Getting Your Voice Heard in the Media: Insights from BBC Breakfast’s Caroline Turner & Speakers Collective’s Angela Samata
- Jon Salmon
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
At this year’s Hope Conference at Liverpool John Moores University, one of the most powerful conversations unfolded when Caroline Turner, Planning Producer at BBC Breakfast, joined Angela Samata, Speakers Collective founding member and Consultant to The Royal Foundation.
Together, they offered a rare look behind the scenes of how sensitive stories are brought to our screens and how individuals and organisations can better navigate the media landscape.
A Journey Into Journalism - And How Much Has Changed
Caroline opened by reflecting on her early days in regional radio, literally cutting tape with a razor-blade and splicing it back together.
Caroline’s career has spanned a huge shift in technology, but one thing hasn’t changed, the power of a good human story.
Her route into TV was equally grounded in graft: starting in local radio, moving to Granada, and eventually joining the BBC Breakfast team. Caroline credits those early years for teaching her the importance of relationships, trust, and authenticity - values that remain central to her work today.
Angela, a founding member of Speakers Collective, and a consultant to The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, shared her own connection with Caroline.
Their most recent collaboration was the film where the Prince of Wales spoke candidly about suicide prevention.
Nine Million Viewers and a Breakfast Table
BBC Breakfast reaches around nine million viewers every week, with 40% of all breakfast-time TV audiences tuning in.
Caroline said she never forgets the privilege that represents:
“We’re coming into people’s homes at 7am while they’re getting the kids ready, heading out the door. Their time is precious and we have to make it count.”
Despite the scale, she described breakfast television as surprisingly intimate. Not something people sit and watch, but something woven through their morning routine. That makes storytelling harder but also more impactful.
BBC Breakfast’s format allows for longer conversations than traditional news slots, 10 minutes instead of 90 seconds; sometimes even 30 minutes or more. That breathing room is what enables the programme to handle complex, emotional topics like suicide, bereavement, or mental health without sensationalism.
Telling Difficult Stories With Care
Angela asked the question many in the room were thinking:
How do you talk about suicide or trauma at 7am, knowing families are having breakfast?
Caroline’s answer was simple and clear:
“We don’t ask people to share things they’re uncomfortable sharing. We don’t ask the details we don’t need. We tell human stories in relatable ways, with dignity and hope.”
She described how BBC Breakfast followed the journey of the 3 Dads Walking for more than three years. Not once did the team ask how their daughters died.
Instead, they focused on the men’s friendship, their grief, their campaign for suicide prevention in schools, and eventually, the legislative change their walk helped inspire.
The key, Caroline said, is relatability:
"It’s the day-to-day reality that helps people understand. It’s not about the moment of loss, it’s about the life around it."
Creating National Moments: The Post Office Scandal
One of Caroline’s proudest professional moments was producing early coverage of the Post Office scandal.
BBC Breakfast brought nine sub-postmasters onto the sofa together. What was meant to be 30 minutes of coverage stretched to almost an hour as their stories unfolded.
“It created a moment. They had waited 20 years to be heard, and they trusted us.”
That single segment set the news agenda for the entire day across the UK, something BBC Breakfast does far more often than most viewers realise.
How Stories Shape the News Cycle
Angela described how coverage like the Prince’s suicide prevention film ripples through the news cycle:
“We watched America wake up to it. CNN, national outlets, it travelled everywhere. And it started with BBC Breakfast.”
Caroline agreed. BBC Breakfast often leads the day’s narrative. Because it airs first and because they prioritise real voices over press releases, Breakfast frequently shapes what other outlets cover for the next 24 hours.
What Makes a Story Work for Breakfast?
A journalism student from Liverpool John Moores asked the question Caroline gets everywhere “What makes you want to tell a particular story? Caroline’s answer was refreshingly practical:
The Ingredients of a Strong Story
A real human at the centre
Education – helping the audience learn something new
Insight – something beyond the obvious
Agency – what someone can do as a result
Hope – particularly important for difficult topics
Breakfast, Caroline said, is like radio with pictures. They want authenticity, not polish. And then came the most useful advice for charities, campaigners and changemakers:
What Not to Do When Pitching to the Media
Don’t mass-email every news outlet at once.
Don’t send something without thinking about the right audience
“If you want to get on Breakfast, you need to understand Breakfast.” This includes recognising that the programme’s strength is storytelling and not announcements.
On Trust, Relationships and Saying Only What You Can
One of the warmest moments was when Angela described discussing the recent Royal Foundation film to Caroline: “I had an NDA. I could barely say anything. It was the weirdest conversation… but I trusted Caroline, and she trusted me back.”
Their partnership built over the years became a theme throughout the session. Good media relationships aren’t transactional; they’re human.
Looking After Yourself When You Work With Trauma
A final question came from another Liverpool John Moores journalism student asking how Caroline and the BBC support staff who repeatedly cover sensitive issues.
“You do carry it with you” and Caroline also shared that:
Their small team debriefs together.
She has a close relationship with her editor.
The BBC offers structured support.
Most importantly, colleagues check in with each other informally.
Angela added that sharing moments of joy like watching their film go viral was also part of how they look after themselves.
A Room Filled With Hope
What made this conversation so powerful was that it wasn’t simply about the media. It was about humanity.
Caroline and Angela reminded us that amidst deadlines, cameras, and headlines, what cuts through is always the same: Real stories, told with care, by people who trust each other.
And for those campaigning on issues of mental health, suicide prevention, trauma, and lived experience, the message was clear:
Your story matters, there is space for it and the media is ready to help you tell it.
-------------
Needing Support
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or need someone to talk to, you can contact Samaritans any time on 116 123 or via jo@samaritans.org, text SHOUT to 85258 for free 24/7 support, or find local help through the Hub of Hope at https://hubofhope.co.uk.
Stay Connected
If you’d like to book Angela Samata to speak at your event, please get in touch with the Speakers Collective via the contact form on our homepage or email info@speakerscollective.org.
Suppot Our Work
Speakers Collective is a not-for-profit supporting lived-experience speakers, and we rely on donations. If you’re able to spare a few pounds, it makes a real difference - donate now.
