Automotive Reporters and Journalists - 2025 Contact List

At Driving.ca since 2018, Harper has redefined automotive journalism through:

• Technical Depth: His tear-down analyses of hybrid drivetrains have been cited in engineering journals
• Consumer Advocacy: The "Real Range Index" he developed influences dealership disclosure policies

Pitch Priorities

• Emerging Technologies: Particularly interested in cost-effective electrification solutions
• Safety Innovations: Seeks stories where engineering enhances driver control rather than replacing it

Recent recognition includes the 2024 Automotive Innovation Fellowship from the Canadian Press Foundation, validating his unique blend of technical rigor and narrative skill.

This Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist specializes in policy-driven coverage of transportation networks and economic development. Currently writing for The Trucker, his work impacts both industry decision-makers and legislative agendas.

Key Coverage Areas

• State-Level Infrastructure Policy: Tracks how legislation affects freight corridors and manufacturing hubs
• Workforce Development: Reports on training programs addressing trucker shortages and technological shifts
• Emergency Logistics: Analyzes disaster response systems keeping supply chains intact

Pitching Preferences

• Preferred Sources: DOT officials, logistics managers, policy analysts
• Ideal Story Angles: Legislative impacts on regional economies, climate adaptation strategies for fleets
• Hard Passes: Consumer vehicle reviews, startup fundraising announcements

"Guthrie's reporting doesn't just document policy - it shapes how states allocate billions in infrastructure funds." - American Trucking Associations White Paper

Career Highlights

• 28 years in journalism across 3 continents
• Founded Australia's largest digital news platform (The New Daily)
• Authored 150+ policy analyses cited in legislative hearings

As What Car?’s sub-editor since 2018, Haining specializes in translating technical specifications into buyer-focused narratives. His work straddles three core areas:

• Electrification Practicality: Focused on real-world EV/hybrid ownership costs over laboratory test figures
• Design Anthropology: Examines how cabin layouts influence long-term owner satisfaction
• Cross-Generational Analysis: Positions legacy models as benchmarks for emerging technologies

Pitching Priorities

• Data-Rich Comparisons: He prioritizes studies showing how specific features impact resale values or maintenance frequency
• Owner Behavior Insights: Seeks telematics data revealing actual vs advertised driving pattern disparities
• Design Process Exclusives: Values interviews with engineers explaining cost/comfort trade-offs in component choices

"Approach pitches as collaborative storytelling – Haining wants to guide readers through discovery, not deliver verdicts."

As Retro Rides' lead analyst since 2011, Chambers deciphers complex market trends through historical and technical lenses. His 40-year career combines hands-on restoration experience with data-driven market predictions.

Key Coverage Areas

• Vintage Valuation: Developed the Chambers Rarity Index (CRI) used by insurers worldwide
• Modern Classics: Identified 18 late-model vehicles entering collectible status since 2020
• Preservation Tech: Chronicled 47 emerging technologies impacting restoration practices

Pitching Priorities

• Include verifiable market data spanning ≥5 years
• Highlight engineering innovations with heritage applications
• Provide access to original factory documents or blueprints

Costa Mouzouris is a Canadian automotive/motorcycle journalist specializing in technical analyses of performance vehicles. With 20+ years experience spanning mechanical work and journalism, he brings unique insights into engineering evolution across transportation sectors.

Current Focus Areas

• Primary Outlet: Vicarious Magazine (2019-Present)
• Key Beats:
  • Motorcycle chassis dynamics
  • Electrification of legacy ICE platforms
  • Human factors in vehicle design

Pitching Recommendations

• Technical Depth Required: Pitches must include engineering schematics or performance data comparisons
• Avoid: Lifestyle-focused automotive content or first-drive exclusives without technical hook
• Unique Angle: Historical through-lines showing technological progression

Career Highlights

• 2024 AJAC Journalist of the Year
• Chaired 2023 Canadian Car of the Year jury
• BMW Group Media Award recipient

autonomous driving systems, micromobility solutions

With 18 years spanning Autoline, CNET, and TopSpeed, Craig Cole has become automotive journalism’s foremost analyst of the EV transition. His work blends manufacturing insights with environmental accountability, offering readers both technical depth and real-world relevance.

