About us

We are Bird Media – two experienced journalists who launched their own news publication, The West Dorset Magazine, in February 2022. We believe we are the only all-female newspaper publisher-founders in the UK! We have won multiple awards, and the affection of thousands of readers. Key to our popularity is our determination to provide high-quality content, free of charge, to tens of thousands of people in this area. Every little bit of it is fiercely hyperlocal and meticulously curated to give people a warm hug of information that’s all about the west of our beautiful county.

Editor Miranda Robertson was born and bred in the west of Dorset and has worked for a number of local publications including the Dorset Echo, Salisbury Journal, Forest Journal and the New Blackmore Vale. News Editor Karen Bate has worked for the Bournemouth Echo, Salisbury Journal, Forest Journal and the New Blackmore Vale.

Having got to a Certain Age, they decided to publish the sort of publication they knew people would really enjoy – with plenty of hyperlocal news and features, local columnists and more. No ambulance chasing, no clickbait, just solid, local news – the sort we enjoy writing and readers enjoy reading.

It’s been a tough gig for two hacks to start a business, as they told ActionCoach adviser Simon Ellson: Listen here

But their dedication to that goal was rewarded in 2025 with a national award – Hyperlocal Newspaper of the Year. Those awards are no longer held and therefore The West Dorset Magazine is perpetual Hyperlocal Newspaper of the Year!

Karen and Miranda are always on hand to discuss innovative ways to approach marketing local businesses – as one of very few un-templated news publications out there we can be more flexible and ingenious with our marketing solutions. Get in touch and tell us what you want to achieve: newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk