On the hot seat:
James Hurley: Enterprise Editor for The Times
James Hurley
- Tuesday is best for pitching ideas.
- Wednesday is when Saturday edition discussed.
- Thursday when Monday edition discussed.
- Tuesday to Saturday – news stories are key.
- Pitch before 9.30am. Business conference at 10am
- Saturday – looking for profile: colourful / well known CEO
Working Life / Going for Growth:
- Monday’s Working Life / Going for Growth column
- Interested in a broad range of topics – but be clear on why your story relevant to Times readers. Diversity of leaders is important.
- Interested in interesting profiles and unusual products; also keen for out of London visits. Wednesday’s are best. Needs to know that an article will result from it.
- Championing: Late payments; P2P lending; equity finance; productivity
- Scale up stories from over £10m upwards.
- Businesses with upto 250 employees
- Positive / education themes / skills to help young entrepreneurs
- Keen for more pro-Brexit voices / commentators. Also non-London voices.
- Brexit preparedness / issues affecting business / no deal planning
Top Tips:
- Exclusives will generate more interest / holds more sway with editor
- Sunday Times, TMG, Daily Mail are key rivals.
- Happy with placement strategy = Times + broadcast + trade and then a regional.
- Emails – James has ’00,000s of emails. Subject / Headline – key.
- Do suggest where story could fit, e.g. Monday story
- 2-3 key bullet points – why is this newsworthy or relevant
- Do follow up by email. Happy to be nudged. For 2-3 weeks sometimes
- Surveys – not really interested. Research – yes interested
- OpEds – pitch Monday/Tuesday. Must be ‘big name’ and newsworthy / opinionated.
- Events – happy to be invited to events
- Times CEO Summit – June.
- Start preparing from March.
- Panellist ideas of interest.
- Times Small Business event. Also keen for ideas and panellists.