Current Focus Areas

• Sustainable Manufacturing: Tracks automakers’ facility upgrades for EV production
• Battery Tech: Explores supply chain innovations from lithium mining to recycling
• Policy Impacts: Analyzes how emissions regulations shape product roadmaps

Pitching Priorities

• Data-Driven Stories: Prefers metrics on production efficiency or environmental impact
• US-Centric Angles: Highlights domestic job creation or infrastructure projects
• Tech Commercialization: Focuses on near-term innovations over conceptual tech

“The most compelling stories show how today’s factory floors are financing tomorrow’s breakthroughs.”

Career Highlights

• 2024 APA Environmental Reporting Award winner
• 15+ million annual readers across platforms
• Restored 1936 Ford V8 featured in Hemmings Motor News

Dean Evans (NZ Herald DRIVEN) specializes in automotive innovation and its societal impacts, with secondary interests in consumer technology and urban infrastructure. Based in Auckland, his work bridges technical analysis with policy implications.

Pitching Priorities

• Seeking: Case studies on EV adoption barriers in regional communities
• Avoid: Luxury vehicle launches without sustainability angles

Recent recognition includes a 2023 Canon Media Award nomination for transportation reporting. Evans maintains a 72-hour response window for relevant infrastructure tech pitches.

This veteran automotive journalist combines construction industry pragmatism with technical analysis of trucks and SUVs. Now contributing to Driving.ca after leading Postmedia's automotive division, McNaughton's work informs both commercial buyers and recreational enthusiasts.

Current Focus Areas

• Hybrid Workhorses: Seamlessly integrates dyno-test data with real-world towing/efficiency metrics
• Durability Engineering: Prioritizes long-term component resilience over cosmetic features
• Analog-Digital Interfaces: Advocates for tactile controls in increasingly computerized vehicles

Pitching Preferences

• Data-Rich Comparisons: "Focus on torque curves at specific RPM ranges rather than peak horsepower claims"
• Real-World Testing Angles: "Propose mountain ascent challenges or payload security demonstrations"
• Modification Readiness: "Highlight factory-supported aftermarket integration points"

Career Highlights

• 14+ years shaping Canadian automotive journalism standards
• First journalist to test Toyota's i-FORCE MAX hybrid in extreme elevation conditions
• Developed construction industry-informed vehicle evaluation protocols

As Associate Editor at Octane Magazine, Glen Waddington has redefined classic car journalism through his dual focus on preservation and innovation. His work excavates automotive history while blueprinting its future—a balance epitomized by his award-winning coverage of restomod culture.

Core Coverage Areas

• Historical Preservation: Documenting techniques from hand-rolled aluminum bodywork to period-correct engine tuning
• Modern Reinterpretations: Analyzing how companies like Alfaholics blend CAD engineering with traditional craftsmanship
• Racing Lineage: Tracing design elements from 1960s track cars to contemporary grand tourers

Pitching Insights

Do:

• Connect innovations to historical precedents (e.g., new carbon fiber techniques vs. 1970s aerospace materials)
• Provide access to restoration specialists and their workshop environments
• Share unpublished archival materials (blueprints, race day photos, engineering notebooks)

Avoid:

• Mass-market automotive technology or consumer-focused features
• Speculative future concepts without working prototypes
• Stories lacking technical depth or historical context

With readership spanning 40 countries, Waddington’s work serves as the Rosetta Stone between classic car purists and modern engineering visionaries. His upcoming book Welding Past to Present (2026) promises to further cement this legacy.

As Classic & Sports Car's foremost historian, MacLeman specializes in:

• Technical preservation: Documenting endangered manufacturing techniques
• Motorsport archaeology: Reconstructing historic races through material science
• Owner narratives: Chronicling multi-generational vehicle stewardship

Pitching Priorities

• Include never-published archival materials like workshop manuals or factory correspondence
• Highlight connections between historical designs and modern engineering challenges
• Provide access to private collections for technical analysis

"The perfect pitch combines diesel stains on a blueprint with champagne corks from victory celebrations."

