Alumni Profile: Tom Edgington

Tom Edgington (Journalist Fellow 2024-25) is a senior journalist at the BBC, specialising in political fact-checking and public policy. As part of BBC Verify, the corporation’s open-source journalism unit, he investigates the claims of senior politicians and public figures across TV, radio, and digital platforms. He believes fact-checking is not just about correcting misinformation, but about reinforcing democratic accountability and the public’s right to truth.

During his time at Green Templeton College, Tom was a Reuters Institute Journalism Fellow, where he examined how fact-check journalism influences political behaviour. Through interviews with senior politicians and strategists, his research explored how the political class monitors and responds to fact-check scrutiny – and, at times, seeks to sidestep it. His recommendations aimed to help newsrooms enhance the reach, visibility, and effectiveness of fact-check journalism.

Before joining BBC Verify, Tom spent several years at BBC Radio 4 in a range of senior roles. He was the network’s senior Westminster producer and reporter, covering UK politics before becoming a programme editor for the flagship World at One and PM programmes. As senior elections producer, he covered major events for BBC Radio, including the 2016 US election.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tom played a leading role in the BBC’s digital explainers team, ensuring audiences remained informed on evolving government guidance. His work contributed to the team winning the BBC News Digital Innovation Award.

Tom began his BBC career in 2008, during the global financial crisis, as economics analyst in the BBC’s Political Research Unit. In this role, he produced daily research briefings and provided on-air analysis across BBC News programmes.

Beyond journalism, Tom is a keen runner, cricketer, and golfer. He competes regularly in club championship races and coaches junior cricket.

He holds an MSc in Globalisation and International Policy Analysis from the University of Bath and a BA (Hons) in Politics & Sociology from the University of York.

Reflecting on his time at Green Templeton, Tom says the experience deepened his understanding of political accountability, connected him with global thought leaders, and reinforced his commitment to investigative journalism at the highest level.