Christine Walker quits as Sunday Times signals shift in travel

By Steve Keenan

Christine Walker, the legendary travel editor at The Sunday Times, is leaving her post after more than 38 years at the paper.

She will leave The Sunday Times in late July, marking the end of the longest-ever spell of a travel editor in traditional media.

It is believed that Walker took the decision to take early retirement after management signalled a change in direction for the section. The new focus would see the section adopt a digital and commercial imperative - with travel the first section to be addressed at the paper.

Asked whether rumours of departure could be true, Walker confirmed: “It can. It is…” But she declined to comment further.

Walker joined The Sunday Times in April, 1975, and has been the paper’s travel editor for the past 20 years. It was the first national newspaper to have a separate travel section, and Walker launched the travel writing careers of several journalists.

Her job has already been advertised internally and reads, in full:

“Christine Walker is leaving The Sunday Times after more than 30 years, most recently as editor of Travel. We value highly the contribution she has made and I know her many friends on the paper will want to join me in wishing her the very best for the future.

Consequently, we are looking for a new travel editor. The expanded role will involve not only overseeing the weekly section but also taking responsibility for finding new digital and commercial opportunities. The successful candidate will have a track record in these areas. A job description is available on request.

Applicants should send a brief cv and a covering letter explaining their plans for Travel, both in newsprint and digitally, to [email protected]. The deadline is 6pm, Wednesday, July 17.”

It is not known if the job will also be advertised externally. But with the paper stressing that applicants need experience of ‘digital and commercial opportunities,’ it seems highly likely that eyes will also be cast outside the paper.

It mirrors the more overtly commercial approach now taken at The Daily Telegraph travel section, a transition now four years in the making and which saw the departure of veteran travel editor Graham Boynton 18 months ago, to be replaced by Charles Starmer-Smith. It was notable that Starmer-Smith’s title became Head of Travel, as opposed to Travel Editor.

Since then, The Telegraph travel section has become overtly more commercial, with a booking engine for hotels, cruises and cottages. It also publishes selected deals from travel partners in the paper, alongside editorially chosen bargains.

The days of a section editor simply editing have disappeared - now they are expected to edit and publish a section while also operating with commercial and digital hats on.