Achievements Snapshot

• 2023 H&H Classics Writer of Year
• Developed industry-standard patina authentication protocols
• Curated the British Motor Museum's permanent historical timeline

As Calgary correspondent for Automotive News Canada, Harry Pegg specializes in sustainable transportation solutions and electric vehicle infrastructure. His work bridges technical analysis with consumer-focused reporting on emerging green technologies.

Key Coverage Areas

• Electric Vehicle Adoption: Tracks provincial infrastructure development and policy impacts
• Green Manufacturing: Analyzes sustainable production techniques in the automotive sector

Pitching Preferences

• Seeking: Data-driven stories on practical sustainability innovations
• Avoid: Theoretical technologies without near-term implementation plans

As Managing Editor of evo, Ian Eveleigh shapes coverage of performance cars through three decades of industry experience. His work combines technical expertise with narrative-driven storytelling, particularly excelling in:

• Long-term vehicle assessments: Documenting real-world ownership experiences beyond press launch impressions
• Historical design analysis: Connecting contemporary engineering to automotive heritage
• Driver-focused critiques: Prioritizing tactile feedback and mechanical engagement over pure performance metrics

Pitching Priorities

• Engineering innovations preserving analog driving experiences
• Modern reinterpretations of classic design languages
• Affordable performance platforms with modifiable potential

"The best drivers' cars speak through your hands and feet, not through a touchscreen menu."

Notable Achievements:

• 18-year tenure at UK's premier performance car publication
• 2020 Guild of Motoring Writers Feature Award recipient
• Cited by automotive engineers at Nissan, Mazda, and Polestar

As CarBuzz's lead test drive specialist, Wright combines mechanical expertise with market analysis to evaluate vehicles through both engineering and consumer lenses. His reporting focuses on:

• Practical Technology: Emphasizing innovations that address real-world driving needs
• Market Trends: Identifying underappreciated vehicles and shifting consumer preferences
• Regulatory Impact: Analyzing how safety standards shape automotive development

Pitching Priorities

• Technical specifications paired with consumer benefit analyses
• Exclusive access to prototype vehicles for real-world testing
• Data-driven comparisons between emerging and established technologies

As Auto Expert’s content lead, Isaac Bober has redefined vehicle evaluation for Australian drivers. His work bridges technical specifications with real-world usability, particularly in these areas:

• Consumer-Centric Reviews: Develops innovative rating systems for family vehicles and urban commuters
• Technology Decoder: Specializes in explaining ADAS features and infotainment systems for non-technical readers
• Market Trend Analysis: Tracks EV adoption challenges specific to Australia’s climate and geography

Pitching Priorities

• Do: Present data-rich comparisons using Australian driving metrics
• Don’t: Pitch motorsports content or vintage vehicle features
• Unique Angle: Propose studies tracking vehicle performance over 12+ months

Recent recognition includes back-to-back Australian Automotive Journalist of the Year awards (2022–2023) for his investigative work on EV infrastructure gaps. Bober continues to mentor emerging writers through the Motoring Media Association’s early career program.

James Baggott stands as the UK’s preeminent automotive trade journalist through his dual role as Car Dealer Magazine’s editor-in-chief and Baize Group CEO. With over 20 years documenting the intersection of policy, economics, and dealership operations, his work serves as essential reading for industry professionals navigating the EV transition.

Coverage Focus

• Regulatory Impact Analysis: Specializes in translating complex legislation like the ZEV mandate into actionable insights for dealership networks
• Dealership Financial Health: Tracks floorplan financing trends and used vehicle margin compression through proprietary industry models

Avoid Pitches On

• Consumer vehicle reviews or comparison guides
• Motorsports sponsorship deals or racing technology
• Concept vehicles without confirmed production timelines

“The real story isn’t in the showroom – it’s in the spreadsheet.”

Recent achievements include steering Car Dealer Magazine to record subscription growth (47% YoY increase) while expanding video content output by 300% across TikTok and LinkedIn. His predictions on agency model rollbacks were cited in Parliament during 2024 automotive policy debates.

