Gavin Evans was born in London but grew up mainly in Cape Town. After a year of studying in Texas, he returned to South Africa to become intensely involved in the anti-apartheid struggle in various capacities. Along the way, he studied economic history and law before completing a Ph.D. in political studies. He worked as a journalist for several South African newspapers and as a foreign correspondent for a Rome-based news agency. Over the past 15 years, he has lectured in media law, media theory, and journalism at the Culture and Media department at Birkbeck College, Cardiff University and at the London School of Journalism.