Profile: Laura Hailstone

 

Laura Hailstone
News editor, Motor Transport
laura.hailstone@rbi.co.uk

As news editor, I'm responsible for all of Motor Transport's news pages. I make sure we cover the most important and relevant stories for our readers, week in, week out, and don't miss any of the big developments.

It's my job to ensure that MT keeps on delivering hard-hitting, informed, business news which will assist our readers in their day-to-day roles and give them a heads-up on what challenges may be coming their way.

As well as selecting the stories to cover and deciding which one should grace the cover of MT each week, I also investigate and write my own news stories. I love digging deep to unearth exclusives and since joining MT in March 2008 have got to grips with several big stories. The revelation that E Pawson & Son had sold five vehicles that it had already refinanced took a lot of groundwork before I could stand it up. In August I was finally able to run it, and it then became a ongoing story that MT followed all the way through.

I also keep in regular contact with the key trade associations so we can report the most accurate and up-to-date news on issues such as cabotage and the fuel crisis.

Before joining MT, I spent three years on weekly B2B trade journal Computer Reseller News, firstly as senior reporter and then as features editor.

Prior to that I freelanced in a beautiful part of Ireland – Killarney – for a year, and worked as a news reporter on Contract Journal for three and a half years.

My very first steps into journalism were as editorial assistant on Flight International in 1999.

Outside of work I keep fit through weekly tap-dancing classes (which I have been taking since the age of four). Other interests include films, music and catching up with friends and family whenever I have a spare moment.

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