Gabriella Swerling

About

I am the social and religious affairs editor at The Daily Telegraph, where I also cover legal affairs. In October 2023 I was nominated for Specialist Journalist of the Year at the British Journalism Awards for my investigation into Soul Survivor, revealing how the global “cult”-like church leader, Rev Canon Mike Pilavachi, spiritually and emotionally abused victims for decades. It shone light into an institutional cover up, exposed a Christian superstar and sparked not just his undoing, but also shockwaves and international action across religious and secular institutions. In a fast-moving investigation, spanning continents and decades, I exposed how Rev Canon Mike Pilavachi, founder of Soul Survivor church and its youth festivals – which spawned a global movement – preyed on a “conveyor belt” of young, vulnerable men. In March 2023, I was shortlisted for the Written News Category for the Amnesty Media Awards 2023 for my stories detailing the plight of a 90-year-old Jewish woman from Kharkiv, Ukraine, who had survived the 'Holodomor', the Nazi invasion, the Holocaust, and the collapse of the Soviet Union, as she attempted to escape to the UK to be with her family following the Russian invasion. In October 2019 I was nominated for the Anti-Slavery Media Awards for my story on human trafficking and organ harvesting.I previously covered the north of England for The Times as northern correspondent. Prior to this, I worked as a news reporter for the paper in London - with stints on the business and foreign desks. I also spent time reporting in Edinburgh for the Scottish edition of The Times where I was nominated for Young Journalist of the Year at the 2016 Scottish Press Awards. I am experienced working out in the field, in a high-pressured newsroom and in bringing in exclusive stories and investigations. I have also night news edited the home, foreign and business sections of The Times.While studying for my NCTJ, I was offered a job as a news reporter for The Sun.Got a story? Get in touch: gabriella.swerling@telegraph.co.uk