David Whitely began his career as a journalist, uncovering stories and cutting his teeth in a newsroom.

Whilst uncovering scandals such as a home-made gas chamber for rescue animals, he learned the ropes of his trade reporting in the depths of the Aussie Countryside. Eventually, he  succumbed to a penchant for travel, and moved to Canada and London. In the latter city, he became a press officer for Which? and his campaigning journey began.

Later working for the Financial Services Authority during the Financial Crisis of 2008, where he drew up communications plans overnight for banks being closed the following morning, he ultimately returned home and spent four years working with the Western Australian Government – at the highest levels of election campaign and government communications.

These days, he’s back in London, heading up comms at Gatwick Airport as their tectonic battle with Heathrow for airport expansion continues to unfold.

In this episode of ‘Campaign Cocktail’, here how David got started in campaigns, what working on press in an election is actually like, and which of the organisations he worked for took him 91 days to get a press release signed off.

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