Roseleigh Media

11/08/2026

Two of my worlds have collided in the last few days and I’ve been waiting to see if the issue would resolve and, well, it got worse.

For context, I deal with PR and crisis comms and 5 years ago was diagnosed with coeliac disease.

Sophia headed to Sydney Airport for a flight and wanted breakfast. She had been to almost every shop and asked if they had coeliac safe food. The response was no.
So she made a video saying: “Hey Sydney airport, we need to talk. I make this video every six months - sort out your gluten free options.”

What makes this interesting from a crisis comms pov is that there were multiple opportunities to stop this escalating. They could have chosen not to respond. They could have apologised. They could have deleted the post.

But as part of your comms, PR, social media plan, would one of your options EVER be “Take the complainants voice, use it as a voiceover to show all the gluten free options at the airport and make her look really stupid”?

That’s what Sydney Airport did.

The problem? They only had 7 options across 3 terminals. Six were burgers or sushi, and the other was a smoothie bowl where they said the granola was gluten free. It wasn’t. Sophia’s point was simple: this isn’t a choice. She just wanted a piece of toast for breakfast at 6am.

And then the airport doubled down, liking comments criticising her and sniping back at people who defended her.

This is where the crisis comms lesson comes in. Your social media isn’t separate from your PR. It’s a public facing comms channel, and every response represents the organisation.

This wasn’t a crisis that suddenly appeared. It was created by the organisation’s response to a completely manageable complaint.

So what should they do now?

Remove it. Apologise. Educate the team. Rebuild trust with the gluten free community. And review the approvals process.

You’re a big brand. You should have consultants who can see a crisis coming before it happens.

And this one had a neon sign.

05/08/2026

Is it too early to start talking Back to School 😬

Not if we're planning ahead!

September always feels like a reset, doesn't it? After the summer holidays, routines start again, projects kick back into action and suddenly the last few months of the year are in sight.

For comms teams, it can also be a really good time to pause and think:
Are we happy with our social media strategy?
Do we feel confident handling difficult conversations online?
Would we know what to do if a crisis landed tomorrow?
Are we making the most of PR opportunities?

That's exactly why I created my online workshops for charities, CICs, faith organisations and other purpose-led organisations.
They are practical, interactive sessions designed to give you the tools, knowledge and confidence to put things into action straight away.

This September I'll be running:
📱 The Social Media Frontline – Managing online negativity and protecting your organisation online
📋 How to Design a Social Media Strategy – Creating a plan that actually works for your organisation
🚨 Have a Plan When It Hits the Fan – An introduction to crisis communications
📰 PR Made Simple – Understanding how to get your organisation noticed
🎵 TikTok Bootcamp – Understanding TikTok and how it can work for your organisation

Whether you're responsible for communications, fundraising, marketing, or just wear lots of different hats, these sessions are designed to be practical, accessible and full of ideas you can take away and use. If you're looking to build your confidence or learn something new this autumn, I'd love to see you there.

Link to book is here and in bio: https://www.roseleighmedia.co.uk/talks-workshops-training

03/08/2026

A slightly delayed July round up.... (Swipe for tiny tomatoes and cute cat)

As you may have seen, I was out of action for a little while after contracting Covid! (so retro), but thankfully it didn't stop July being a brilliant month.

I'm delighted to have been booked to speak at some great events towards the end of the year, including at the CharityComms AI conference on managing AI-related reputational crises, and at the UK National Conference in December on building crisis communications plans before you need them. I've also been running my affordable online group courses, from Social Media Strategy to Crisis Communications Planning, and it's been brilliant to see what people have taken away from them.

One of my favourite things about freelancing is the people I get to meet - and this month has been full of absolutely marvellous one to ones with business owners, charity staff and people all round doing great things in photography and videography, branding, communications, policy and community.

I've been out and about at some great events over the last month too - thanks to for inviting me to the event at in Birmingham in aid of Birmingham & Solihull Women's Aid . And it's always wonderful to see all the brilliant women at - thanks so much to Sue, the team at Fumo in Birmingham, our fab ambassador Stella and showcase speaker Mandy Price for a wonderful morning.

And of course there was time for a bit of life outside work too. I went to see the Titanic Exhibition at the NEC which was incredible and full of stories. I'm a bit of a swot when it comes to the Titanic and did some documentaries on it in my journalism days. I've been for some amazing meals and created content for my gluten free travel blog on TikTok and Instagram. I've created life in the form of very tiny tomatoes, AND I made a new cat friend who made my day by sitting on my lap.

Overall, July was a brilliant month. Looking forward to seeing what August has to offer!

