In 1769, Debrett’s produced the Peerage, and from 1982, recognised the contemporary achievements of over 22,000 people from every sector and spectrum of society, in the People of Today. To extend their recognition of influential, inspiring and achieving individuals, on Sunday, Debrett’s announced the ‘Debrett’s 500 People of Today’.
The Debrett’s 500 - published in full in The Sunday Times on 26 January 2014 - has been carefully compiled by independent panels of specialists in each of the 25 sectors. The Journalism category was chaired by Steve Hewlett, Guardian columnist and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s The Media Show.
The Journalism Category
Paul Dacre, Editor of the Daily Mail; John Witherow, Editor of The Times; Alan Rusbridger, Editor of The Guardian; Richard Littlejohn, columnist, Daily Mail; Martin Wolf, Chief Economics Commentator and Associate Editor of the Financial Times; Ian Hislop, Editor of Private Eye; Nick Davies, Freelance Investigative Reporter; Martin Ivens, Editor of The Sunday Times; Andrew Norfolk, Investigative Reporter, The Times; Caitlin Moran, Columnist, The Times; Fraser Nelson, Editor of The Spectator; Janan Ganesh, Columnist, Financial Times; Jeremy Warner, Assistant Editor, The Daily Telegraph; Sarah Sands, Editor of the London Evening Standard; Lionel Barber, Editor of the Financial Times; Polly Toynbee, Political and Social Commentator, The Guardian; Trevor Kavanagh, Associate Editor, The Sun; Kevin Maguire, Associate Editor of the Daily Mirror; John Micklethwait, Editor of The Economist; Adam Boulton, Political Editor of Sky News.
Full biographies can be found here.
The inaugural 500 also includes luminaries such as David Beckham and Mo Farah from the world of sport, Stephen Fry and Sir Elton John for their charity work, Pete Tong and Emily Eavis for their services to music, and fashionistas Katie Grand and Cara Delevigne.
Inspired by the Debrett’s 500 and the Debrett’s People of Today - and in response to the figures showing that the majority of graduates gaining first jobs also come from fee-paying schools - Debrett’s is also creating a Foundation. The purpose of the Foundation is to support, champion and inspire social mobility to ensure that the next generation of leaders, the ‘People of Tomorrow’ are from all walks of life and backgrounds.
Joanne Milner, Chief Executive at Debrett’s, commented: “Debrett’s is delighted to launch, in association with the Sunday Times, the Debrett’s 500. A positive endorsement and recognition of Britain’s 500 most influential people. As we celebrate the achievements of the best of British, it is a fantastic opportunity to consider how we can inspire the next generation of leaders. Debrett’s is uniquely placed to help provide the ‘social capital’ needed by young people from less privileged backgrounds to ensure they have an equal opportunity to succeed. The Debrett’s Foundation will combine Debrett’s expertise on business etiquette training with access to Debrett’s influential networks, so that these young people benefit from expert coaching in skills such as interviewing and networking, together with access to a network that is able to facilitate internship and work experience opportunities”
The Debrett’s 500 People of Today has been published in association with The Sunday Times. Eleanor Mills, Editorial Director at The Sunday Times, commented: "The Sunday Times was keen to partner with Debrett's on the list of Britain's 500 Most Influential because of their commitment to using their brand with its connotations of privilege and the peerage to help boost social mobility and give those with less opportunity the chance to acquire mentors and the kind of soft skills necessary these days to get on. We welcome the launch of their new foundation and are delighted to run the list in The Sunday Times."
