Friday, July 30, 2010

Sunday Times Political Editor Resigns

The Evening Standard Diary reports that Jonathan Oliver has handed in his notice as political editor of the Sunday Times and is following George Pascoe-Watson into the world of corporate PR. This is one of the most challenging and most coveted jobs in political journalism - challenging because you're expected to come up with a front page splash every week, and coveted because of its high profile and guaranteed access to those in power.

The Sunday Times will want to recruit weekly to ensure that a new person is in place in time for the party conference season. I'm hesitant to blight anyone's chances, but Isabel Oakshott, Oliver's deputy, ought to be in with a good shout. Other contenders could include Francis Elliott and Sam Coates from The Times, Tim Shipman, Deputy Pol Ed at the Mail (but a former Telegraph Sunday journalist) and Nick Watt, who enjoyed a very successful spell as the Observer's temporary Pol Ed when Gaby Hinsliff was on maternity leave.

There, I've ruined enough people's chances, so I'll stop there.

6 comments:

  1. you forgot Nick Robinson.....

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  2. Following on from the Clare Balding fiasco, pity John Witherow hasn't resigned http://bit.ly/9rptRg

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  3. What's the point, now it's a secret behind the paywall who cares.

    Apart from the few that read the tree killer version

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  4. Jonathan Oliver's predecessor, David Cracknell, also made the leap into PR a couple of years ago and has never looked back.

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  5. He has never looked down, either

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