As Modern Classics Magazine's lead writer since 2017, James Howe has redefined automotive heritage journalism through his:

• Technical Authority: Develops original testing methodologies to evaluate classic car systems
• Cultural Analysis: Contextualizes automotive design within broader postwar European history
• Preservation Advocacy: Partners with museums and archives to save endangered engineering knowledge

Pitching Priorities

• Do: Propose stories with access to unpublished engineering documents or prototype vehicles
• Don't: Pitch coverage of modern supercars or electric vehicle technology
• Unique Angle: Stories revealing how specific manufacturing constraints shaped iconic designs

Recent career highlights include curating the British Motor Museum's 2024 "Lost Prototypes" exhibition and serving as technical consultant for BBC Four's "The Geometry of Speed" documentary series.

electric vehicles, new car reviews

James McLachlan is the editor of Car Design News, where he analyzes how vehicle design intersects with technology, sustainability, and urban planning. His work emphasizes accessibility—celebrating budget-conscious innovations as rigorously as luxury concepts.

Pitching Priorities

• Design Process Deep Dives: He seeks stories explaining how constraints (cost, regulations) spur creativity, exemplified by his Dacia Duster coverage.
• Emerging Materials: Profiles of bio-based composites or closed-loop manufacturing systems resonate strongly.

Awards & Leadership

• Led Car Design News’ expansion into video documentaries, increasing audience engagement by 28%.
• Regular jury member for the European Car Design Awards, advocating for production-feasible aesthetics.

Jason Torchinsky is lead automotive analyst at The Autopian, where he combines technical expertise with irreverent commentary on vehicle design and regulation. With over two decades of experience spanning Jalopnik, Heatmap News, and NPR's Car Talk, his work focuses on three core areas:

• **Automotive safety innovations**: Particularly lighting systems and passive safety features
• **Low-cost transportation solutions**: Micro-EVs, neighborhood electric vehicles, and DIY modifications
• **Historical design analysis**: Regulatory impacts on vehicle aesthetics from 1940-present

Pitching Priorities

Successful story ideas typically include:

• **Technical deep dives**: SAE paper analyses with real-world testing data
• **Global perspectives**: Comparisons of EU vs. US regulatory approaches
• **Obscure technologies**: Forgotten safety systems or prototype components

"The best automotive stories hide in parts catalogs and federal register notices."

Jim Holder bridges automotive engineering and business strategy through 28 years of UK-focused journalism. Now freelancing after leading Autocar and What Car?, he analyzes:

Core Coverage Areas

• Industrial Policy: Brexit impacts, subsidy allocations, trade agreements
• Technology Transfer: Motorsport-to-production innovations
• Corporate Governance: Executive decisions, scandal responses, ESG integration

Pitching Preferences

• ⚙️ Technical white papers with real-world validation
• 📈 Exclusive industry datasets with 5+ year trends
• 🔍 Underreported supply chain nodes (e.g., lithium refining)

"The best stories emerge where engineering ambition meets economic reality."

As Senior Producer at Motor Authority, Joel Feder shapes coverage of automotive innovation with emphasis on:

• Electric Vehicle Economics: His Lucid Motors pricing exposé revealed how startups balance scale and premium positioning
• Off-Road Market Trends: Analysis of Ram’s Power Wagon pricing strategy highlighted rural/urban buyer dichotomies
• Dealer-Manufacturer Dynamics: Coverage of Stellantis’ mobile service initiative explored post-sale customer experience innovations

Pitching Insights

Successful outreach requires:

• Data-Rich Comparisons: Feder’s Hyundai Ioniq 5 N review used 11 performance metrics vs. Porsche Taycan
• Regional Manufacturing Angles: His Rivian recall reporting tied quality issues to specific supplier regions
• Luxury Tech Trickle-Down: Cadillac Lyriq-V coverage showed how high-end features influence mass-market EVs

Achievements

• Led 2025 Motor Authority Best Car To Buy selection panel
• IDRC Fellowship recipient for EV supply chain investigations
• Regular commentator on NPR’s “Here & Now” automotive segments

John Mahoney bridges automotive tradition and electrified futures through EV Central, where he deciphers technical innovations for international audiences. His work spans:

• Battery Technology Breakdowns: From solid-state prototypes to recycling infrastructure, Mahoney tracks energy storage advancements with manufacturer access.
• Performance EV Analysis: Explores how electrification reshapes driving dynamics in high-end sports cars and accessible models alike.
• Market Trend Forecasting: Leverages Australia’s unique position in critical mineral supply chains to predict global EV adoption curves.

