Guardian struggles to fill political editor role eight months after Middleton exit
Senior editors conducted a fresh round of interviews this week after earlier efforts to land a suitable candidate were halted.
The West Australian' s Canberra bureau chief Katina Curtis is tipped as a possible front runner, with The Saturday Paper 's special correspondent Jason Koutsoukis also in the race, after the position was readvertised recently. Both declined to comment.
A Guardian spokesperson confirmed it has recommenced its search.
The Guardian interviewed candidates between April and July, but then opted to pause the process, as it continued the hunt for a high-profile journalist who can break news stories and write a weekly column, two sources with knowledge of the process told this masthead.
The UK-owned digital news publisher is trying to replace veteran press gallery journalist Karen Middleton, who officially left The Guardian in March after a year in the role. She had been on extended leave since December and her time in the role coincided with a period of significant change in the outlet's parliament bureau.
Middleton replaced Katharine Murphy, who joined Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's office as press secretary in early 2024. Murphy left the PM's office after 18 months, following this year's election.
Middleton's departure from The Guardian followed an HR process where she and then-chief political correspondent Paul Karp made counterclaims of workplace misconduct against each other in late 2024. Karp later told colleagues in farewell speech that he was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Member of Irish rap group Kneecap appears at UK court on terrorism charge
A member of rap group Kneecap has appeared in court on a terrorism charge for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah. Hundreds of fans welcomed Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who was initially charged under the name Liam O'Hanna as he arrived at a London court on Wednesday local time. Mr Ó hAnnaidh's stage name is Mo Chara. He is seeking to throw out the terrorism charge for allegedly displaying a flag in support of a proscribed organisation in the UK at a London gig last year. The musician is alleged to have waved the yellow flag of Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in London on November 21, 2024. He is accused of saying "Up Hamas, up Hezbollah" during the concert as well. Kneecap have previously said the flag was thrown on stage during their performance. The 27-year-old was charged in May under the Terrorism Act, under which it is a criminal offence to display an article in a way which arouses reasonable suspicion that someone is a supporter of a proscribed organisation. Mr Ó hAnnaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court wearing the keffiyeh scarf associated with the Palestinian cause and sat alongside an Irish language interpreter. His band mates Naoise Ó Cairealláin, stage name Móglaí Bap, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, who goes by DJ Próvaí, were also in court, with supporters filling the court's public gallery. His lawyers say the charge was brought too late and the prosecution should be thrown out, as Mr Ó hAnnaidh was charged on May 22 this year — one day after the six-month limit for such charges. Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove, however, argued that the accused was charged on May 21, exactly within the time limit. Judge Paul Goldspring is expected to issue a ruling in a number of weeks' time. The case was adjourned until September 26 and Mr Ó hAnnaidh was released on continuing unconditional bail. Belfast-based Kneecap, who rap in Irish and English and regularly display pro-Palestinian messages during their gigs, previously described the charge as an attempt to silence them. The group — which raps about Irish identity and supports the republican cause of uniting Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland — have been increasingly vocal about the war in Gaza since Mr Ó hAnnaidh was charged. Kneecap led a 30,000-strong crowd at the Glastonbury Festival in June in chants against Prime Minister Keir Starmer and accused Israel of committing war crimes in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza, an accusation Israel denies. ABC/Reuters
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Former UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn launches new left party
Almost five years after Britain's former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was suspended from the party, leaving the British left to lick its wounds, there are signs of a revival. Jeremy Corbyn is back and, along with former Labour MP Zarah Sultana, has launched a new political party aimed at courting the type of voters who'd usually support Labour. Its pledge is to confront the rich and powerful while opposing government policy on Gaza. The party has already drawn around 700-thousand supporters but all that's missing is a name. Guest: John McTernan, former advisor to British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Australian PM Julia Gillard; senior adviser with Burson Global.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Guardian struggles to fill political editor role eight months after Middleton exit
Guardian Australia is back on the hunt for a political editor, eight months since its top Canberra role became vacant and several months after pausing interviews to fill the flagship position. Senior editors conducted a fresh round of interviews this week after earlier efforts to land a suitable candidate were halted. The West Australian' s Canberra bureau chief Katina Curtis is tipped as a possible frontrunner, with The Saturday Paper 's special correspondent Jason Koutsoukis also in the race, after the position was readvertised recently. Both declined to comment. A Guardian spokesperson confirmed it has recommenced its search. The Guardian interviewed candidates between April and July, but then opted to pause the process, as it continued the hunt for a high-profile journalist who can break news stories and write a weekly column, two sources with knowledge of the process told this masthead. The UK-owned digital news publisher is trying to replace veteran press gallery journalist Karen Middleton, who officially left The Guardian in March after a year in the role. She had been on extended leave since December and her time in the role coincided with a period of significant change in the outlet's parliament bureau. Middleton replaced Katharine Murphy, who joined Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's office as press secretary in early 2024. Murphy left the PM's office after 18 months, following this year's election. Middleton's departure from The Guardian followed an HR process where she and then-chief political correspondent Paul Karp made counterclaims of workplace misconduct against each other in late 2024. Karp later told colleagues in a farewell speech that he was cleared of any wrongdoing.
