In episode two of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy White sits down with Jane Wakefield, former BBC tech journalist and now freelance writer and podcaster, to explore what’s shaping today’s tech media landscape.

From the relentless pace of AI to the rise of sophisticated online scams, Jane shares what’s capturing her attention—and why human storytelling still matters more than ever. She also reflects on her shift from newsroom journalism to podcasting, and what founders and comms teams need to know to stand out.

Key moments 00:00 – Meet Jane Wakefield (former BBC, freelance journalist & podcaster) 01:10 – What’s on Jane’s radar: AI and scam stories 02:30 – From BBC to freelance: career journey and shift in focus 04:30 – Podcasting vs writing: how her work has evolved 06:00 – What makes a great podcast guest 07:30 – Why human stories and anecdotes cut through 10:30 – How founders can find and tell their story 13:00 – The role of vulnerability and relatability in storytelling 15:00 – What makes a strong media pitch 16:30 – Why simple, searchable emails work best 18:00 – Quick fire: pitching, press releases & timing 20:00 – What PRs should stop doing 21:30 – Advice for founders speaking to journalists 23:00 – How to contact Jane

If you're looking for support with your communications, get in touch at cewcomms.com.

In episode one of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy White sits down with Cate Lawrence, Senior Journalist at Tech.eu, to unpack what really makes a story stand out in today’s fast-moving media landscape.

From AI saturation to health tech, sustainability, and Europe’s push for tech independence, Cate shares what’s catching her attention—and what founders and PRs need to know to cut through.

Key moments 00:00 – Meet Cate Lawrence (Tech.eu) 01:20 – Choosing events & avoiding burnout 03:15 – What stories are getting attention now 04:45 – What makes a strong founder story 06:20 – The rise of younger founders 06:45 – Beyond AI: health, materials & impact tech 09:00 – Hype cycles & Europe’s tech momentum 12:20 – Quick fire: how to pitch journalists 13:40 – What PRs should stop doing 14:40 – What founders get wrong 16:30 – Why every pitch needs a clear “why” 17:10 – How to contact Cate

If you're looking for support with your communications, get in touch at cewcomms.com.

A Brief Coffee With… is a podcast from CEW Communications, hosted by Cathy White, featuring honest, unfiltered conversations with journalists and content creators. In a fast-moving media landscape shaped by AI, shifting markets, and constant demand for content, we explore how stories are formed, what makes them stand out, and how to cut through the noise.

From pitching and storytelling to media trends and startup coverage, this is your inside track on modern media—one brief coffee at a time.

Join us for the first episode, live on April 21st.