31/07/2026

August has a bit of a reputation for being quiet. It certainly did when I used to work in radio newsrooms.

"Can we find ANYONE different to talk about the ongoing heatwave??"

"Is there any way we can spin this boring press release into a lead story?"

But while newsrooms are desperately looking for stories, communications teams are still busy creating them.

The inbox in a charity press office doesn't stop because it's the school holidays. Journalists don't stop calling because someone has an out-of-office on (see above!). And September campaigns don't magically plan themselves.

If anything, quiet news days make journalists MORE likely to jump on the stories they might overlook at other times of the year. That's why summer can actually be a really important time to have experienced communications support.

So August is going exactly to plan, you probably don't need me.

BUT if someone's unexpectedly off... If you're juggling three jobs because colleagues are on leave... If September suddenly feels much closer than you'd like... That's where freelancers can be really useful.

And to be honest, as a freelancer I'd rather be helping organisations over the summer and take my own holiday when the kids are back at school (sorry parents!) So if you are looking for an extra pair of hands or some consultancy over the summer, then I'm your girl.

That can be:
- Crisis communications advice and reviewing or stress-testing crisis communications plans
- Media spokesperson and interview training
- PR support, media enquiries and communications consultancy
- Planning and creating social media content
- Communications planning ahead of autumn campaigns
- Acting as an extra pair of hands when things are simply busier than expected.

Sometimes all you need is someone experienced to step in, lighten the load and help keep things moving until everyone is back in the office.

Whether you need someone for a day, a couple of weeks or a specific project, I'd be happy to help. Feel free to drop me a message for an informal chat.

A little throwback pic to my newsroom days - where finding stories in the quiet weeks was all part of the job!

30/07/2026

Hi! I'm Emma, an independent PR consultant and founder of Roseleigh Media. I support charities, CICs, faith organisations and purpose-led businesses.

A few things you might not know about me:

I'm an award winning journalist and I spent over 10 years working in both BBC and commercial radio newsrooms. I've covered everything from royal visits and elections to the pandemic and breaking news, travelled to Lebanon to report from Syrian refugee camps, interviewed politicians, celebrities and community heroes. I truly believe every communications team should have at least one former journalist.

As a kid, I spent time working on market stalls with my dad, listening to people's stories. I firmly believe that's why one of my newsroom bosses said I was a proper old school journalist as I would go to the pub and come in the next day with a lead story just from chatting to people!

I'm slightly obsessed with crisis communications and reputation management. Years spent working in newsrooms mean I understand how journalists think when a story breaks (and how to turn a "not story" into a big story), which is why it's now one of my specialist areas.

I was raised Catholic and have a degree in Theology and Religious Studies so I understand the nuances of faith organisations and faith-led messaging.

Working with organisations like Children in Need, Brain Tumour Research, Safeline and Global Care as a journalist left a lasting impression on me. It's a big part of the reason I chose to build Roseleigh Media around supporting charities, CICs and faith orgs.

I am a Black Country girl through and through and a proud yam yam.

I gave a TEDx talk in 2024 which was the first time I'd spoken so openly about my mental health, it's one of the reasons I'm such a passionate advocate for talking about .

I was diagnosed with coeliac 5 years ago, and now run a gluten free travel and blog across TikTok and Instagram. It combines my love of travelling (especially to Italy) and my knowledge on what works in a social media strategy.

I love animals - my best mate is a tortoise called Fred. He's considerably less interested in PR than I am.

Whatever you're here for - it's lovely to have you.

26/07/2026

I have really debated whether to share this because I know how sensitive moments like this are.

In the wake of the attack in Berlin last night, I am thinking of everyone affected. Those who have lost their lives, those who were injured, all their families and loved ones, and everyone who witnessed such a horrific event.

Most of you will have heard my story by now - ten years ago I was caught up in the Christmas market attack in Berlin. And although I wasn’t physically injured, what I saw will never go away, and I know that witnessing something like this - especially when the whole purpose of being there was joy - can have a lasting impact on you.

With that in mind I’m resharing my TedX talk about that experience, about trauma, and about asking for help when you need it. Just in the hope that, if even one person affected by recent events finds it, they might feel less alone.

In her inspiring talk Emma discusses the painful choices she had to...

22/07/2026

I can’t believe it’s been two years since my Tedx talk!

One of the bravest, most vulnerable, bonkers and brilliant things I’ve ever done. I learned so much from the experience - from the acceptance email to standing on that stage, surrounded by wonderful people. Something I’ll never forget. And something I’m so proud of myself for.