Pitching Priorities

• Technical to Consumer Translations: How battery chemistry improvements affect real-world range in mountain terrains or extreme climates
• Supply Chain Stories: Rare earth material sourcing shifts or geopolitical factors impacting charger rollout timelines
• Cultural Shifts: EV adoption in motorsports, collector car electrification, or charging infrastructure’s urban design impacts

With bylines reaching 500k+ monthly readers across EV Central’s global network, Mahoney offers manufacturers and policymakers a direct line to engaged EV adopters.

As Deputy Auto Editor at Consumer Reports, Jon Linkov has become the North Star for American car buyers navigating an increasingly complex automotive landscape. With 24 years at CR and prior experience shaping Porsche’s digital retail strategies, he brings unmatched perspective to:

• Vehicle Acquisition Strategies: From pandemic-era markup analyses to EV tax credit optimizations
• Ownership Cost Engineering: Pioneered maintenance prediction models using real-time repair data
• Safety Tech Demystification: Developed CR’s ADAS rating system adopted by 23 state DMVs

Pitching Priorities

• Data-Rich Comparisons: He prioritizes studies with ≥500 data points across multiple regions
• Long-Term Testing: Minimum 6-month evaluation periods for durability claims
• Bilingual Outreach: 18% of his work addresses Spanish-speaking consumers’ unique needs

Recent recognition from the International Motor Press Association (2025) underscores his influence in translating complex automotive technologies into actionable consumer advice. Linkov’s work continues to shape FTC auto retail regulations while maintaining CR’s trademark rigorous independence.

Jonny Lieberman is Motor Trend's lead analyst on electrification strategies and performance vehicle development. Based in Detroit, his work combines engineering analysis with executive profiling, making him essential reading for automotive professionals and enthusiasts.

Key Coverage Areas

• EV Platform Architecture: Tracks battery technology advancements and manufacturing scalability
• Heritage Brand Revivals: Analyzes modern reinterpretations of classic marques like Scout Motors
• Performance Benchmarking: Develops innovative testing protocols for electric powertrains

Pitching Insights

• Technical Depth Required: Successful pitches demonstrate understanding of automotive engineering principles
• Executive Access: Prioritizes stories offering C-suite interviews with strategic decision-makers
• Data-Driven Stories: Seeks exclusive performance metrics from instrumented testing

Lieberman's awards include the 2024 International Automotive Media Award for technical communication. His video series Behind the Wheel has become an industry reference standard, blending telemetry analysis with accessible storytelling.

Larry D'Argis shapes automotive journalism through educational storytelling in Canada's heartland. As the Winnipeg Free Press's primary automotive voice since the early 2010s, he specializes in:

• Hands-On Learning Documentation: Chronicles student-led restoration projects that blend vintage preservation with modern mechanics
• Community-Centric Reporting: Highlights partnerships between schools, businesses, and collectors
• Technical Deep Dives: Explores mechanical adaptations rather than superficial restorations

Pitching Priorities

• Seek: Projects combining automotive history with skill development
• Avoid: Luxury vehicle reviews or motorsports coverage

"The true value of a restoration lies not in its showroom shine, but in the knowledge forged through each turned bolt and welded seam." - Larry D'Argis, 2019

As CNBC's foremost authority on automotive innovation and tech policy, Kolodny shapes global discourse on:

• EV Market Dynamics: Tracks consumer adoption patterns, regulatory impacts, and battery tech breakthroughs
• Autonomous Systems: Focused on safety protocols, infrastructure needs, and AI ethics in transportation
• Tech Leadership: Analyzes executive decision-making at the intersection of business and politics

Pitching Preferences

• Data-Driven Angles: Prefers stories anchored in proprietary datasets or underutilized public records
• Policy Experts: Values input from regulators, antitrust scholars, and geopolitical strategists
• Engineering Insights: Seeks interviews with automotive safety engineers and AI ethicists

Notable Achievements:

• Broke 14 Tesla-related exclusives in 2024, including Musk's $2B AI chip investment
• Regular commentator on NPR's Marketplace Tech and Bloomberg Automotive
• Mentored 23 early-career journalists through the AAJA Tech Reporting Fellowship

Connect via CNBC.com profile or professional networks for story proposals aligning with her focus on sustainable mobility solutions and ethical tech leadership.

