Meet the Bluestripe Team: NDA Editor, Michael Feeley

Next up in our Meet the Team series is Michael Feeley, New Digital Age’s Editor.

What’s your role at Bluestripe Group?

I’m the editor of our New Digital Age publication. On a day-to-day basis, that means writing stories, conducting interviews, and commissioning submissions. My inbox is always very busy. 

I also work on client and internal projects, such as writing reports and developing thought-leadership content. 

What drew you to content?

I’ve always enjoyed writing. It’s something that comes quite naturally to me, so I actually enjoy the challenge of writing to satisfy a brief. I enjoy the puzzle element of it, ensuring the piece is properly balanced in a way that meets the needs of the various stakeholders.

The PR and comms industry is fast-moving and keeps you abreast of the latest trends and developments in wider society. I also particularly enjoy working in trade journalism as I know how important media coverage can be to businesses of all sizes and I like being able to support them in whatever way I can.

What’s your most unusual skill that helps you in your role?

I’m quite good at linking different conversations in my mind that allow me to spot trends and shifts in attitude as they are happening. Over the years, I’ve also developed my skills as a listener and know when to stay quiet in an interview situation.

What’s the one buzzword you wish we could ban from advertising forever?

A word that’s fallen off a cliff in recent times is ‘deprecation.’ There was a while there, during the never-ending phase-out of third-party cookies, that the mere mention of deprecation would make my left eye start to twitch.

How do you stay on top of trends in media, advertising and technology?

My inbox makes sure I have no choice but to stay abreast of the latest industry talking points and more besides. I also enjoy all the conversations I have with digital media industry professionals, who tend to be very smart and switched-on. I also have a 10-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son who keep me up to date with the latest memes and music.

What tool or hack can you not live without at work?

The background remover tool on Canva. As a 54-year-old who has worked in publishing since he was 17, that little tool never fails to blow my mind.

If you could swap jobs with anyone at Bluestripe for a day, who would it be?

Probably Andy Oakes, as the chances are I’d be at home nursing a hockey injury. Give it up, mate!

What’s a random skill or hobby you have that would surprise us?

My karaoke rendition of “Country Roads, Take Me Home” would make a grown man cry!