View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Comment
June 20, 2013updated 21 Jun 2013 4:27pm

Francis Elliott replaces Roland Watson as Times political editor

By Gavriel Hollander

Roland Watson has been replaced as political editor of The Times by Francis Elliott.

Watson has left Westminster to become the paper’s foreign editor, with Sam Coates also widely expected to move to bolster the political team following the exit of Anushka Asthana, who joined Sky News last month.

Elliott, described by one lobby journalist as a “well-thought of, quiet man”, was co-author of a David Cameron biography, alongside deputy Independent on Sunday editor James Hanning.

The move comes shortly after the paper announced that there could be as many as 20 editorial redundancies across the paper, with several high-profile names thought to be in the frame.

North West correspondent Russell Jenkins is already understood to have left the paper while a number of well-known faces on the London news desk could soon follow.

A Times spokesperson confirmed Watson and Elliott's moves but declined to confirm details of any other departures from the paper.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network