Lots has changed for me in two years and looking back now, I realise it wasn’t just a talk. It was a moment that changed how I saw myself. It gave me the confidence to take up more space, trust my voice, believe in my skills and expertise, and keep saying yes to opportunities that scared me.

I genuinely don’t think I’d have done half of what I have done since if I hadn’t said yes to this.

Here’s a little montage and you can watch the full talk here if you’d like to

https://youtu.be/OcSVQzycKcQ?is=qMahgeL30Gusxrl4

19/07/2026

I broke one of my rules when it comes to social media. I did something I tell clients not to do - replied to a social media comment in frustration and haste.

For context, I really dislike being visible online. Which for a PR and Comms person is an odd thing to say. I mean I love social media, I train people in it, how to use it as a tool for growth, and for growth you need to be seen. Yet I don't want to be seen. I may complain about my posts with 89 views, but the truth is, that's comfortable. Anything above and it just sends me into a state of panic.

My post about having COVID unexpectedly reached far more people than I anticipated. The majority of people were kind and wished me well. But it brought the unsolicited advice and conspiracy theories. Being ill and not willing to put up with nonsense I was really curt with a commenter. To be fair he did have the good grace to delete it eventually.

For those who don't know, I was at the scene of a terror attack in 2016, and I did media interviews as a journalist. And it led to the worst trolling, abuse and death threats I have ever received. And it's left me with CPTSD, and one of the things that triggers it is unkind comments online. People feel emboldened to say whatever they want, because they are hidden behind a screen.

And we still don't take care of, or support the people who are reading all those comments and seeing all the online hostility. We expect comms teams, charity staff and social media managers to make decisions under pressure, protect reputations and absorb that hostility, often with little guidance. It's one of the reasons I created The Social Media Frontline, because I don’t think anyone should be expected to navigate online hostility without a framework.

I'm not perfect. But actually, if I hadn't developed my own rules for dealing with online hostility, I could have been even more fiery and damaged my reputation. This is why it's so important to have those rules in place. It doesn’t mean you won’t ever get caught out – we’re only human – but it does give you the tools to step back before things escalate.

If you want to learn more – check out my next Social Media Frontline workshop

13/07/2026

When I first gave my Tedx talk in 2024 I didn't really think of it as a tool for growing my business.

I just knew I had a story to share. When I was struggling with my mental health I felt alone, I mean really alone. And I didn't want anyone else to feel as low as I did. I thought, if I can reach just one person, make one person feel like it's not just them, then maybe everything I'd gone through, and survived would all be worthwhile.

A few days ago I received the comment below on my talk on YouTube, and it got me thinking about how people decide they want to work with someone.

When I stood on that stage, like I say, I wasn't thinking about Roseleigh Media. I wasn't trying to attract clients or promote my business. Yet somehow, that's exactly what's happened.

Over the last couple of years organisations have got in touch after watching it. The Red Cross told me that what I said about mental health was one of the reasons they wanted to work with me. It's led to speaking opportunities, training sessions and now this comment has led to another conversation with someone running a CIC here in Wolverhampton.

The funny thing is, the talk isn't about PR or social media - not really. It's about identity, losing the career I'd always wanted and finding a different path. But looking back now, I think it explains Roseleigh Media better than I ever could on a services page.

It explains why I care so much about working with charities and purpose-led organisations. It explains why storytelling matters to me. It explains why I believe communications should always start with people. I never set out to communicate any of that in this way. But I suppose when something really matters to you, it naturally becomes part of the story you tell.

As communicators, we spend a lot of time thinking about how we explain what we do. But that's only part of the job.

For me, that's what good storytelling has always been about. Not persuading people to buy something, but helping them make a connection. And that's what good PR is, right? Not just helping people understand what you do, but helping them understand who you are.

10/07/2026

After delivering my Social Media Strategy workshop this week, it reminded me why I wanted to create these sessions in the first place. So many charities, CICs and faith organisations know communications matter. They know they need to raise awareness, build trust, share their impact and reach more people. But for most it's having the time, confidence or knowledge to know where to start.

That's exactly what these workshops are for.

Over the next few months I'll be running sessions covering social media strategy, PR, crisis communications, managing online negativity and TikTok. They're all practical, interactive and designed specifically for those in the third sector.

Whether you're responsible for communications, fundraising, marketing, or simply wear lots of different hats, my aim is that you leave with lots of new knowledge and practical ideas you can actually put into action.

I've included all of the upcoming dates in the graphic below, and you can click here to find out more: https://www.roseleighmedia.co.uk/talks-workshops-training

If one of the sessions sounds like it would be useful for you or your organisation, I'd love to see you there.