Transport journalists cover anything related to how people and goods move from place to place.
Transport journalists look at a large range of topics, including:
- Public transport, such as trains, buses and subways
- Aviation and airports
- Cars, roads and electric or autonomous vehicles
- Passenger and freight rail
- Shipping, ports and maritime issues
- Logistics and supply chains
- Government transport policy and regulation
- Urban mobility, such as cycling, ride-sharing and scooters
- Consumer or investigative stories involving delays, safety, accessibility and infrastructure projects.
In the UK, transport journalists might regularly report on things like:
- Network Rail
- TfL
- HS2
- Heathrow/Gatwick
- Airline disruptions
- Rail strikes
- Ticket prices
It’s a journalistic beat that sometimes overlaps with business journalism, politics, technology journalism, and consumer news.
Using the Roxhill Media database, we have identified the key transport journalists you need to have on your press lists now.
The UK's top transport journalists
Peter Campbell
Global Transport Correspondent
Financial Times
Gareth Corfield
Transport Correspondent
The Daily Telegraph
Laurence Sleator
Transport Correspondent
The Times
Chris Jasper
Transport Industry Editor
The Daily Telegraph
Joanna Plucinska
European Airlines and Travel Correspondent
Reuters
Gwyn Topham
Transport Correspondent
The Guardian
Noora Mykkanen
Senior Transport Reporter
Metro UK
Neil Lancefield
Transport Correspondent
PA Media
Pitching advice
- Align your pitch with the calendar. Think about peak travel seasons, and try to tie your pitch to stories around school holidays or times when transport will be stretched, like major sporting matches.
- Lead with a strong transport angle or hook. Open with a clear, data-backed angle tied to a live market trend and relevant to the journalist’s specific beat.
- Keep it concise and credible. Get to the point quickly, avoid promotional language, and support every claim with solid research or expert commentary. Avoid industry jargon at all costs.
- Read the publication and understand the journalists’ beat. Don’t pitch without researching the kinds of stories the journalist covers, the angles, and if they’ve recently written on your topic.
- Build lasting relationships. Offer exclusives, respond quickly, and invest in long-term connections with the journalists and broadcasters that matter most to your clients.
TRANSPORT JOURNALISTS
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which journalist is right for my story?
Start by looking at the recent articles of the journalist and evaluate how you can help them incrementally push their story forward by giving them the news you have. Be conscious of other beats where your story may overlap.
How do I build a relationship with transport journalists?
The best relationships are built in person. Attending industry events and webinars open doors that emails never will. Roxhill hosts regular webinars and events where you can connect with journalists directly.
When is the best time to pitch to a transport journalist?
Transport journalists are busy throughout the year. Finding the best window of opportunity to pitch means thinking carefully about the topics they cover, the seasonal calendar, and other regular announcements. How are the journalists you’re pitching affected by these set-pieces in their diaries? And can you use these dates to your advantage?
For more on pitch timings, take a look at our guides for tips and tricks.
How do I find transport journalists in the UK?
You can get access to the email addresses, bios, recent bylines, and topics of interest for every journalist in this guide via Roxhill’s Media Database. You’ll also be able to use our handy AI journalist assistant to help you tailor your pitch to your desired journalist before you hit send.
MEDIA INTELLIGENCE YOU CAN TRUST
We’re with you, every step of the way
One login. Multiple solutions.
Roxhill’s all-in-one media intelligence platform will save you time, highlight your impact, and drive your business forward.
MEDIA INTELLIGENCE YOU CAN TRUST
We’re with you, every step of the way
One login. Multiple solutions.
Roxhill’s all-in-one media intelligence platform will save you time, highlight your impact, and drive your business forward.
Click a product to explore its features.