Rebecca Rose is the Financial Times’ FT Globetrotter editor and an award-winning journalist specializing in travel, LGBTQ+ history, and social justice. Based in London, her work combines immersive storytelling with rigorous analysis of urban sustainability and cultural preservation.
Rebecca Rose has carved a unique niche in journalism, blending rigorous reporting with a commitment to amplifying marginalized voices. Her work spans travel, culture, and history, often intersecting with themes of social justice and community resilience. We explore her career trajectory, key contributions, and how to engage her with meaningful pitches.
Rose began her career in Nova Scotia, writing for alt-weeklies like The Coast and platforms such as Rabble.ca, where she documented LGBTQ+ activism and labor movements[8]. Her early work laid the foundation for her signature style—meticulously researched, narrative-driven pieces that center human experiences.
In 2019, she joined the Financial Times to launch FT Globetrotter, redefining travel journalism for a discerning audience. Under her editorship, the vertical emphasizes sustainable practices, urban green spaces, and culturally immersive storytelling[4]. This role showcases her ability to merge journalistic rigor with innovative formats, such as mobile-first guides and reader-driven city secrets.
This landmark 2016 investigation chronicled Halifax’s pioneering LGBTQ+ activists, blending oral histories with archival research. Rose interviewed over 50 individuals, unearthing stories of grassroots organizing in the 1970s–1990s. The article’s impact led to a book deal with Nimbus Publishing, cementing its status as a definitive regional history[8]. Its significance lies in preserving narratives often excluded from mainstream media, while challenging myths about queer progress as a purely urban phenomenon.
In this 2019 analysis, Rose critiqued the corporatization of Pride events, contrasting their origins in protest with modern sponsorship deals. She highlighted case studies like Toronto Pride’s controversial police float ban, using FOIA requests to reveal budget allocations. The piece sparked debates about ethical sponsorship and inspired smaller communities to refocus on activist-led programming.
Rose’s 2023 report examined Canada’s prison reforms for transgender inmates through interviews with advocates and formerly incarcerated individuals. She paired policy analysis with personal stories, revealing systemic gaps in mental health support. The article influenced provincial discussions about alternatives to incarceration, exemplifying her ability to translate complex legislation into human-centered narratives.
Rose seeks stories about cities balancing tourism with ecological responsibility. For example, her FT Globetrotter series Portrait of a Park explores how urban green spaces combat climate change while fostering community[4]. Successful pitches might highlight rooftop farming initiatives or transit-oriented hotel designs. Avoid generic “eco-friendly” angles—focus on measurable outcomes and unique partnerships.
She prioritizes projects recovering marginalized histories, particularly outside major metros. Her book Before the Parade demonstrates this through its focus on small-city activism[5]. Pitch archival discoveries or intergenerational oral history projects, especially those involving grassroots organizers. Corporate diversity initiatives are less likely to resonate unless they involve substantive policy changes.
Rose’s Nova Scotia Advocate work shows her interest in travel-adjacent systemic issues, like prison reform’s impact on families[8]. Pitches could address topics like ethical voluntourism or migrant worker housing conditions. Provide access to underrepresented voices—she rarely profiles CEOs without grassroots counterpoints.
“The 30 most important stories in The Coast’s 25-year history” – The Coast, 2018[8]
This recognition underscores Rose’s ability to produce enduring local journalism. The selected article, Before The Parade, was praised for its “unflinching yet compassionate” portrayal of LGBTQ+ elders, influencing subsequent academic research on Atlantic Canadian queer history.
Book Publication: Before the Parade (Nimbus Publishing, 2021)[5]
This expansion of her seminal article received the Atlantic Book Award for Scholarly Writing. The jury noted its “rigorous methodology and narrative verve,” rare for regional press releases. It remains a key text in gender studies curricula at Dalhousie University.
