Food Journalists - UK

Hugh Thomas is a UK-based freelance food journalist specializing in sustainable dining, restaurant industry trends, and craft beverages. His work for Zagat, Ferment, and Wicked Leeks combines rigorous data analysis with cultural storytelling, often focusing on how global crises reshape local food systems.

Pitching Insights

• Do pitch:
  • Hyperlocal supply chain innovations (e.g., “London bakery cuts carbon via medieval grain revival”)
  • Post-pandemic hospitality adaptations (e.g., “How Bristol pubs redesigned menus for climate resilience”)
• Avoid pitching:
  • Celebrity chef profiles or fast-food franchise expansions
  • Generic “top 10” lists without sociological context

Recognition

“A thoughtful writer who makes the economics of turnips compelling.” – Matt Eley, Founder of inapub

With 25 years documenting the intersection of travel and tradition, Boobbyer has become the foremost English-language authority on Cuban cultural preservation. Her work for The Times, Telegraph, and National Geographic Traveller blends investigative rigor with lyrical storytelling, particularly focused on:

• Endangered Cultural Practices: From Havana’s cigar factory oral storytellers to Laos’ bomb-clearance trekking trails
• Gastronomic Heritage: Documenting recipes as cultural resistance in Indigenous communities
• Ethical Infrastructure: Analyzing how transport systems impact local economies

Pitching Priorities

• Do: Propose stories with historical context + verifiable impact data
• Don’t: Pitch luxury resort openings without community benefit angles

“The best travel stories aren’t about places – they’re about the people rewriting their futures through tradition.”

As senior health reporter for the Daily Mail, Andrews specializes in evidence-based reporting on medical advancements and regulatory changes. His work consistently bridges academic research and real-world health outcomes, making him essential reading for policymakers and healthcare professionals.

Pitching Priorities

• Clinical Trial Insights: Prefers longitudinal studies with clear public health implications
• Policy Analysis: Seeks exclusives on upcoming NHS reforms or EU health directives

"The best stories come from listening to both lab researchers and the communities affected by their work." - Andrews at 2024 Science Media Symposium

As Editorial Director of National Geographic Traveller UK and APL Media's Chief Operating Officer, Maria Pieri oversees content strategies reaching 2.3 million monthly readers. Her editorial pillars include:

• Sustainable Tourism Development: Advocates for destination management models that balance economic growth with cultural preservation
• Evidence-Based Wellness Travel: Prioritizes stories validating traditional health practices through modern research
• Culinary Storytelling: Explores how food traditions shape regional identities and global migration patterns

Pitching Recommendations

• Lead with Data: 89% of her commissioned pieces in 2024 included original research components
• Localize Global Trends: Successful pitches frame worldwide phenomena through specific community experiences
• Multimedia Integration: 62% of features now include interactive digital elements - propose VR/AR components where feasible

Career Highlights

• Directed editorial expansion into 14 new international markets since 2017
• Launched industry-first sustainability verification program for hotel reviews
• Mentored 45 early-career journalists through BSME education initiatives

Currently writing for WIRED (UK), Reynolds specializes in policy-driven stories about:

• Emerging Food Systems: Track record of investigating regulatory battles over sustainable protein sources
• Climate Impact Metrics: Pioneered new frameworks for quantifying climate-related mortality
• Cross-Domain AI: Analyzes algorithmic systems in legal, environmental, and employment contexts

Pitching Priorities

• Source proposals with verifiable data on policy outcomes
• Highlight interdisciplinary connections between tech sectors
• Provide access to stakeholders across ideological spectrums

Achievements: James Beard Award nominee, 2023 Legal Tech Journalist of the Year, and contributor to UN climate reporting working groups.

Tabitha Joyce crafts narratives at the intersection of travel, gastronomy, and cultural preservation. As a contributing editor for Kultura Magazine and collaborator on Assouline’s Secret Stays, she champions destinations where design intentionality meets community stewardship.

Key Coverage Areas

• Boutique Hospitality: Profiles of small-scale properties redefining luxury through sustainability and storytelling
• Culinary Tourism: Establishments where dining experiences are inseparable from place identity
• Adaptive Reuse: Architectural projects transforming heritage sites into contemporary stays

Pitching Preferences

• Do: Highlight partnerships between properties and local cultural custodians
• Avoid: Press releases about amenities or generic “top 10” lists