As Driving.ca’s lead investigative automotive journalist since 2005, Lorraine Sommerfeld has redefined consumer advocacy in the transportation sector. Her work bridges technical expertise with social consciousness, making complex industry issues accessible to millions of Canadian drivers.

Core Coverage Areas

• Regulatory Investigations: Exposes gaps in automotive safety oversight through FOIA-driven reporting
• Ownership Economics: Analyzes long-term costs of emerging vehicle technologies
• Consumer Protection: Reveals predatory sales practices through undercover operations

Pitching Priorities

• Policy Impact Stories: Prefers data-rich examinations of how legislation affects real consumers
• Historical Parallels: Welcomes pitches connecting past automotive trends to current issues
• Technology Realities: Seeks investigations into subscription models and ownership rights

Career Highlights

• 2021 AJAC Journalist of the Year (2x recipient)
• 14 national awards for investigative automotive reporting
• Creator of Canada’s first automotive consumer risk assessment toolkit

With quarter-century experience spanning three continents, Hacking dissects automotive innovation through lenses of technology, sustainability, and luxury. His work for Vicarious Magazine and NUVO establishes him as Canada’s premier interpreter of premium mobility solutions.

Core Coverage Areas

• EV Infrastructure Development: Tracked $2.1B in North American charging network investments since 2023
• Performance Hybrid Systems: Analyzed 14 hybrid powertrains across 2024-2025 model years

Avoid These Angles

• Urban micro-mobility solutions
• Mainstream consumer vehicle comparisons

“The test drive is just the first chapter – the real story lives in the engineering studio and the boardroom.”

This CarExpert managing editor brings 30+ years of combined industry and journalism experience to his coverage of:

• Vehicle Development: Tracks model lifecycles from concept to showroom
• Market Strategy: Analyzes manufacturer positioning in Australasia
• Technology Transitions: Specializes in EV adoption challenges

Pitching Priorities

• Technical Deep Dives: Prefers engineering-focused stories over lifestyle angles
• Executive Access: Values interviews with product planners over PR spokespeople
• Data-Rich Insights: Requires sales figures, test metrics, and historical comparisons

Notable Career Highlights:

“Drove the transformation of automotive journalism from print-first to digital-native storytelling.” - Industry colleague

Canada's premier electric vehicle analyst brings two decades of automotive journalism experience to GreenCars. Specializes in:

• Technical Deep Dives: Battery performance metrics, charging infrastructure analysis, software-defined vehicle trends
• Comparative Evaluations: Cross-brand EV competitions, price-performance ratios, government policy impacts
• Consumer Advocacy: Real-world range testing, ownership cost breakdowns, charging network reliability

Pitching Priorities

Successful outreach requires:

• Data-Rich Insights: Provide charging curve charts, thermal management specs, or battery degradation studies
• Canadian Context: Highlight solutions for extreme weather operation or provincial incentive programs
• Innovation Stories: Focus on charging tech advancements over incremental vehicle updates

"My role is translating kilowatts and torque curves into purchase decisions." - Bettencourt, 2024 EV Symposium

Michael Brady is a senior editor at Automotive Dive specializing in the intersection of policy, technology, and business strategy. With prior experience as an auto mechanic and digital health editor, he brings unique technical depth to stories about EV adoption, AI-driven design, and regulatory impacts.

Pitching Insights

• Preferred Topics: Federal EV incentives, supply chain cybersecurity, OEM-supplier partnerships
• Avoid: Motorsports coverage, aftermarket product reviews

“The most impactful automotive stories lie where engineering meets economics.”

Brady’s award-winning work has influenced EPA regulations and been cited in Congressional testimony. He holds certifications in automotive technology (ASE G1) and data journalism (Knight Center).