The Bylines Network is proud to have the privilege of having a very high proportion of women as editors-in-chief. In an industry where the standard in the UK Is 46%, Bylines Network currently has an exceptional 83% of women editors-in-chief. We also have a female director, which we believe makes us unique in the national media landscape. Many other wonderful women work behind the scenes, as editors and in a variety of support roles, women without whom we would not be able to function.
International Women’s Day this year is on the theme of Give to Gain, and across the Bylines Network we are collaborating to bring you an insight into the amazing women that lead our publications – sharing our stories, so that we may all find empowerment and inspiration.
You can find the profiles of our female editors-in-chief at the following links:
| Bylines Scotland |
| Central Bylines |
| East Anglia Bylines |
| Kent and Surrey Bylines |
| North East Bylines |
| North West Bylines |
| Sussex Bylines |
| West England Bylines |
[Editor’s Note: Bylines Cymru is not included in this list as it currently has an interim editor]
At Yorkshire Bylines, you might have noticed that we have been releasing articles by and about women since 1 March. This is all part of our celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March, and it gives us an opportunity to showcase just a small fraction of the range of amazing women writers that we’re delighted to have writing for our publication.
Many of our editors at Yorkshire Bylines are women too, often highly experienced and skilled in assisting writers to develop their arguments if necessary. They work with our writers to shape and tighten their stories, to check quotes and sources, all while picking over the basics of grammar, spelling and punctuation. We might read each article multiple times, looking at all the different aspects, making sure the whole thing is as good as can be before applying our house style.
Of course, no mention of women at Yorkshire Bylines would be complete without a mention of its founding editor, Louise Houghton, who not only set up Yorkshire Bylines, but was instrumental in defining, leading and expanding the network over its first five years, and was also a founding director. One of her legacies is a robust network of eight regional and two national publications. When Louise stepped down in 2025, I rather unexpectedly found myself stepping into some very big shoes indeed.
My own background’s working-class, northern, wrong side of the Pennines (sorry). Defecting south after graduating from Leeds University, the pull of the hills and moors of childhood finally grew too strong. Now, West Yorkshire feels like home. Having always written, for work and pleasure, Yorkshire Bylines looked like being an interesting adventure. And so it has proved.
I’m very fortunate to be supported by senior editor Ginny Gilmore, whose extensive editorial experience is invaluable. We are currently developing what also happens to be an all-female core editorial team. This will help set us on a solid path for the future.
A well-functioning group of women working together has a definite and noticeably different atmosphere. It tends to be more supportive, sharing and collaborative than a mixed group. The Bylines Network is a place where talented and smart women bring their kindness, wisdom and a whole encyclopedia of valuable knowledge every day. Oh, and we’re very lucky: the men at Bylines are completely fabulous as well!
So, apart from us being a largely women-led network, why is International Women’s Day so important to us? Women are half the world’s population, but still nowhere near being half the world’s power. Our hard-won rights and freedoms are starting to look seriously endangered by those who would strip from us what is not theirs to take. They would deny us autonomy over our bodies, remove reproductive rights and disenfranchise us. It’s alarming to witness how fast things are moving. We must fight hard not to lose the gains we have made to determine our own lives. And we must continue to support those women who have not yet claimed those rights.
The best boss I ever had was a woman. So was one of the worst. It really does all come down to the individual person. But every one of us deserves to have opportunity in life, the chance to be the best versions of ourselves. No-one should be diminished or held back by virtue of who they are.
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