Caroline Wheeler’s departure leaves a vacancy at the top of the
Sunday Times‘ political team. Candidates will need a thick contact book and a track record of delivering big scoops. The job is regarded as one of the most prestigious and difficult in British political journalism. They also need to be a strong writer to keep up the
Sunday Times‘
s hunger for long reads.
As always, in no particular order…
Four obvious experienced choices – Tim Shipman (the former incumbent), Jason Groves, Harry Cole and Glen Owen – would be shoo-ins for the job: scoop-getting big beasts. All are, however, in significant roles elsewhere…
- Sam Coates: Deputy Political Editor of Sky News and podcast supremo. Formerly Deputy Political Editor at The Times, so knows his way around the Baby Shard. He makes news is a big name in SW1, liked by the higher-ups and considered a front rank candidate…
- Jessica Elgot: Deputy Political Editor at the Guardian. Been at the Guardian for 11 years in a good gig. But is she looking for a promotion?
- Alex Wickham: Currently running things at Bloomberg and known for his agenda-setting long reads, as well as very strong contact book. Feels like a natural…
- Jim Pickard: Highly experienced and a well-networked Financial Times man who could hone his energetic story-getting in the post. Would make an impact…
- Lucy Fisher: Another Financial Times bigwig who has become well-known for her reporting on defence matters as well as the lobby beat. Could that suit more dangerous times?
- Harriet Line: An intelligent Deputy Political Editor at the Daily Mail. Been at the Mail for a few years. Another hack ready for the next step?
- Gabriel Pogrund: Already the Sunday Times‘ Whitehall Editor. News UK insiders say he is the paper’s “golden boy“. A scoop hound “who produces more in a month than some colleagues do in a year“. Although Guido hears there are internal plans for him to do even more on investigations…
A big job with stiff competition. There are lots of deputy pol-eds looking to inch up the greasy pole…
