This week, in celebration of International Women’s Month, The BSME and Rosewood London hosted an inspiring discussion lead by Andrea Thompson, chair of the BSME and editor-in-chief of Marie Claire, in conversation with renowned journalist and broadcaster Emma Barnett.
BSME members and guests gathered in the elegant Scarfes Bar for an insightful discussion about what it means to be a woman in journalism as Emma opened up about overcoming challenges, navigating maternity leave and advocating for better support in the industry. She also discussed her new book, Maternity Service: A Love Letter to Mothers from the Frontline, sparking an important conversation about the realities faced by working mothers.
A huge thank you to Emma for her brilliant insights, Andrea for hosting the discussion, as well as our guests and Rosewood London for making this a memorable celebration of women in journalism.
Photography: David Cotter
Takeaways
BSME members and guests came together last week for a special breakfast to celebrate International Women's Month. The event featured a refreshingly candid talk with BBC broadcaster, Emma Barnett in conversation with newly appointed BSME chair and editor-in-chief of Marie Claire, Andrea Thompson.
At the stylish Scarfes Bar in the Rosewood Hotel in central London, Barnett reflected on her impressive career, her personal struggles with her health and navigating the fast-shifting media landscape as a woman.
Looking back to the start of Barnett’s career in print journalism and subsequent shift into radio, she reflected on daring to be unliked and discussed the importance of having an entrepreneurial spirit in an industry where there is no roadmap to success: “No one is going to praise you in journalism, you have to go out and sort it for yourself.”
A significant portion of the conversation centred on the under-researched subject of women’s health, in which Barnett spoke openly about her experience with endometriosis, adenomyosis and undergoing IVF. She described how “working became [her] medicine” and “writing through things” offered her both a practical and therapeutic outlet.
She acknowledged that her journalism was shaped by struggling to conceive, perhaps more so than motherhood itself. The pain and vulnerability of “not having something” taught her profound lessons in a society that focuses on people’s achievements.
Amongst a busy schedule of radio, writing and parenting, the prolific broadcaster is spinning many plates. According to Barnett, she manages this pressure by trying to get to bed early - although she’s not succeeded in nailing 8pm bedtimes just yet - reading her subscription to The Fence magazine and possibly, roller skating, which she’s recently booked a class for.
Her latest book, Maternity Service: A Love Letter to Mothers from the Frontline, published this month, is already the subject of rave reviews. In this, she provides an insight into the realities of maternity leave through real-time accounts of her experience. She explained that women are programmed to “delete” difficult memories - a process she endeavoured to avoid by writing the book.
“I had this thought that maternity leave is like service and the other word for service is duty, and another is kindness. Your maternity service doesn't end when you go back to work. It's just beginning.
Lots of women who've had children have now read the book and been in touch to say, ‘I'm really happy you put this together.’”
Takeaways from the discussion written by Lucy Keitley, MA Magazine Journalism student at City, University of London.
