Dawn Alford: My Life In Media

'My parents had hopes I'd be a Betty Boothroyd. I wanted to be the next Judy Garland'

What inspired you to start a career in the media?

It was purely that I was in the right place at the right time. I had a boyfriend who was an agency photographer and would go on various stories with him. I just got the bug. The agency shared an office with a weekly paper and I pestered its editor until he gave me a job as a cub reporter.

When you were 15, what was the family newspaper and did you read it?

The Daily Mirror and yes I did - avidly. My family really used to enjoy debating politics for some reason. I would read Paul Foot's column so I'd have something interesting to say.

And what were your favourite TV and radio programmes?

Dallas, Dynasty and Fame - anything with big hair, shoulder pads or footless tights. A contrast, I know, to the politics at home. My parents had hopes I'd be a Betty Boothroyd. I wanted to be the next Judy Garland.

What media do you turn to first thing in the morning?

The Today programme is my alarm call. Then usually Capital or Radio 1 while I'm in the shower. I read the Daily Mirror, Daily Mail and The Times on my journey into work.

Do you consult any media sources during the working day?

BBC Online and Guardian Unlimited. I've recently subscribed to email alerts - a tad annoying but very useful.

What's the best thing about your job?

Working with such talented and creative people. There's a real buzz and energy at Cedar (publishers of Tesco Magazine) - everyone says so. It's a completely different environment to a newsroom, but actually it feels more vibrant.

And the worst?

Like many people I'm sure: realising it's six o'clock when I thought it was lunchtime.

What is the proudest achievement in your working life?

I'm pretty proud of our latest issue; it's our best yet. Other than that I'm proud that I worked my way up in the business the traditional way - and managed to thoroughly enjoy practically every minute of it.

And your most embarrassing moment?

That's easy. At 17 while at college I was also a magician's assistant. And, as if that was not embarrassing enough in itself, one night I got my spangly frock stuck in a contraption I was supposed to emerge from having been sawn in half. I tugged and tugged while grinning like Debbie McGee. It didn't work and I had to be wheeled off stage.

At home, what do you tune in to?

I'm a big fan of 24, Lost, The West Wing and any history programmes - either factual or costume dramas. I've recently discovered Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm which is easily the best comedy ever written. Each evening I get a fix of Balamory with my three-year-old. We're devastated the show's been axed and might stage a protest at CBBC.

What is your Sunday paper and do you have a favourite magazine?

It varies and I always buy at least four papers (though I never have enough time to read them all). Magazines - again I get most of the female market mags - I love Red and I think Grazia has some fantastic art direction.

Name the one career ambition you want to realise before you retire

I would like more of my peers to come and work in the contract publishing industry. It's truly creative and cutting edge and also a hugely effective medium.

If you didn't work in the media, what would you do?

I'd be a theatre actress. Probably not a very good one. In fact, probably a resting one.

Who in the media do you most admire and why?

Great writers like Jon Ronson and Tony Parsons, excellent magazine editors like Dylan Jones and newspaper people such as Piers Morgan. He made mistakes of course, but newspapers were much more fun when he was around. The dailies are way too safe a place these days.

The CV

1988 Learns her trade on the Exeter Leader, before moving up to the same city's Express and Echo, and in 1992 to the Southern Daily Echo, Southampton, as chief reporter

1994 Moves to Fleet Street as a feature writer for the News of the World

1996 Returns to reporting for the Sunday Express

1997 Joins the Daily Mirror as an investigative journalist and columnist

1997 Buys cannabis from Jack Straw's 17-year-old son, a story which gets her shortlisted for a Scoop of the Year award and arrested for possession of drugs

2000 Appointed features editor of the Sunday People