found her calling.

Twitter: @FionaForbes

Website: http://fionaforbes.com/

Did you always want to be in the media? If not, what other careers
were on the horizon? 

I actually wanted to be a lawyer and through fate and serendipity I
ended up on TV before I went to law school. 

Where would you like to be five years from now?

Hopefully I’ll still be still be doing what I love to do – making people
laugh and interviewing interesting people. My co-host and I have always had the goal of taking our show to a national audience…

Any advice for people getting started in your industry?

Don’t be afraid to hit up people you admire for advice and ask them how
they got their gig. Try and intern as much as possible – proximity leads to
opportunity – being in the right place at the right time is key in this
business!

What are your favourite media outlets, not including your own?
(i.e.: what do you read/listen/watch?)

I’m a consumer of all media. As my job mostly focuses on the
entertainment world I lean towards the standards when it comes to TV –
Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood etc. to keep up to date. For my show
prep I lean towards pop culture websites and blogs – I have about 20 sites I
visit daily bookmarked. I love this part of my job and don’t really consider it
work!

Best interview you’ve ever had?

Over the years I’ve interviewed over 20,000 people so it tends to be
kind of a blur! One of my favourite people to talk to is Michael Buble. His
first TV interview was on our show many years ago and we always have a blast
and get into some sort of hijinx when we hang with Buble!

Worst?

Goldie Hawn. I was so excited to meet her and get the opportunity to
interview such an icon but let’s just say Goldie was not having a good day and
the interview didn’t even happen.

Best advice you’ve ever been given?

Never give up.

What rule(s) do you live your life by?

Do or do not. There is no try. – Yoda

What’s the most important tip you can give PR pros?

Keep your pitches short and sweet! I get so many press releases that are
so convoluted it’s like a puzzle trying to figure out what’s being promoted. Know who you’re pitching and take the time to personalize it.

Best experience you’ve had with a PR pro? We love to hear about
#wins.

The best person I know in PR only pitches me when she knows it will suit
our show. She always comes up with creative ideas and always follows through
with them. She’s persistent but not pushy and always does a great job for her
client and makes great TV in the process.

I hate?

Cilantro. Seriously.

  

I love?

My job. I feel so fortunate to have found a career that I love.

Reading?

On a long flight I love to read Vanity Fair cover to cover. I also think
I’m one of the only females yet to read “50 Shades of Grey”…it’s on
the list!

Best place on earth? 

Amalfi Coast in Italy.

Dinner guest?

Would love to have dinner with my Dad – he passed away about ten years ago.
My favourite thing was to make him Sunday dinner and I’d give anything to do
that one more time.

Hero?

Same as my dinner guest. My Dad was a great man.

Favourite app (or whatever you are downloading these days)?

Uber! It’s a great car service that geolocates you and is there within a
few minutes. Cabs in Vancouver are so overpriced and always dirty.

Pool or ocean?

Oh, either is fine with me! I’m a total water baby and could stay in
either all day.

Voicemail or email?

Email. And less is more! 

Media, Darling: Sabrina Maddeaux

Sabrina
Maddeaux is the Managing Editor at Toronto Standard, where she writes
and edits smart, candid content that sometimes makes people angry. Prior to
that, she was the Style Editor at Toronto Standard. And before that, she
freelanced for publications such as Toronto Life, blogTO.com, Sweetspot.ca,
TCHAD Quarterly, Faze Magazine, GlobalNews.ca, and more.

She
attended St. Bonaventure University in New York, where she studied political
science, journalism, and theology, and played NCAA Division I soccer for two
years. She likes things that aren’t boring. And cheese, always cheese.

Photo credit: Becca Lemire

Twitter:
@Sabrina Maddeaux, @TorontoStandard

Did you always want to be in the media? If not, what other careers were
on the horizon?

Actually, I always thought I’d be a lawyer. When I graduated from
university, I got into top law schools like Boston College and Notre Dame — I
even put down a deposit at Boston College and moved there. Two weeks before
classes were supposed to begin, something just didn’t feel right. So I totally
freaked out my parents, got a one-year acceptance deferral, and never looked
back.

Where would you like to be five years from now?

