The political editor of a newspaper or broadcast media is the senior political reporter who covers politics and related matters for the newspaper or station. He or she may have a large team of political correspondents working under him or her.
In publishing, because of their seniority, a political editor's byline is often added to stories which actually are the work of more junior colleagues to give the story more credibility and to indicate his or her seniority within the publication. The political editor usually carries out the major interviews with a country's prime minister and senior government figures and covers major events like party conferences.
Among famous political editors, past and present, are
- Adam Boulton (Sky News) 1989 onwards
- Tom Bradby (ITN) 2005 onwards
- Michael Brunson (ITN) 1986 - 2000 retired
- John Cole (BBC News) 1981 - 1992 retired
- Julian Haviland (ITN) 1975 - 1981 subsequently became Political Editor of The Times newspaper
- David Holmes (BBC News) 1975 - 1980 retired
- Andrew Marr (BBC News) 2000 - 2005 now a BBC TV presenter
- Glyn Mathias (ITN) 1981 - 1986 subsequently BBC Wales Political Editor & Electoral Commissioner
- Robin Oakley (BBC News) 1992 - 2000 now at CNN
- Bernard Ponsonby (STV News) 2000 onwards
- Nick Robinson (ITN) 2002 - 2005 (BBC News) 2005 onwards
- Peter Hardiman Scott (BBC News) 1970 - 1975
- John Sergeant (ITN) 2000 - 2002 retired
- John Simpson (BBC News) 1980 - 1981 now BBC World Affairs Editor
- Brian Taylor (BBC Scotland) 1985 onwards
Famous quotes containing the words political and/or editor:
“No officer should be required or permitted to take part in the management of political organizations, caucuses, conventions, or election campaigns. Their right to vote and to express their views on public questions, either orally or through the press, is not denied, provided it does not interfere with the discharge of their official duties. No assessment for political purposes on officers or subordinates should be allowed.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)
“Had I represented twenty thousand voters in Michigan, that political editor would not have known nor cared whether I was the oldest or the youngest daughter of Methuselah, or whether my bonnet came from the Ark or from Worth’s.”
—Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906)