The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Jemima Khan joins the New Statesman

The writer and human rights campaigner will join us in November.

By Helen Lewis Published 17 October 2011 12:14

Following the success of her guest edit in April, Jemima Khan will be joining the New Statesman as Associate Editor next month.

Her role will involve commissioning and writing for the magazine and working on specially curated issues. She will start on 14 November.

Khan's Free Speech special issue of the magazine on 11 April broke two agenda-setting stories - her own interview with Nick Clegg, in which he spoke candidly about the trials of being a hate figure, and Hugh Grant's undercover exposé of hacking at News of the World.

It featured further contributions from fine writers and fascinating public figures including Oliver Stone, Tim Robbins, Russell Brand, Simon Pegg, Rory Stewart, Alain de Botton and Jarvis Cocker, as well as a major 4,000-word investigation of brutality and corruption in the New Orleans law-enforcement system by the journalist James Fox.

The New Statesman's editor, Jason Cowley, said: "I'm delighted that Jemima is joining us and that I have tempted her away from the Independent. She worked brilliantly with the whole team on her guest-edited issue of the New Statesman.

"She is a first-rate journalist who has strong campaigning instincts and a powerful interest in international affairs and human rights issues. She's very popular among the staff."

Jemima Khan said: "I loved working on the guest edit at the beginning of the year and I am delighted to become a permanent part of the exceptional team at the New Statesman. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Independent but the challenge of a wider role at the New Statesman was too tempting."

Special Offer: Get 12 issues of New Statesman magazine for just £12

More from Helen Lewis

17 comments

Mon, 2011-10-17 22:28 — Herring (not verified)

The NS is just an Islamist rag. Anyone who makes defamatory comments about Jews is very welcome!

Tue, 2011-10-18 01:04 — kenny jenkins (not verified)

This is excellent news. The New Statesman has at last recognised contemporary political reality. The reason the voices of the over-priviliged need to be heard so much more often is because they are just more important than other people. You might argue that they're full of shite but it's not as if anybody's going to read it. It's just right and proper that they get to write for the New Statesman because if the ruling class don't get their own way they usually start killing people.

Thu, 2011-10-20 22:34 — Khan (not verified)

we hope she will one day expose the real face of her ex husband IMRAN KHAN

Wed, 2011-11-02 21:53 — Shad Khan (not verified)

I am a freelance tv journalist presently based in London. I heard that Jemima doing some sort of documentary. If this is true I may help with the project. I have recently worked with Aljazeera on 9/11 film 'The Intelligence War'.

Tue, 2011-10-18 10:57 — swatantra nandanwar

Jemima is actually ok, even though she is a socialite hostess. She had the courage to marry Imran and bring about better relations between Jews and Muslims. She is and can do more than Tony can ever do with his Foundation. She should be our Ambassador to the UN or Israel or Palestine.

Tue, 2011-10-18 13:10 — maxinemf

I for one much prefer Gemima Goldmsith to that hideous Olly Grender. GG has done a lot of charity work for Palestinian children and has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds. She could easily have chosen to go down the Zionist route given her Jewish background; and chose not to. I think she sets an example to privileged women in her position to do more.

Fri, 2011-10-28 18:13 — hamad ul haq (not verified)

Man,
I am student of software and I am belonging from Southwaziristan wana,as you have told yesterday that I have to sent Draven attack photoes and vedios
reply me soon

Mon, 2011-10-17 12:32 — Vorian (not verified)

Hurrah, the march of the privileged rich kids continues. I can't wait.

Mon, 2011-10-17 12:50 — frances smith (not verified)

louise mensch not availabe then?

Mon, 2011-10-17 13:24 — Mr. Divine (not verified)

Is one of the cleaners leaving?

Mon, 2011-10-17 13:33 — Jonathan (not verified)

I am seriously thinking of cancelling my subscription

Mon, 2011-10-17 13:37 — swatantra nandanwar

Next we'll have Zac Goldsmith joining the NS; and possibly Boris's sister Nancy Johnson currently editing 'The Lady'. Looks like the NS is alt last going upmarket.
Hope Jemima can break a few more stories about Tory donors and sleaze though; we could do with more exposees.

Mon, 2011-10-17 14:15 — Jamie (not verified)

I finally realised the one advantage the print edition of NS has over the website - I don't have to read the curmudgeonly spite in the comments sections.

Congratulations to Ms Khan :)

Mon, 2011-10-17 14:20 — Sebastian (not verified)

I'm sure she will fit in very well. She co-authored a piece for the Guardian a couple of years ago with Imram Khan stating that Jews had too much influence in Hollywood, the international banking system, the US Congress etc. To her credit she stopped short of calling for a Nuremberg Law that would banish Jews from positions of influence.

Mon, 2011-10-17 17:46 — J Hill (not verified)

Has she promised a big cheque to keep the magazine going or something? You can't honestly expect us readers to consider Jemima Khan a journalist fit for the New Statesman? This is an absurdity. What on earth is going on at the NS?

Mon, 2011-10-17 20:29 — A. Cole (not verified)

Another of these champayne socialists that plague the New Statesman!

Mon, 2011-10-17 20:49 — Vorian (not verified)

"What on earth is going on at the NS?"

It's consolidating its position as an echo-chamber of well-fed metropolitans, congratulating themselves on their brave ideologies and pushing out anyone that dares to contradict.

And never, ever having to be troubled by anyone that actually has to work with their hands for a living.