I’d still like to be the editor of an independent publication. There’s
so much more freedom in what you can write and the opinions you can express — I
can’t see myself giving that up anytime soon.

Any advice for people getting started in your industry?

Live outside whatever your beat is. If you cover fashion by day, be a
political junkie by night. It provides perspective and makes for a more
interesting writer and person.

Also, don’t regurgitate press releases. Think for yourself. Originality
creates value.

What are your favourite media outlets, not including your own? 

The Atlantic, the New York Times, Jezebel, xoJane, The Paris Review, The
New Yorker, The New Inquiry, Gawker, and a slew of other small independent
pubs. I watch Breaking Bad, Damages, Veep, Mad Men, Dexter, Golden Girls
reruns, and too much TMZ.

Best interview you’ve ever had? Worst?

I’ve always had good interviews, maybe because I think of them as
conversations and not interviews. I’m also really picky about who I interview
because I hate transcribing.

Best advice you’ve ever been given?

I think it was Kelly Cutrone who said, “Be everywhere, meet everyone.”
That was my philosophy for a long time, and still is. This industry is all
about networking and you never know when you’ll meet someone that can change
your career.

What rule(s) do you live your life by?

Always eat a good breakfast. Cereal doesn’t count.

What’s the most important tip you can give PR pros?

Don’t complain about mostly positive coverage (unless there’s a factual
error). And don’t complain about honest reviews and feedback — even when
they’re negative. Also, don’t blacklist lightly. Media talk and we tend to have
each other’s backs when it comes down to it.

Finally, read my publication. If you pitch me an actress for our next
(nonexistent) cover, I can’t take you seriously ever again.

Best experience you’ve had with a PR pro? We love to hear about #wins.

I like any PR pro who takes the time to get to know my publication and
me. The agencies and publicists I prefer really get what I do and don’t try to
brainwash me.

I also appreciate PRs who set realistic expectations about their events
and products; it shows they value my time and trust. Don’t lie to me, and I’ll
like you. If I like you, I might just cover that dingy event where one Degrassi
kid shows up (You’ll eventually have one. Everybody does), because I care.

I hate?

Censorship, Internet outages.

I love?

Strong cheeses and John Lithgow.

Reading?

I’m slowly working my way through the Game of Thrones series.

Best place on earth?

St. Bonaventure, NY.

Dinner guest?

I’m a little obsessed with media mogul and feminist icon Jane Pratt
right now. Would love to pick her brain.

Hero?

I think everyone should be his or her own hero.

Favourite app (or whatever you are downloading these days)?

Is it so five years ago to say Shazam? I’m on a BlackBerry, so my
entire device is so five years ago. I can’t be blamed.

Pool or ocean?

No question: ocean. The smell alone is so relaxing.

Voicemail or email?

Unless someone’s dying… NEVER, EVER voicemail.

Media, Darling: Pay Chen

Pay Chen is a TV host, writer and producer
who got her on-air start at OMNI-TV in Toronto, sharing short infotainment
segments in prime time and late night. Her favourite pick-up line during those
years was, “You’re the last woman I see before I fall asleep.” She’s also the former host of Breakfast
Television Winnipeg on Citytv, and hosted programs for G4TechTV, The Biography
Channel and is seen nationally on the popular preschool series, 4 Square (it was a show before being known as a place
you can check-in).

Pay is currently The Bachelor Canada
Insider for iVillage.ca and The Bachelor Canada, where she’ll dish the dirt on
what’s really happening on the show, set to hit your screens this fall on
Citytv.

She has written for children’s television
shows and is currently writing for an animated series. Her passion for all
things local and edible have lead to regular food columns for the Toronto Standard, Metro newspapers and contributions to iVillage.ca.

Pay used to be very skilled at the ukulele.

Website: www.PayChen.com

Twitter: @PayChen

Did you always want to be in the media? If
not, what other careers were on the horizon? 

I had always wanted to be a teacher and
then became really interested in working in children’s television. After a few
years of doing educational TV and programs, I decided to go back to school to
get my teaching certificate. I was accepted into a post-grad program in
Australia and was making plans to move when, on a whim, I applied for the host
position at OMNI. I spent seven years at OMNI and never made it to Australia.

Where would you like to be five years from
now?

