Embargo lifted: what six months on the dark side taught me

Just over six months ago, after half a decade in journalism, I decided to make a change and step into the world of PR.

PR professionals and journalists work so closely that I’d always had a glimpse of the other side, and at the beginning of 2026 I decided to make the jump.

Half a year in, I can confidently say the move has been a rewarding one. It’s been fascinating to see the similarities, and the stark differences, between two industries that so often work side by side.

I know what makes a journalist hit delete

I joined marco/richards after working at one of the biggest publishers in the UK, so I was able to put my knowledge of the current media landscape to use straight away.

Like my colleagues, I know what it’s like to have an inbox bombarded with press releases and how little time there is to sift through them, even though many are great stories with real potential. Everything from an easily searchable subject line to a timely hook is something I bring to my job every day.

That perspective shapes how I write, how I pitch and how I advise clients, and it helps me lead with a strategy rooted in understanding and experience.

Slower burn, same adrenaline

Perhaps foolishly, I thought PR would be a slower burn than the newsroom, and in some ways it is. Long-term campaigns are built alongside clients, then planned, researched and refined in a way my old job in trending news rarely allowed.

But the adrenaline returns quickly when a reactive opportunity appears, or a breaking story is relevant to our clients. When that happens, the team moves fast, and the skills I built chasing stories against the clock have come in handy more often than I expected.

Every day’s a school day

I dived straight into this new world of work, and I feel like I’m learning something new every day. Part of that is working out when my journalism experience should be brought into the room, and when it’s better to focus on building new skills. I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed broadening my experience and knowledge.

Worth the leap?

Absolutely. Moving away from the career I’d spent years building felt daunting at first, but I believe the things meant for you will find you. I’ve loved laying the foundations for what I intend to be a long and successful career in PR.

From landing coverage for clients in The Telegraph to being first to get the right reactive comments in front of key journalists, I already feel like I’ve packed years’ worth of career highlights into a short space of time. I can’t wait to see what the next six months hold.