Ralph Blackburn
Head of News
Ralph Blackburn
Head of News
Ralph is head of news at NationalWorld.com, managing the website’s daily news operation as well as overseeing long reads and investigations. He primarily writes about crime, politics and the NHS, and has a particular interest in policing, courts and the underfunded British justice system. Ralph has written for most major national newspapers, including the Daily Mirror, Sun, Daily Mail, Independent, Guardian and Telegraph, as chief reporter at Triangle News agency. He was the first reporter at the Google-funded PA Media data project Radar AI, which used automation to write thousands of stories for local and regional newspapers across the UK. Prior to joining NationalWorld.com, Ralph was the launch editor of the award-winning city website LondonWorld.com. During the pandemic, Ralph’s reporting on influencers jet-setting to Dubai during lockdown led to the government bringing in stricter travelling rules. He also extensively reported on the campaign for public parole hearings for bereaved families, and attended the first ever public parole hearing for killer Russell Causley. Ralph also broke the story about the Yorkshire Ripper boasting about dodging Covid in prison, before his death from coronavirus, and that the London Bridge terror attack ringleader had taught children at a school. He has also reported on three general elections, the EU referendum and several London mayoral votes. Ralph lives in south London, and when he isn’t out on his bike he’ll be watching Newcastle United, win, lose or draw. Get in contact via email with any tips or feedback.