FIPP’s Media Unscripted podcast sits down with Emma Tucker

Season two of FIPP’s Media Unscripted podcast has kicked off in style, featuring an interview with the first female editor of The Wall Street Journal, Emma Tucker.

Talking about the demands and challenges of taking on such a huge title, Tucker stresses the importance of delegating and being brave about the content choices you make, sometimes going against the grain.

Taking over the reins at The Wall Street Journal isn’t the first time Tucker, who will assume her new position in February, has made journalistic history. Under her leadership, The Sunday Times experienced substantial growth in subscriptions, with digital readership more than doubling.

The Times and The Sunday Times saw its digital subscriptions grow from 320,000 at end of 2019 to approximately 450,000 by the end of September 2022, an increase of more than 40 per cent.

Key to Tucker’s success has been her passion for constructive journalism, which contextualises news rather than just giving the facts.

“Emma is a brilliant, inspiring editor, with digital nous and the highest standards of integrity,” News Corp Chief Executive Robert Thomson said announcing her appointment. “She has been a thoughtful custodian of The Sunday Times and will bring verve and virtue to Dow Jones.

“Her global vision and experience will be particularly important at a time of immense international opportunity for The Wall Street Journal.”

The format of the Media Unscripted podcast sees host Charlotte Ricca chat informally to some of the media’s biggest and most pioneering names, lifting the curtain on an industry that can still seem slightly detached from those working outside of it and at times even many within. As Ricca puts it: “It’s unscripted, unedited and unafraid to ask the awkward questions.”

You can hear the episode here.