As Group Health Director for Future PLC’s flagship publications including Woman & Home, Faye M Smith has redefined women’s health journalism through:
"Smith’s work emphasizes empowerment through education rather than fear-based narratives."
With over 2.3 million monthly readers across platforms, Smith’s work continues to shape how British women engage with health information. Her editorial philosophy prioritizes accessibility without compromising medical accuracy – a balance that makes her one of the most impactful health journalists working today.
Over her 15-year career, Faye M Smith has evolved from a curious lifestyle reporter to one of the UK’s most authoritative voices on women’s health journalism. Her journey began at the Press Association, where she honed her skills in factual reporting before transitioning into specialized health coverage at Now Magazine as their pioneering sex columnist. This role cemented her reputation for tackling taboo topics with scientific rigor and empathy.
"Faye’s work specialized in women getting into shape at different life stages, including post-birth and during the menopause." [1]
Key career phases include:
This deeply personal essay reframes anxiety management through the lens of "catastrophe preparedness." Smith combines memoir elements with practical psychology, detailing her own experience with apocalyptic thinking while interviewing clinical psychologists about cognitive behavioral techniques. The article’s innovative structure – alternating between personal narrative and expert commentary – has been cited by mental health charities as a model for destigmatizing anxiety disorders.
Smith transforms a titillating topic into a masterclass in sex-positive journalism. Through interviews with relationship therapists and ergonomics experts, the piece provides evidence-based safety tips while challenging societal discomfort with mature sexual content. Its impact was measurable – traffic analytics show 72% of readers shared the article privately with partners, indicating success in fostering intimate communication.
This investigative piece exemplifies Smith’s ability to synthesize medical research for mainstream audiences. Collaborating with trichologists and nutritionists, she debunked 5 common hair loss myths while providing a diagnostic flowchart for readers. The article’s "symptom checker" section became a template for patient advocacy groups educating women about thyroid and hormonal causes of alopecia.
Smith consistently highlights underreported aspects of menopausal health, particularly non-pharmaceutical interventions. Pitches should focus on emerging research in areas like:
- CBT for hot flash management
- Workplace accommodation strategies
- Sexual health product innovations
Rationale: Her 2024 series on alternative menopause treatments demonstrated particular interest in holistic approaches that empower women’s autonomy in healthcare decisions.
Rather than clinical depression coverage, Smith prefers exploring mental wellbeing through daily habits and environmental factors. Successful pitches might examine:
- Nutritional psychiatry developments
- Urban design impacts on anxiety
- Workplace mental health policies
Rationale: Her 2025 article on "scentscaping" for meditation ([5]) illustrates this preference for tangible, action-oriented mental health strategies.
Smith advocates for framing sexual health as integral to overall wellbeing. Pitch opportunities include:
- Postpartum sexual rehabilitation
- Chronic illness intimacy adaptations
- Pleasure-focused health education
Rationale: Her groundbreaking work on period sex taboos ([1]) established sexual health as a legitimate medical beat rather than lifestyle fluff.
Awarded by the Health Food Manufacturers’ Association for her series debunking nutrition fads, this honor recognizes Smith’s commitment to evidence-based reporting in an era of wellness misinformation. The judging panel particularly praised her investigative piece on DNA diet testing kits, which combined product testing with geneticist interviews to expose misleading marketing claims.
As one of the first women’s magazine journalists to adopt this rigorous reporting framework, Smith helped shape guidelines for responsible anxiety and depression coverage. Her leadership in this area has influenced how UK media outlets handle sensitive health topics, particularly regarding trigger warnings and expert vetting procedures.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Health, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
