Robert James Kenneth Peston (born 25 April 1960) is a British journalist, broadcaster, and author. He is best known for his work as the political editor of ITV News and as a former economic editor for the BBC. Peston has also presented several documentary series and written books on economics and politics.
Early life and education
Peston was born in London, England, to a family with a background in journalism; his father, Maurice Peston, was an economist and academic. He attended the independent St. Paul's School in London and later studied at the University of Cambridge, where he earned a degree in History.
Career
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Financial Journalism: Peston began his career in the 1980s at the Financial Times, covering business and financial matters. He later worked for the BBC, where he served as economics correspondent and subsequently as economic editor from 2008 to 2014. During his tenure, he reported on the global financial crisis and the UK banking sector.
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Television: In 2014, Peston joined ITV News as political editor, a position he held until 2021. He has presented programmes such as Peston on Sunday and Peston, focusing on political analysis and current affairs.
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Authorship: Peston has authored several books, including The Death of Money (2012), How Do We Fix This Mess? (2015), and How to Be a Politician (2021), which examine economic policy, the financial crisis, and political strategy.
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Other Roles: He has contributed columns to major newspapers, including The Guardian and The Sunday Times, and has served on advisory panels related to financial journalism.
Awards and recognition
Peston has received multiple industry awards, such as the Royal Television Society Award for Best News Journalist and the Broadcasting Press Guild's Business Journalist of the Year. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to journalism.
Personal life
Peston is married to journalist and author Natasha Swann, and the couple has two children. He is known for his interest in sports, particularly rugby, and participates in charitable activities supporting education and health initiatives.
Publications
- The Death of Money: The Coming Crash and How to Survive It (2012)
- How Do We Fix This Mess? (2015)
- How to Be a Politician (2021)
References
(Encyclopedic entries typically list reliable sources; in this summary, information is drawn from publicly available biographical data and published works.)