PPC March 2025 meeting – Wildlife and Nature press
Emails:
Sarah McPherson, Managing Editor, BBC Wildlife Magazine:
sarah.mcpherson@ourmedia.co.uk
Fergus Collins, Podcast Creator and Host, BBC Countryfile The Plodcast
ferguscollins132@gmail.com
Kate Green Deputy Editor and Books Editor, Country Life kate.green@futurenet.com
Sarah Barrell, Senior Editor, National Geographic Traveller (UK):
sarah.barrell@natgeotraveller.co.uk
BBC Wildlife: Sarah McPherson
– Sarah McPherson is Managing Editor of BBC Wildlife magazine
– The magazine publishes every 4 weeks. They do 13 issues a year and the 13th issue is a spring
special edition
– 60,0000 circulation print and online
– Apple News Plus is a new and emerging service for them – gives them a global reach and
changes how they commission their content. They try to be broader and more global in feel
to appeal to Apple News readers – they need to be multi-platform in their approach
– So they’ll always cover British natural history but now it could be more every couple of
issues
– They cover a broad range of topics from conservation, animal behaviour, cool science,
adventure, and investigative journalism. At the heart of the brand is photography
– They don’t run book review features but once a year they do a round-up feature.
– Book content fits into the long read slot – could be stand-alone feature with photography
spread but they can also commission an illustration with books that don’t have photography
– They’ll do extra issues purely for Apple News – this goes out in-between the four weekly
issues and is content re-purposed
– They’re looking to launch a book podcast later in the year
– They’ve done around 9 book tie-ins for the year so far and 5 planned in for the rest.
– Their talking strand features are more conceptual with an illustration slot rather than a
photography one.
– What they look for – quite broad but there are 5 things important: who is the author, is it
lively/engaging/a good story and angle, what the species is (they won’t repeat a recent
species they’ve covered), they’ll also consider what the Apple News headline is, how do we
illustrate it (they are an image-led and photography brand)
– Press releases and proof copies are great – Sarah can’t acknowledge them all bit she will
look through them all and file them and come to you if she is interested
– Plans 4-5 months in advance but sometimes they will hold things until the window
– Reviews copies with releases very useful
Fergus Collins: BBC Countryfile The Plodcast
– Fergus is the previous editor of BBC Countryfile and now the creator and host of the
Plodcast, which is the magazine’s podcast
– Guests go on a walk in nature and discuss their books with Fergus
– The podcast isn’t just restricted to nature – he is interested in other stories – farming, food,
myths and legends – and how these will sound amongst the backdrop of nature
– Key is that there are no studio interviews. They all take place outside which creates an
informal way of reflection, getting across ideas and makes guests relaxed
– Ramblings and random encounters are encouraged alongside discussing the book
– One podcast a week. No free slots until July at the moment. Any titles that have a
summer/Autumn skew could work well with seasonal episodes
– UK nature is prioritised
– Fergus is based in South Wales and if your author is based far away, budget assistance could
be required
– High profile is of course useful, but he’s more interested in the story itself.
– Email is best for pitching
– Catalogues not great but Fergus does enjoy a review copy. He’ll always try and read the book
in advance. Audio books particularly good for when he’s travelling.
– Do listen to the Plodcast in advance so you understand the format and your guest is better-
prepared.
– It’s usually a three-week turnaround from recording the episode and making it live
– Download numbers are around 45,000 a month
Kate Green: Country Life
– Kate reads catalogues – do send over
– Kate will also react to press releases and notifications that come through
– County Life is weekly and 128 years old. It’s traditionally a magazine that cheers people up
so they aim to uplift, whilst also tackle issues that face the countryside
– Weekly magazine with a circulation of 40-45,000
– They also have a podcast and Kate will forward suggestions onto the podcast editor and
features team
– They do also cover architecture, history, gardens, fine art and general books that will appeal
– 4-6 books are reviewed every week and usually Kate will commission her reviews in-line with
the book’s publication week
– They need six weeks’ notice to commission a book review.
– Kate would like physical book proofs to read. Most reviewers will ask for a PDF
– They like to commission feature surrounding books
– Don’t send proofs through the post to the office. They work from home and go into the
London office once a week. Do wait for Kate to send a reviewer’s address through or Kate
will supply her home address.
– Better to pitch by email and Kate will respond if she is interested
– If you’re too early, she’ll acknowledge and come back nearer the time. She has books on the
list for October now but won’t commission the reviews until six weeks before
– They do consider fiction. They stick to hardback only – they won’t usually cover paperback
releases or re-issues.
– You can pitch a feature at any time as they’re planned a lot longer in advance than books
coverage.
– They won’t cover photography books. They might run photography in their news pages and
you can also pitch pictures in to the Picture Editor
Sarah Barrell: National Geographic Traveller (UK)
– Nat Geo is around 14 years old and they publish monthly. There’s the main magazine,
monthly which is good and various supplements that could be theme or destination-driven
– A book would need to have travel at its heart and they do increasing amounts of nature and
wildlife writing. They have a regular books pages in the magazine – could be an interview,
one review or multiple previews for books.
– Lots of guide books, slow tourism, nature and eco-tourism all of interest
– Notes from an author is also a regular feature of theirs – much more in-depth. One author
and they focus on a moment that changed them – around 800 words of original copy on
what inspired them to write their book.
– Online books content doesn’t do great for them. Usually the content will run in print only
– Books also can’t be too UK-focused as the magazine is quite international in scope
– The more actionable a travel book is, the more likely they are to cover it
– They are fundamentally a travel magazine
– Press releases are best for Sarah
– The monthly books page is sometimes done around a theme – a special interest etc.
– PDF proofs are okay. Hard copies are useful on request
– Catalogues also very useful
– They work at least three months in advance for the books pages
– Notes from an author is commissioned six months in advance
– News features are commissioned as shorter notice
– Doesn’t meet with publishers, email is fine
– They have covered children’s books/travel. They don’t do lots but occasionally they will
– Recipes and food supplements are in the quarterly mag so these are commissioned at least
four months in advance.