Mail & Guardian reporter
Drew Forrest has joined the Mail & Guardian as its political editor.
Forrest, formerly political editor of Business Day, joined the M&G at the beginning of the month. He will drive and oversee all aspects of the newspaper’s political coverage.
Forrest worked for the M&G in its earlier incarnation as The Weekly Mail as labour correspondent and, later, as news editor. He joined Business Day in 1995. He also worked for The Star and the now defunct New Nation.
Editor Howard Barrell said Forrest’s move to the M&G was “a major coup”.
“At Business Day, Drew ran the finest political coverage of any newspaper in the country. He will play a major role in restoring the M&G’s political coverage to the quality to which our readers are entitled.
“He is respected for his integrity across the political spectrum. He brings with him considerable intellectual ballast. His opinions command attention. He is the kind of colleague who inspires confidence in those around him. And, as a person, he has the warmth of personality that enables him to develop and bring forward new, younger voices.
“We are very fortunate to have him,” Barrell added.
Forrest was educated at Michaelhouse and the University of the Witwatersrand. He taught at schools in South Africa, Swaziland and Britain before entering journalism.