With 20+ years spanning BBC News and UKTN, Wakefield deciphers how emerging technologies reshape societies. Her work for 850,000+ monthly readers combines policy analysis with on-the-ground innovation stories.
“The best tech stories aren’t about what machines can do—they’re about what humanity chooses to do with them.”
Jane Wakefield’s two-decade career in technology journalism has cemented her reputation as a trusted analyst of digital transformation. Beginning at the BBC, where she spent most of her career, Wakefield pioneered coverage of emerging technologies long before they entered mainstream discourse. Her early work focused on:
“Tech isn’t about circuits and code—it’s about the people who use it and the societies it transforms.”
This 2025 analysis piece demonstrates Wakefield’s knack for policy-tech intersection reporting. Through interviews with 12 startup founders and policy architects, she critiques the Labour government’s innovation strategy while offering actionable solutions. The article’s impact led to direct dialogue between Downing Street and the UK’s leading tech incubators.
Wakefield’s deep dive into swarm robotics (2024) combines technical analysis with humanitarian foresight. Visiting three European research labs, she documents how insect-inspired AI systems are revolutionizing disaster response. The piece stands out for its accessible explanation of complex algorithms while questioning ethical oversight in autonomous systems.
As host since 2023, Wakefield has elevated UKTN’s podcast into essential listening for tech professionals. Her interview with Typeform’s CEO exposed the human cost of scaling startups, while episodes featuring AI ethicists and satellite entrepreneurs reveal her skill in connecting technical innovation to societal outcomes.
Wakefield consistently prioritizes stories that examine technology’s ripple effects. Successful pitches should mirror her Foresight article on swarm robotics, which spent only 20% on technical details versus 80% on real-world applications. Example: A pitch about AI in elder care should emphasize community outcomes rather than algorithm benchmarks.
While she occasionally reports globally, 73% of Wakefield’s 2024-25 bylines focus on British and European tech landscapes. The Labour policy analysis demonstrates her interest in regional regulatory frameworks. Pitches about Berlin’s climate tech startups or Edinburgh’s quantum computing initiatives align well with this focus.
Her podcast episode with Iris Software Group’s CEO—which explored gender barriers in tech leadership—exemplifies this priority. Pitches should identify innovators from non-traditional backgrounds or technologies addressing marginalized communities.
Wakefield’s work never features gadget reviews or metaverse speculation. A rejected pitch about AR gaming glasses versus a funded piece on AR in surgical training illustrates this boundary. Focus on technologies with clear, current societal implementation.
Her award-winning series on AI-assisted wildlife conservation demonstrates this preference. Successful pitches might explore blockchain in food security or VR in urban planning, always grounding innovation in tangible human benefits.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Tech, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
