9 July 2019: The Financial Times is enhancing its data and visual journalism with key editorial appointments, including the appointment of Alan Smith OBE, the FT’s data visualisation editor, to the role of executive editor overseeing data, graphics and statistics.
From 15 July, Smith, who has been at the FT since 2015, will lead a team of data reporters and encourage collaboration between editorial teams to produce further compelling and engaging journalism online and in print.
Under his leadership, Smith’s team has developed a range of initiatives including the The FT Visual Vocabulary, which received an honourable mention in the Best New Corporate Innovations Initiative category at the 2018 INMA Awards, and the popular Chart Doctor series.
“Graphics, data and statistics – while demanding separate skills – are increasingly converging in the world of digital journalism. While each of these disciplines is distinct, we need a unified approach, ensuring that the FT is greater than the sum of its parts,” said Lionel Barber, FT editor. “Alan has shown himself to be an outstanding manager and innovator and I know he will help push the newsroom to further weaponise our award-winning data and visual journalism.”
Additional team updates include:
- Martin Stabe will become data editor and will lead a team of data reporters and will work alongside Joanna Kao's data journalism development team.
- Kevin Wilson will become editorial creative director, overseeing the newspaper and working collaboratively with commercial colleagues on brand, design and product design teams.
- Keith Fray will remain as head of statistics overseeing the accuracy of data.
- Steve Bernard will become senior visual journalist, overseeing a team of visual journalists and content standards.
- Caroline Nevitt will become the FT’s first user experience editor, to strengthen the FT’s ability to develop new forms of story-telling.
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For more information please contact:
Katrina Fedczuk
+44 7720 657756
katrina.fedczuk@ft.com
About the Financial Times
The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading business news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. The FT has a record paying readership of one million, three-quarters of which are digital subscriptions. It is part of Nikkei Inc., which provides a broad range of information, news and services for the global business community.