Jake Hackney
Jake Hackney focuses on consumer-facing coverage that turns complex product markets and fast-moving deals into clear, actionable stories about value, savings and everyday use. He covers TV and streaming, tech, sport and food-adjacent products with the same practical lens, highlighting specific price cuts, features and real-world benefits rather than broad lifestyle angles. His work sits at the intersection of entertainment, technology and home life, where the decision to buy is often driven by timing, discounts and how well a device or service fits into daily routines. On food, he applies that consumer approach to kitchen gadgets and appliances, treating them as part of the wider ecosystem of products that make home life more comfortable and convenient.
Consumer deals and savings-focused coverage
Hackney’s core thread is deal-led consumer reporting that foregrounds the size of a saving, what triggers it and how long it might last. His headlines frequently centre on concrete discount figures and comparative value, such as Amazon cutting £120 off a Shark vacuum in a Prime Day deal, with emphasis on how well the product performs against its usual price and rival brands. When covering gadgets like the Ooono Codriver, he structures stories around a clear consumer problem – avoiding speeding tickets – and uses both product capabilities and user experiences to show how the purchase solves that problem. Ticketing pieces for major football fixtures follow the same pattern, breaking down when tickets go on sale, what fans can expect to pay and what options remain for last-minute buyers. Across these formats, his writing is direct and transactional: the reader learns what the product or offer does, how much it costs today versus normally, and whether it represents good value in context.
TV, streaming, tech and sport
Hackney is a consumer TV and streaming reporter for The Mirror, and a senior consumer writer covering TV, streaming, tech and sport across The Mirror and Daily Express. Within entertainment, his beat includes news and offers around streaming platforms and television services, framed in terms of subscription costs, bundle deals and new content that might change the value proposition for viewers.
In technology, he focuses on devices and digital tools that sit close to everyday use – from driving aids sold via Amazon to household electronics – again approaching them as purchases that must justify themselves through features and price. His sport coverage stays rooted in the fan experience: recent work on England Nations League fixtures is built around how supporters can secure tickets, what timelines and price bands they face, and how official channels compare with alternative options.
Across these areas, he writes as a consumer specialist rather than a critic, concentrating on practical details that help readers decide whether to buy, subscribe or attend.
Food and kitchen gadgets
On food, Hackney extends his consumer remit into the kitchen, focusing on appliances and gadgets that promise to improve home cooking or make food preparation more convenient. His coverage of Amazon cutting £30 off a Ninja CREAMi ice cream maker during a heatwave follows the same deal-first logic as his tech and ticketing work, setting out the size of the discount, the timing and the product’s appeal as a way to cope with the weather. In these pieces, the subject matter is culinary, but the framing is still about value: whether a countertop machine, air fryer or similar device earns its place through performance, versatility and the strength of the current offer.
This makes his food coverage particularly relevant when a story involves a strong consumer hook – new kitchen tech, supermarket-linked promotions or seasonal products where pricing and availability are central.
Format and tone
Hackney writes in a straightforward, service-oriented style that prioritises clarity over personality. His articles typically move quickly from a headline discount or key feature into the specifics of price, availability, retailer and any time-limited conditions, with supporting detail from user reviews or official product information where it helps explain the value on offer. The tone remains neutral and informational, and his use of affiliate framing and explicit savings positions his work firmly in the consumer advice space rather than commentary or long-form investigation.
Whether he is covering streaming services, match tickets, tech accessories or kitchen appliances, the constant is a focus on helping readers judge whether a deal is worth acting on now, and what they gain in practical terms if they do.
4 more food journalists.
Adam Maidment
Adam Maidment is a senior What's On and LGBTQ+ reporter whose food and leisure coverage is built around immersive, first-person reporting and concrete detail. He works at the Manchester Evening News, focusing on new restaurant and bar openings, regular food reviews, gig and event coverage, and issues affecting LGBTQ+ people. He treats restaurants, pubs, bars and experiences as stories about place, people and community, explaining what makes a venue different and how it fits into the local dining scene. His pieces cover pricing, service, atmosphere, crowds and concept, and he is willing to be critical when gimmicks undermine the experience. He writes character-led pub profiles, works shifts, joins treasure hunts and attends major cultural events, inviting readers to follow what he does and use his straightforward assessments to decide where to eat, drink and spend time.
Alice Lorenzato-Lloyd
Alice Lorenzato-Lloyd is editor at Secret Manchester, where she treats food as part of how people live in the city, not as an isolated subject. She covers restaurants, bars, street food and casual dining, linking new openings and food trends to neighbourhood change, local businesses and everyday routines. Her pieces focus on accessible spots, comfort dishes like pizza and tacos, and clear details of menus, presentation, atmosphere and practical information such as opening hours and booking. She often combines food, drink and live events, producing guides to venues for major sports tournaments and themed pop-ups as part of wider things to do. Alice also reports on hospitality business pressures, city-centre public spaces, charity initiatives, transport and infrastructure, always showing how food and drink fit into community and lifestyle stories. She previously wrote for other regional “Secret” sites as a staff writer and describes herself as a writer and food fanatic.
Aly Walansky
Aly Walansky specializes in service-driven food coverage that treats cocktails and dining as tools for celebration, focusing on how logistics, ordering options, and menu choices turn everyday meals and major holidays into shared experiences. She is a longtime food and travel journalist now writing for Forbes, where her beat centers on cocktails and occasion-driven dining. Her work includes practical, expert-driven roundups such as guides to many variations on the classic martini, shipped-meals gift lists for Mother’s Day, and accessible formats for Thanksgiving and other holidays. She reports through structured lists, restaurant features, and menu-focused profiles that highlight signature dishes and dining trends. Across outlets, she extends this approach to home cooking, grocery shopping, and recipes, and runs a newsletter that shares her current assignments and industry commentary.
Amy Clarke
Amy Clarke stands out for turning food trends, sustainability and rising costs into practical guidance. She writes about changing tastes, new ingredients, formats and dining habits, as well as budget-friendly sustainable eating, nutrition, food shopping and the pressures extreme weather places on small food businesses. Her work includes forward-looking trend round-ups, advice on eating sustainably on a budget, cheaper alternatives to expensive superfoods and a report on how ice cream vans manage heat, logistics and profitability. She works as a multimedia reporter for News Shopper Series, with past work published in Sutton & Croydon Guardian, Yahoo News UK and The Conversation. Clarke combines reported features with clear explainers, expert voices and step-by-step advice. She uses plain language, specific examples and practical tips to show what food changes mean for readers and businesses.