I’d like to be Tom Cruise’s fourth ex-wife. Or you know, happy. Loving what I do and
still feeling challenged by it.

Any advice for people getting started in
your industry?

A lot of people ask me how to get a job
on-camera. That’s a tough one. You don’t necessarily need certain skills.
Sometimes people are hired because they have the right look. I worked in
production and was writing before I was hosting. It gave me a true
understanding and appreciation for the process of making television. Also, when
you know how to produce segments and direct shoots, it’s harder for people to
bullshit you later as a host. To do well, you need to understand what others do.
My first job was as a production co-ordinator. I did the running around,
photocopying and tedious schedules. I have a lot of respect for good
co-ordinators and production assistants. They hold the show together.

Also, be willing to learn what other people do.
You won’t build that show yourself.

What are your favourite media outlets, not
including your own? 

I leave those 24-hour news channels on all
day. They repeat the stories every 15 minutes so after the third time seeing
the same story I always think, “I knew that.” And I feel really smart. 

I also have a fondness for the CBC because it
had such a strong influence on my childhood. My brother and I learned to speak
English by watching TV. CBC, PBS and Magnum P.I. formed us as people. I also watch a lot of Food Network. It’s no
secret that I would love to host and produce a food show.

Best interview you’ve ever had?

I can’t think of just one, but the best
ones feel like you’re shooting the breeze with a friend. The laughs are genuine
and you’re sad when you have to wrap.

Kids and teens make up some of my most
rewarding and memorable interviews. I used to be a story researcher on a teen
show. We dealt with some heavy issues that affected kids (violence, eating
disorders, bullying, drugs) and kids don’t filter or edit what they say the way
adults do. They are brutally honest.

Worst?

Sometimes you interview people who don’t
want to do press and you can tell they’d rather be somewhere else.

Best advice you’ve ever been given?

As a host: Be yourself.

As a writer: Read it out loud.

As a producer: B-roll. There’s never
enough.

What rule(s) do you live your life by?

Don’t be an a**hole. Be kind. Be helpful.

What’s the most important tip you can give
PR pros?

Know the show I’m working on or the column
I write when you pitch. I’ve had people pitch me ideas when I was on BT and not
realize we were a LIVE morning show. Also, it might be one product that you’re
pitching to many outlets, but let me know you’ve considered my audience by
suggesting an angle that suits what I’m working on. I’ll feel like you did me a
favour.

Best experience you’ve had with a PR pro?
We love to hear about #wins.

I’ve had many great experiences! I tend to
work with the ones I like over and over again. I count many PR pros as friends.
The ones who understand that TV is about visuals and good speakers. You want
promotion and I want content, so let’s make it work. Good PR people and good hosts have to be
great listeners. We both talk and “sell” for a living – sometimes you just need
to shut up and listen.

I hate?

Rudeness. When people have a sense of
entitlement. The sound of girls shuffling their feet
when they wear Uggs. Will they fall off if you pick your feet up? The smell of boiled hot dogs.

I love?

Kind people. Those who do things without
expecting anything in return and those who do it without drawing any attention
to themselves. Plain chocolate cake, no icing. Things in jars. Seriously, it’s an
obsession.

Reading?

Scripts. But I want to reread Tina Fey’s Bossypants. “Over! Under! Through!” – That’s great advice.

Best place on earth? 


Anywhere I can have my closest friends,
access to cheese and dessert.




Dinner guest?

I would love to get Tina Fey, Ellen
DeGeneres and some of my best friends together because we’d laugh until we
hurt.

Hero?

Christian Bale as Batman. Wait, I didn’t
answer this correctly did I?

Favourite app (or whatever you are
downloading these days)?

I’m an Instagram addict. I post photos of
lattes and nailpolish like everyone else.

Pool or ocean?

Ocean. I grew up in Nova Scotia. I miss the
sound and the smell of the ocean. Not the bad smells. I don’t miss those.

Voicemail or email?

Email. I hate long voicemails and I’m
usually running around when people call so I’m only half listening.

Media, Darling: Brett Walther

As Canadian Living’s Home & Garden
Director, Brett Walther shares simply chic décor strategies with the magazine’s
3.9 million readers. With an emphasis on getting high-end style for less, his
do-it-yourself approach stretches decorating dollars, and translates the
hottest design trends into easy, breezy, weekend updates.

