Bylines Network has the privilege of having a high proportion of women who are, or share the job of, Editors-in-Chief across all 10 of our publications – standing at an amazing 83%, while the industry standard is 46% in the UK. And that is not mentioning the plethora of women behind the scenes here at the Network, without whom we would not be able to function.
For International Women’s Day, on this year’s theme of Give to Gain, Bylines Network has collaborated to bring you profiles of the amazing women that lead our publications – giving you our stories, so that we may all gain 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
- Yorkshire Bylines
[Note: Bylines Cymru has an interim EiC therefore is not in the list]
Here at Central Bylines, in honour of International Women’s Day, we will be sharing some of the articles from some of our incredible female authors over the course of 7 and 8 March .
To kick off, here is a personal profile of Gemma Gould, present editor-in-chief (EiC) at Central Bylines, interviewed by Anna Schurer from North West Bylines.
Gemma joined Central Bylines in 2024, first as writer, but quickly as core team member, working on the social media side. She did our in-house editor training in 2025, and stepped up to become editor-in-chief when the previous EiC stepped down.
Gemma has had a number of careers before she joined Bylines. She has done theatre and music, been a publican for ten years, and now works in the automotive industry, as well as running a household, looking after three pets and volunteering with Bylines.
A very versatile woman, which is one of the reasons she fits so well in our Bylines family. And that versatility shows in the articles she writes, the edits she does, and the help she gives her fellow Bylines people.
Gemma is no stranger to the struggles that come with being a woman. Working in a male dominated field in her day-job has taught her how to deal with many challenging situations. With her energy, dedication and attention to detail, she can put many men to shame!
And why does she do it, volunteering for Bylines? Because she is passionate about people’s rights. Equality, the right to healthcare, a roof above everyone’s head and food on the table. The right to be safe, warm and cared for. The right to education and leisure time. Gemma believes in those rights for everyone, and is willing to give her time and expertise to fight for them.
Add to that a knowledge and understanding of human nature, language and history, and our Gemma has quickly become invaluable.
Gemma, what do you enjoy most about working for Bylines?
I am passionate about the work that Bylines does. For so long, every day people have been underrepresented in the media. The MSM is, in my opinion, largely biased to their own agenda or the agenda of their owners whether that be left-leaning or right-leaning publications. This is where Bylines Network is different. We take the citizens’ voice with no backing from big tech broligarchs and we give them a voice. It’s the stories that matter from the people that matter. Without fear or favour, and I feel incredibly honoured to work alongside the amazing people that make Bylines work, who are so fearless.
What does IWD mean to you?
IWD is about recognising on whose shoulders we stand as well as lifting up the incredible women who make the world a better place. It is also about highlighting that while we have come so far we still have a long way to go in terms of equality and recognition.
Who are the women who have inspired you or shaped your world?
Gosh that is a really difficult question to answer. There are far too many and to list just a few would do the others a total disservice. How do you quantify the incredible women who have come before you, the trailblazers who gave so much for us to have a seat at the table?
If you could sit down with one woman from the past who would it be and why?
Wow what a brilliant question but again not an easy one to answer. There are so many women I wish I could sit in conversation with, I’d like to host a round table! My answer changes from day to day but today it would be Aunt Truus aka Geertruida Wijsmuller-Meijer, Dutch resistance fighter who risked her own life to save Jewish children and adults before and during WW2. There really ought to be a film made about her. She was truly incredible.
One experience in a male-dominated field/of the patriarchy?
I have spent my entire working life in male-dominated fields, previously having worked in the pub trade and now in the automotive industry I could certainly tell you some stories, but none of them would be safe for publication! That’s what makes Bylines Network so refreshing, I get to be in an environment where we are treated as equal to our male counterparts and respected.
Although if I may segue for a moment, I recently experienced the most ridiculous mansplaining I have ever seen and that is saying something. We recently had a new door fitted and the guy fitting it refused to leave until he had shown me how to lock it and unlock it and open it from the outside and made me demonstrate three times that I knew how to do it! He even told me how to lift the handle to stop the draft and to make sure that I had my keys on me at all times. Aren’t we so lucky we have men to teach us these things, I could have been locked out for hours would have been a total disaster obviously (said dripping with sarcasm).
Lastly, is there anything else you’d like to say?
Yes, one final thing. As women we are often taught to be grateful for the position afforded to us, for our role in society, for that seat at the table. I say this. Women belong at the table, our place in society is at the forefront not waiting in the wings. And to all the women out there, never dull your sparkle for the sake of others. Shoot for the moon and on the way up there bask in the light of the stars because you are one.
