Hi there,
I'm George Downs, a senior video journalist based in London with over a decade of experience and a passion for visual storytelling.
Over the past twelve years I’ve been working for The Wall Street Journal - pitching, producing, shooting, scripting, hosting, editing and animating features and short documentaries on everything from how an airport can stay open in a warzone to why a $3.8bn Kenyan railway was such a problem for China.
For three years, I hosted my own Wall Street Journal YouTube channel, in which I explored how the future of transport is redefining how we get from A to B. I’ve deconstructed driverless car crashes, watched the wheels fall off the great EV race, examined why it’s so hard to make a battery in America, taken to the skies to see why we could soon be pulling planes, explained the rise in e-bike battery fires, decoded America’s road deaths, and even flown a jetpack.
I’ve explained why your plane is late, your hotel is small, your train is wet, and your commute is awful.
I’m an accomplished shooter, having filmed over a decade of content ranging from in-the-field news reports to high-end interviews. I’m confident producing from behind the lens, or hosting in front of it. And when it comes to post-production, I’m highly skilled in both Premiere Pro and After Effects.
Whether it’s a long-form horizontal docs or short-form vertical social content, my passion is storytelling through video.
I’m currently employed at The Wall Street Journal, but if you fancy a chat then please do get in touch.
Recent work
The $135M Mission to Stop Your Flight Being Delayed
Ever wondered what it takes to get your plane to depart on time? In this video I gained access to British Airways’ new multi-million pound operations centre in London’s Heathrow Airport to find out how AI is helping reshape on-time departure
While Missiles Fly, Flights Land: How Israel’s Airport Stays Open
Going from pitch to publication in a little under 48 hours, in this video I examine how Israel’s Ben Gurion airport is able to remain open despite being less than 40 miles from the front lines of Israel’s war with Hamas fighters in Gaza.
Why NYC’s Subway Keeps Flooding
After Hurricane Sandy, New York invested $7.6 billion dollars into flood-proofing its subway. So why does the subway keep flood? Turns out, it’s because it’s supposed to.
Presenter
Why Self-Driving Cars Keep Crashing as They Try to Build Trust
In this studio video I analyse Cruise’s accident to explore how an increase in driverless vehicles also increases the probability that one of these cars could have an incident that can damage both paintwork and reputation.
New York City’s New Congestion Pricing, Explained
As congestion tolls were being rolled out across Manhattan, I took to the streets of London to attempt to get stuck in traffic as I explore whether or not congestion pricing works.
How to Extend an Electric Plane's Range? Aerotow It.
Towing electric planes through the sky may seems like a slightly far-fetched idea, but that's exactly how gliders take off. In this video, I take to the skies to find out whether electric pulling planes could really extend their range
I Flew a 1,000 Horsepower Jetpack. Here’s What I Learned.
As a small team of paramedics in a mountainous region of the U.K. began testing jetpacks as a means of getting doctors to remote locations in seconds, I was invited to take one for a spin.
Traveling In a Pandemic Is Possible. But Can You Do It Safely?
As global travel resumed in the midst of a global pandemic, I was dispatched to Spain to explore how the tourism industry was coping with restrictions, and whether it was possible to still enjoy a vacation.
What Does the Alaska Airlines Door Plug Incident Mean for Boeing?
Following a midair emergency where a door plug fell from a Boeing 737 Max 9, the FAA grounded some of the fleet. I explored what the Alaska Airlines accident means for Boeing.
Social
Where did supersonic flight go?
Flying using Hydrogen?
Not so fast.
Why Southwest Airlines is changing how your board.
Can Tesla ramp up Cybertruck production?
Why ATC towers may be a thing of the past.
SKILLS
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Self-starting producer with over a decade of journalistic experience, capable of independently taking news-making concepts from pitch right through to publish.
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Confident on-camera presenter, with the ability to self-shoot stand-ups.
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Fully competent shooter on Sony FX6, FX3, A7siii and Panasonic GH5 cameras, with the ability to rig sound and lighting.
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Highly skilled at editing in Premiere Pro and animating in After Effects.
EDUCATION
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First Class Honors BA (Hons) Media Production
Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent BKSTS Accredited, NAHEMI Accredited.
Graduated 2008
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A-levels in Media, Photography, English Language, Design and Maths Heanor Gate Science College, Derbyshire
CAREER
Senior Video Journalist
The Wall Street Journal — 2013 - Present
Originally covering breaking news before transitioning to create features on geopolitical events in key coverage areas. In 2021 I was asked to host one of WSJ’s new reporter-led YouTube channels. Since then I’ve been creating a wealth of content focussed around how transport is evolving.
I’ve also play a key role in inducting new members of the video team, and training current employees in best-practice for shooting, editing and production.
Guest Lecturer
Staffordshire University — 2018
Mentored a class of Media Production students through their second year module, helping to shape their ideas and tutor them in production, leading to each student producing a five minute short drama.
Multimedia Editor
Informa — 2011 - 2013
I created comprehensive multimedia coverage across five titles, including video content, animation and online interactive infographics. Whilst there, I helped to establish a visual style for the company.