Phil Hall: My Life in Media

So what inspired you to embark on a career in the media?

I wanted to work in the media from the age of 10. My inspiration then was to travel and get in to see my favourite football club West Ham United for free.

When you were 15 years old, which newspaper did your family get, and did you read it?

The Sunday Express and its chief football writer Alan Hoby were why I wanted to become a newspaper man. He engendered excitement and made it all so glamorous. His reports would begin something like: "As the clouds gathered over the North Bank stand and a hushed crowd took a collective deep breath, Geoff Hurst gathered the ball and placed it on the snow-white penalty spot." There was none of the modern-day habit for just saying "and Hurst scored from the spot". Hoby put the reader in the stand with him. It was a lesson that held me in good stead when feature writing.

And what were your favourite TV and radio programmes?

Panorama, News at Ten and The Big Match.

Describe your job

I run a media and PR company called Phil Hall Associates. I advise clients such as West Ham United, Bill Kenwright, Hello! magazine and Carole Caplin.

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

Radio 4, The Sun, the Daily Mirror, the Daily Mail and The Guardian/Independent depending on its front page.

Do you consult any media sources during the working day?

Sky News, Evening Standard, CNN website.

What is the best thing about your job?

The knowledge that every morning I don't get paid unless I get results... and getting into West Ham for free!

And the worst?

The 24/7 commitment means I don't see enough of my wife Marina, six-year-old daughter Alice and son William, four, and when I do I am often on the phone.

How do you feel you influence the media?

I only take on clients with a good story to tell, so I hope I contribute to the media with a string of fascinating stories.

What's the proudest achievement in your working life?

Winning seven awards and building a one-million circulation gap over the joint sales of the Sunday Mirror and The People while editor of the News of the World.

And what's your most embarrassing moment?

Falling for the charm of Princess Diana while I was editor of the News of the World. We caught her out with her secret love Hasnet Khan but I allowed her to persuade me she was just interested in his work (while leaving his flat at 3am).

At home, what do you tune in to?

BBC News, Sky News, ITN and GMTV.

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

Sunday Times for its news and sections, the tabloids for sport and gossip. Today's Golfer is my favourite magazine.

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

I would run a golf resort - I was once asked but I turned it down.

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

Edit a newspaper in the US.

Who in the media do you most admire and why?

John Humphrys for his integrity and tenacity.

The CV

1974 Is one of two out of 2,000 entrants to win a bursary to journalism course. Gives up university place for fast-track into newspapers.

1984 After a decade learning his craft in the regional press and then as a freelance filing to the nationals, he joins Associated Newspapers to work on a magazine called Weekend.

1985 Joins The People and during seven years on the title he works as chief reporter and news editor.

1993 After a year at the Sunday Express, as news editor, he arrives at Wapping at the start of a seven-year adventure on the News of the World, eventually becoming editor.

2000 Becomes editor-in-chief of Hello!.

2002 Joins Trinity Mirror as editorial director of development, working alongside chief executive Sly Bailey, setting up the magazine division but having to watch Piers Morgan lose his job over the faked Iraqi prisoner abuse photographs.

2005 Sets up Phil Hall Associates, with early clients including the President of Ecuador and West Ham United.