Simon Gibbs
(He/Him)
East Sussex County, UK, West Sussex County, UK
As seen in:
Bradt Travel Guides
Covers:
Long-form travel: journeys on foot, pilgrim routes, remote landscapes, local and indigenous cultures, hiking
Doesn't Cover:
cruises, gear reviews
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Listening before writing.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes
How is social media changing news?
In a world of endless scrolling, the greatest value is helping people stop, think, and understand.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
The one who never gets named, but always notices.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Seeking truth in public service.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
#NothingToSeeHere — usually when there clearly was.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Show me a place that changes how we walk, listen, or belong.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
The silence beyond the now, and sturdy boots.
What's your favorite social network?
I'd rather have meaningful conversations than chase algorithms.
Who do you wish followed you?
No one. I'd rather earn readers than followers.
Why did you become a journalist?
To explore how silence shapes the places we visit—and the people we become.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes. I followed stories before I followed trails.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
The ones that reveal something quietly overlooked.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Be curious, persistent and accurate
When's the best time to pitch you?
When the journey is ready to be told, not just the destination.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
The best pitch I ever got was silence. It taught me to listen before I looked.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Anything that overlooks the journey.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Walking a quiet path, listening more than looking.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I read anything that rewards slowing down. Like a good walk always leave room for silence and reflection.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That travel writing is about places. It's really about what movement reveals.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.