Stephanie Mahon – Editor

I edit the Garden Design Journal, a respected monthly magazine for the Society of Garden Designers, as a part-time, remote freelancer.
Duties include generating, sourcing and commissioning all content, editing, liaising with society representatives and representing the brand at industry events.
As well as my editing work, I also write freelance, and have worked for many outlets and organisations over the years, from national newspapers and magazines to websites, on topics including fashion, music, business, sport, design and health. My first writing gig was Youth Correspondent of The Irish Times at the age of 17.
Recent commissions include work for The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Sunday Times, Country Living, Homes & Gardens, Gardens Illustrated, RHS The Garden, Country Homes & Interiors and Period Living magazine.
Previous work for the National Trust includes consultancy, proofreading, and writing guidebooks on Colby Woodland Garden and Dyffryn Gardens. I am co-author of a new title on Pruning and Training plants for DK, to be published in 2021; and the book Wild Gardens for Pavilion, to be published in 2022.

As Editor of The English Garden magazine, a high-end glossy gardening magazine, my duties included generating the content for 13 UK and six North American print editions each year. The title was known for exceptional photography and high-quality, in-depth writing. The role involved creating and editing all content, flat planning and managing budgets, overseeing photo and video shoots, writing features, planning and booking content up to 18 months ahead, and liaising with internal and external groups to promote the magazine.

Other duties included:
- Editing the website and managing the social media accounts
- Line-managing a team of four plus freelancers
- Representing the brand in the industry and beyond
- Managing extra projects such as The Future Fund bursary scheme, 'A Year in the Garden'​ DVD and working with renowned plantsman Roy Lancaster as guest editor.

I started out on the magazine as Sub-editor/writer, and was soon retitled Production Editor, responsible for the subbing and workflow of the magazine and sending it to print. I was promoted to Commissioning Section Editor, which involved commissioning major features and series; then Deputy Editor; and finally Editor, having worked on every editorial facet of the magazine.

Worked at this non-profit cultural association in Italy, organising and running holidays, concerts, art exhibitions and other events; as well as day-to-day management of the 14th-century castle and garden where it was located. During my tenure, the association was featured in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Irish Times, Rough Guide and several other well-known international guidebooks and websites.

In charge of subbing supplements and other products of the Independent newspaper group, including weekly and monthly magazines such as Initiative, Mothers & Babies and Work & Careers. Wrote features and several columns.

Worked as Assistant Editor on The Irish Marketing and Advertising Journal. For a period of nine months, managed the product as Acting Editor. Simultaneously worked as Assistant Editor on new launch Health & Living magazine.