Before joining the Canadian Living family,
Brett previously served as the features editor at Style at Home magazine, where
he became a familiar face across the country as a regular guest on CityTV’s CityLine.

After hours, Brett can usually be found at
his Toronto Cityplace condo (where you can “almost, but not quite” watch the
Jays on the Rogers Centre field), making the slow – and expensive – transition
from minimalism to maximalism.

Twitter: @BrettCanLiving, @canadian_living

Website: www.canadianliving.com

Did you always want to be in the media?

Remember that TVO show from the early ’80s
where the three kids inherited the clubhouse filled with robots, and started a
newspaper as a cover for fighting aliens? That pretty much cemented my career
path, and I’ve never strayed far from those dreams of making it as a real-life boy
reporter. I’d toyed with the idea of playing it safe as an in-the-trenches foreign
correspondent in my late teens, but the danger of the design beat ultimately won me over.

Where would you like to be five years from
now?

I’d love to be where I am now, having spent
the past five years elevating the profile of Canadian Living’s Home &
Garden section to rival our Food content. That’s right – watch out, Test
Kitchen.

Any advice for people getting started in
your industry?

Make yourself indispensible. Your greatest
achievement as an intern is to make your editor wonder how anything got
accomplished before you came on the scene.

What are your favourite media outlets, not
including your own?

I adore House Beautiful and Country Living.
Even if a particular story isn’t appealing to me from a style standpoint, their
savvy packaging pulls me right in. I’m tempted to add CBC to come off all highbrow,
but it’s only on for Coronation Street.

Best interview you’ve ever had?

Sherri Donghia, the design director of the Donghia home textiles empire. The interview was a marathon three-hour stroll through her
impossibly inspiring fabric showroom, which ended with her offering me a job in
her Manhattan HQ. I’m sure she was thinking “swatch-room stock boy,” but I was
still rather flattered.

Worst?

Interviewing other journos is rarely any
fun. We tend to be a terribly guarded bunch in the presence of recording
devices. Worse than that are interviews with pseudo-celebs who suddenly decide
they’re designers because a bed-in-a-bag has their face plastered on the
packaging. Barf.

Best advice you’ve ever been given?

“Products on-page should never appear
larger than they do in real life,” “Anniversaries aren’t real news pegs,” “Every
planter pot needs spillers, thrillers and fillers,” “Know your reader,” and “A
person who is nice to you but is not nice to your server is not a nice person.”

What rule(s) do you live your life by?

Dorothy Draper wrote the seminal DIY
decorating guide, Decorating is Fun! back in 1939, and it’s basically my
manifesto – even beyond the confines of design. If something stops being fun, I
know that it’s time for a change.

What’s the most important tip you can give
PR pros?

Be as transparent as possible. If access to
a junket or interview opportunity is dependent on specific conditions and
expectations of coverage, I need full disclosure in advance. Is the client
going to push for a specific platform for publication? Are they hoping for release
by a certain deadline? Although I’m obviously not going to accept a seven-night
stay at the new Knightsbridge Bulgari without covering it in some capacity,
I’ll graciously decline the invitation if I know in advance I can’t deliver
anything near what you’re hoping for. It’s common courtesy. My momma taught me
that.

And please – for the love of all that is
holy – enough with those silly supplied hashtags at press events.

Best experience you’ve had with a PR pro?
We love to hear about #wins.

There’s that gorgeous Helen Mirren line
from Gosford Park when she goes on about how she’s good at her job because
she knows what her ladyship wants before she knows she wants it herself… It’s
always lovely to be furnished with the full complement of high-res images,
product specs, Canadian retails and sourcing deets before you actually have to
request a thing. Jennifer Thompson from Elevator, for example, is a master at
that sort of intuitive approach to PR, and I love her to bits.

I hate?

Karate-chopped cushions, pot light chandeliers,
bun feet, flocked wallpapers and windows without drapes.

I love?

Cabriole legs, grey-washed wood, horizontal
stripes, camelback sofas, button tufting, and blue-and-white transferware.

Reading?

Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall.

Best place on earth?

My family’s farm in southwestern Ontario.

Dinner guest?

Madonna on one side, and her
would-be-decorator brother Christopher on the other. I’d referee.

Hero?

Jose Bautista. Even if you’re not a Jays
fan (and shame on you if you’re not), the beard is worthy of worship.

Favourite app (or whatever you are
downloading these days)?

I have a full-on, Zak Morris Saved by the
Bell phone. It’s a miracle I can even text.

Pool or ocean?

Lake.

Voicemail or email?

Email. It’s very possible that phone of mine isn’t voicemail-capable.

Media, Darling: Carley Fortune

Carley Fortune is the editor of The Grid’s
life section, where she handles stories on fashion, real estate, parenting,
retail and food, which makes her very hungry. Occasionally, she writes about world
issues, like finding an apartment and saving money, but mostly she sits in
front of a computer thinking of ways to get the word “woot” into display copy. She’s
been working in magazines for six years, previously as the associate online
editor at Toronto Life.

Twitter: @carleyfortune, @thegridto

Website: www.thegridto.com

Did you always want to be in the media? If
not, what other careers were on the horizon?

No, but I’ve been a lover of magazines
since a very young age. I wanted to be a florist, a vet and a marine biologist
when I was little. In high school, I seriously considered becoming a lawyer,
but decided to go to journalism school and see if I could make it in the
magazine biz.

Where would you like to be five years from now?

Still in magazines. Still in Toronto. Much
larger pay cheque. Or, I’ll retire to the countryside and edit cookbooks.

Any advice for people getting started in your industry?

Lose the attitude. Listen. Share your
ideas.

What are your favourite media outlets, not including your own? 

I love Slate and The Atlantic online. I
listen to Slate’s Culture Gabfest and the James Beard Foundation’s Taste
Matters podcasts. I’m a magazine addict and one of my favourite things is to
spend time in front of the newsstand and see what stands out. I often pick up Bon
Apetit, Esquire and GQ; I wish there were equally awesome women’s publications.
My partner and I subscribe to the New Yorker, New York, Toronto Life, and
Saveur.

Best interview you’ve ever had?
When I was at Ryerson, Colin Mochrie let me interview and shadow him for three
days for a class assignment. He was so open and generous with his time, and I
was able to write and report a proper profile. I learned a lot from that
assignment. 

Worst?
A couple of friends and I fake interviewed Joffrey Lupul at a party. I stood
staring at him with my mouth agape. It was horrifying.

Best advice you’ve ever been given?

“Be careful, your mouth is going to get you
in trouble one day.” I just haven’t really followed it.

What rule(s) do you live your life by?

Be prompt. Work hard. Say what you think.

What’s the most important tip you can give PR pros?

Know the publication. Obviously, The Grid
is focused very tightly on Toronto, but I can’t tell you how many travel and
national stories I’m pitched.

Best experience you’ve had with a PR pro? We love to hear about #wins.

Hmm… I recently went to a fantastic beauty
trend seminar held by MAC. It was a small group of people in a nice setting, it
was fun and I learned a lot.

I hate?

Public spitting, bad manners, men with long
fingernails, chipped nail polish.

I love?

A home-cooked dinner, Toronto restaurants, red
lipstick, Manhattans, Smashbox’s Photo Finish Primer, my girlfriends,
loungewear, my fiancé’s smile, Slate’s Mad Men recaps.

Reading?

Ruth Reichl’s Not Becoming My Mother.

Best place on earth?

A dock, anywhere.

Dinner guest?
Pippa Lord, who runs the website Sous Style
and is the photo director for Elle. She just seems like a really smart, stylish,
spunky Aussie chick.

Hero?

My parents. And Eve Best in Nurse Jackie.

Favourite app (or whatever you are downloading these days)?

Truthfully, I’m obsessed with the
calorie-counting app MyFitnessPal. I gained what I call
“The Grid 10” in my first year at the magazine. There’s always delicious,
bad-for-you food at the office, but this helped me get rid of it.

Pool or ocean?

Ocean. Chlorine gives me a rash. But I grew
up on a lake and love freshwater the most.

Voicemail or email?

I don’t know how to check my voicemail.