Nicholas Jones

Nicholas Jones has spent a lifetime in journalism. After starting on local evening newspapers, he joined The Times and then spent 30 years as an industrial and political correspondent for the BBC. He has written extensively on the way politicians and public figures seek to use and manipulate the news media. His books include Soundbites and Spin Doctors (1995), Sultans of Spin (1999), The Control Freaks (2001), Trading Information: Leaks, Lies and Tip-offs (2006), and The Lost Tribe: Whatever Happened to Fleet Street’s Industrial Correspondents (2011). Jones has also published a series of books examining the conduct and outcome of UK general election campaigns from 1992 to 2010, including Campaign 1997 which charted the rise of New Labour under Tony Blair. Jones is an honorary visiting professor at the School of Journalism at Cardiff University (awarded 2011) and holds an honorary doctorate at the University of Wolverhampton (awarded 2005). His archive of articles, speeches and books – and reflections on 65 years in journalism – is available at www.nicholasjones.org.uk