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Jason Palmer is an accomplished audio journalist and the host of The Intelligence, a daily current-affairs podcast produced by The Economist. Before delving into journalism, Jason pursued a career as a scientist, which enriched his understanding of complex issues and enhanced his ability to communicate them effectively to his audience. With a background in science and technology reporting, Jason brings a unique perspective to the world of news and analysis.
That he ended up with that background stemmed from a common frustration among doctoral students—a sense of being stuck in a narrow academic path. “At the end of my PhD, like so many PhD students, I became a little bit disillusioned with the academic career path,” he shared. Immersed in his specialised field, he began to feel out of touch with the broader scientific conversation. “I was studying something in greater and greater detail and became increasingly sort of narrow in my scope of thinking,” he explained. Craving exploration and variety, he started considering a shift away from academia, thinking about science communication in a general sense, and then more specifically in journalism. Initially, Jason hesitated to venture too far from familiar topics. However, as he explored different subjects, he found a new thrill in learning about unfamiliar territories. “I had a lot of fun learning, writing about, and pursuing topics that were a million miles away from what I was an expert in,” he recalled. His motivation remains driven by a pursuit of broad understanding and the joy of exploring new intellectual realms through journalism.
If you too are interested in a career in Journalism, check out this fascinating quick video below by the legendary Katie Couric on her top advice to aspiring journalists:
Early in Jason's journalism career, he was reminded that journalism isn't just about reporting but also about navigating complexity with integrity after he encountered a challenging situation while investigating a story for the BBC. “What happens when you boldly go into a profession for which you are untrained and pursue topics in which you are not an expert is that sometimes you put a foot wrong or step on someone's toes,” he noted. This happened when the BBC's technology correspondent handed him a story about someone finding networking equipment on eBay that connected them to a borough council. Investigating further, Jason discovered that the council had been selling equipment without wiping it clean, allowing unscrupulous individuals to resell it for profit, violating ethics and contracts. After publishing the story, Jason received a threatening legal letter “I thought my career was over,” he admitted, worried that he hadn't done all his due diligence. Fortunately, his meticulous work paid off. The BBC legal team supported his reporting, affirming its accuracy. This experience underscored for Jason the importance of thorough research, adherence to ethics, and understanding the subject matter deeply.
Such investigative journalism is crucial for society to maintain honesty and integrity from potential dishonest players.
For a great read on the invaluable role of journalism, check out this great read by the New York Times.
These days, that research and understanding is necessarily a group effort. Producing an episode of The Intelligence involves multiple team members. “There is a widely held misconception that the host of a show does most of the work or is the ideological centre of a show,” Jason noted. However, the process is quite non-hierarchical, reflecting the culture at The Economist. Two editors oversee the show's direction, particularly in terms of story selection. The stories come from content already published or soon-to-be-published by The Economist. "The editors choose a story slate, ensuring geographic diversity and a mix of topics,” Jason explained. This ensures that the podcast covers a wide range of subjects, including international news, business and finance, and even some science and culture. Once selected, each story is assigned to a producer who handles it from start to finish. The producer collaborates with the correspondent to discuss the story and prepare a set of questions. The interview is then recorded, with conversations often taking unexpected turns. "Nothing goes completely to plan, and there's a certain amount of editing on the fly," Jason noted. After recording, the material is trimmed down to a manageable length by the producer, with additional rounds of editing involving both editors and the host. Finally, the host adds introductory context for listeners, and a sound engineer polishes the recordings. This process repeats for each segment, culminating in a cohesive final product that is then released.
That production pipeline is in many ways the industry standard in what is a crowded industry: news podcasts. Jason believes that what sets The Intelligence apart from other podcasts is similar to what sets The Economist apart from other news outlets. "It doesn't have a political alignment; it has a sort of ideological alignment—classical liberalism," he explained. The podcast aims to tackle complex topics with intellectual ambition while maintaining clarity and accessibility. “If we leave you confused in print or in audio, then we have done it badly and in contravention of our whole reason for being,” he emphasised. The Intelligence aims to embody The Economist's clarity and depth in audio format, with necessary adjustments for the medium. “We are essentially refining our traditional print formula, which has been going for 180 years, to better suit the audio format,” Jason stated. The podcast strives to be intellectually stimulating without taking itself too seriously, incorporating humour and challenging authority when needed. This ensures that the podcast remains engaging and true to the brand's history and values.
