Chris Blackhurst
Writer, author, columnist, @TheNationalNews, Independent, Evening Standard, ex-Editor Independent, City Editor Evening Standard, Top 10 Crisis & Reputation advice – PR Week
About
I am a writer, commentator and strategic communications advisor. I was named in the “Top 10 for Crisis and Reputational” advice by PR Week.
I write columns, features and appear on TV and radio.
I also advise clients on the media and strategic communications. For four years, I was a Director of CT Partners, the international campaigning and communications consultancy.
Previously, I was Editor of The Independent. Before that, I was City Editor of the Evening Standard.
I was a newspaper columnist for the Evening Standard and Independent, and presenter of Headline Interview on London Live TV.
I was also Multi-Media Head of Business, for the Evening Standard, The Independent, i, and London Live TV, in charge of business coverage across these titles and their digital platforms, also writing for the papers, and presenting programmes, myself.
A journalist since 1984, my other posts include: Deputy Editor at the Independent and Independent on Sunday, and Daily Express, and Westminster Correspondent of the Independent, and Deputy Editor, Sunday Times Insight Team. I wrote regularly for Management Today, and contributed to numerous other magazines and publications, as well as making frequent appearances on TV and Radio, and making public speeches.
I’ve received several awards. I was London Press Club’s Business Journalist of the Year, 2011.
I graduated in Law from Cambridge University.
Twice married, I have five children, and I live in South-West London. I enjoy playing tennis and golf, watching football and rugby, and going to the cinema and theatre.
Writing
Book
TOO BIG TO JAIL
published by Macmillan in June 2022
The Bookseller: Pan Mac pre-empts Blackhurst on HSBC Mexican drug cartel scandal
BookBrunch: Pan Mac pre-empts for book on HSBC Mexican drug cartel scandal
“Packed with insights and details that will both amaze and appal you. This is the inside story of how the City of London really operates and if it doesn’t make you angry, you need to check your pulse”
— Oliver Bullough, author of Moneyland and Butler to the World/em>
“The sheer hubris, greed and arrogance of bankers is laid bare in shocking, and at times hilarious, detail. Blackhurst takes them on and pricks their bubble of self-congratulatory entitlement”
— Andrew Neil, broadcaster and former editor of The Sunday Times
“Full of extraordinary revelations. Epic story-telling about a shocking scandal. Read this!”
— Iain Martin, author of Making It Happen
“Blackhurst’s tale would make an exciting novel. But alarmingly, this is a true story, carefully researched and told with gusto.”
— Baroness Patience Wheatcroft, former editor of The Sunday Telegraph
Newspapers
- The National
- http://independent.co.uk
- i
- The Globe & Mail
- New York Times
- Independent (Click here to see articles)
- Evening Standard (Click to see articles)
- The Times
- Guardian
- Independent on Sunday
- Observer
- Daily Express
- Sunday Express
- Sunday Times
Magazines, Journals & Blogs
- Reaction
- UK Press Gazette
- CMI Insights
- MediaTel
- Vanity Fair
- CAM, Cambridge Alumni
- Business
- The Tablet
- Work
- GQ
- Esquire
- Spear's
- Spectator
- Media Week
- Campaign
- Lancashire Life
- Management Today
- Euromoney
- International Financial Law Review
Other
- Twice-weekly blog on leadership for LeadersIn.com
- Chapter for The Future of Quality News Journalism (Routledge)
- In-house magazines for Royal Bank of Scotland and British Airways
TV & Radio
TV
- Thomson Reuters
- Andrew Marr
- Regular presenter of Headline Interview for London Live
- Al-Jazeera
- CNBC
- Reviewed papers for Sky News
- Hard News for C4
- Researched Dispatches for C4
- Newsnight
- C4 News
- ITN
- BBC News
- Interviewed on Sky News
Radio
- Press Previewer for Times Radio
- Regular business and economy commentary, LBC Nick Ferrari Show
- World at One
- R4 Today
- Prepared and presented BBC R4 Profiles
- BBC R5 Drive
- LBC Iain Dale
- Steve Nolan
- BBC R2 Chris Evans
- BBC World Service
- Radio Cumbria
- Media Show
- Woman's Hour
- World Tonight
- PM
- Interviewed by Today, World At One
- Regular reviewer of papers, LBC Nick Ferrari Show
Speaking
- Roehampton Club
- Dolphin Square Book Club
- Polish Hearth Club
- Barnes Literary Society
- Winchester House Club
- Surrey Development Forum Conference
- Intesa Sanpaolo
- Pfizer UK
- Oxford Union
- Fordham University
- Jesus College, Cambridge
- Marlborough House
- Cambridge University
- Greenwich University
- Headland PR
- Host and presenter of Evening Standard Business Connections events
- Royal Anglian Regiment
- Seven Hills PR
- Equiniti
- Protecting the Media conference
- Defamation & Privacy conference
- Future of Newspapers conference
- NABIM
- Hay Festival
- Barrow Sixth Form College
- Freshfields
- Tonbridge School
- Slaughter and May
- University of Central Lancashire
- World Editors Forum
- Sheffield University
- Blue Rubicon
- Mediatel
- City University
- Advertising Association
- Trinity Hall, Cambridge
- The English-Speaking Union
- Harvey Nash
- Durham University Union
- E2Exchange
- Spectator Business Breakfast
- Cambridge International Fraud Conference
- Society of Editors
- Bowen Craggs
- Old Fogeys Society
- IPPR
- Pellings
- Rotary International
Also appeared as a witness before:
- Media Select Committee
- Leveson Inquiry
- Public Administration Select Committee
Advisory/Directorships
- Trustee and director, The Armitt
- Cratus Communications
- Topham Guerin
- Witan Advisors
- Woburn Partners
- Movement for an Open Web
- Ex-director and trustee, KIDS, the national disabled children's charity
- Ex-member, development board, The Sixteen
- Informa
- Crystal Amber
- Clean Up The Internet
- Borkowski
- Finsbury
- Powerscourt
- Ex-member, development board, Maggie's Cancer Care
- Ex-chairman, Roehampton Club
- Ex-director, Rose Theatre, Kingston