147. Autumn Phillips Navigates Hostile Environments in a Newsroom

In the second episode of the series Navigating Hostile Environments, Julia is joined by Autumn Phillips, a veteran journalist and newspaper editor with over 20 years of experience. Autumn reflects on the challenges of leading in the high-pressure, male-dominated world of newsrooms. She shares how her leadership journey was shaped by the need to prove herself to skeptical teams while navigating the "glass cliff" phenomenon—an environment where women are often given opportunities only in undesirable or failing roles. 

"By definition, being the editor of a newspaper means you're in a toxic environment whenever you walk into a newsroom. You're not just handed respect; you have to earn it every day," says Autumn. 

Autumn discusses how she overcame the "man up culture" of her early career and learned to lead authentically by balancing empathy with decisiveness. She highlights the importance of fostering trust, creating spaces for constructive dialogue, and being fully present for her team.  

Listen to this episode to find learnings for anyone striving to lead with integrity and resilience in environments that test their limits. 

About the Guest: 

Autumn Phillips is an Editor for The Post and Courier. With a career spanning leadership roles like Editor in Chief and Executive Editor, she has overseen Pulitzer finalist projects, launched Post and Courier Travel, and raised millions for public service journalism. Recognised as Journalist of the Year by the North American Travel Journalists Association, Autumn combines her passion for storytelling with a love of adventure and community building.