So just how engaging is it? Jason acknowledges the complexity of measuring success in the podcasting world. While there are metrics to track downloads and listener engagement, Jason leaves the more technical evaluation of metrics to the marketing and product teams, focusing instead on the qualitative impact reflected in listener correspondence. “For me, how do I measure it? How do I feel like it's doing as a thing in people's lives? It's what people write in and say,” he explained. Listener emails provide valuable insights, whether they contain praise or criticism. “I appreciate the ones where people just say how they listened and why they like it, just as much as when people write in and say, 'I think you're terrible and here's why,'” he noted. This feedback helps Jason gauge whether the podcast is fulfilling its role and resonating with its audience.
Those interactions can have tangible effects on the show. Jason shared a notable interaction through LinkedIn with a young undergraduate student who was a fan of the show but noticed that many of her peers were not. "She couldn't understand why and had given a lot of thought and wanted to have a long chat about what it is we were missing," Jason recalled. This feedback prompted Jason to reflect on the show's content and editorial choices. "That has actually affected some of the editorial choices we're making," he said, acknowledging the importance of catering to a younger audience. Podcasts, he noted, generally attract a younger demographic than their print counterparts, making it crucial to adapt content for different platforms while staying true to the brand.
Getting that platforms-and-content equation right is just one of the many challenges in an industry where change is the only constant. One key aspect emphasised by Jason is the importance of prioritising quality journalism over clickbait-driven content. He cautioned against the temptation of sensationalist headlines, noting that “attention-grabbing or click-chasing kind of journalism is not going to have the primacy that we all worried that it would.” Jason also underscores the importance of trust. “People need transparency,” he states, viewing it as essential for good business practices. This transparency not only enhances credibility but also fosters a deeper connection between journalists and their readers. Reflecting on The Economist’s evolution, Jason highlights a significant shift towards transparency, recognising the importance of revealing the journalistic process. "Knowing more about how the sausage is made makes the output more believable," he concludes. This perspective contrasts with a once widely-held fear that showing audiences what is going on under the bonnet might undermine trust. Jason sees this shift as part of a broader trend where media organisations are embracing openness to build stronger connections with their audience. He feels a sense of hope for the future of journalism, believing that increased transparency will lead to greater trust and credibility.
On this topic, check out the fascinating video below that underlines importance of journalism and the way in which it shapes the way we view the world:
But it will remain a tricky field to break into. For aspiring journalists aiming to make an impact in the field, Jason offers some thoughtful advice based on his own journey and experiences. Jason's primary piece of advice is to always be a “yes person.”—that is, when offered the opportunity or responsibility to do something new or different or merely necessary, say yes, “whether you're afraid or not.” This attitude, he believes, can open doors and create opportunities. However, he offers a more nuanced piece of advice based on his observations of the industry: find your niche and be true to yourself. He suggests, "Do the thing that you find a passion for and are convinced other people will find a passion for, rather than trying to please a much wider audience.” He emphasises the importance of expertise and passion, noting that people appreciate “expert opinions or people who are really passionate about their area".
If you are a student and interested in a career in journalism, do check out the great opportunities in this article from The Guardian that aggregates a variety of opportunities for young people interested in getting some hands on experience.
But the first thing he suggests is humility about how much there is to learn. Entering the world of journalism revealed just how little Jason knew about the industry's inner workings. Two books were pivotal for him in gaining insight into this world: The Field Guide for Science Writers by the National Association of Science Writers in America and, later, Sound Reporting by Jonathan Kern. The Field Guide for Science Writers provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of science writing, offering invaluable guidance for navigating the intricacies of the field. Similarly, Jason found that Sound Reporting offered a deep dive into audio journalism, illuminating the nuances of news reporting, interviews, and investigations specific to the audio medium. As someone with a scientific background, understanding how things work has always been a passion for Jason. These books not only demystified the journalism industry, but also sparked Jason’s curiosity and deepened his understanding of the craft. Regardless of the medium, whether it's print, online blogging, digital content creation, or scriptwriting for various platforms, one skill remains prized almost above all others: writing. Jason states that, On Writing Well by Zinsser is a timeless resource, offering invaluable advice and fostering a deeper appreciation for the art of writing.
A huge thank you to Jason for his time and we do hope that all the budding journalists out there found this to be a useful insight.
As always, please let us know what you thought of the interview and leave your comments below on other guests you would like to see featured in this series.
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