#126: Alex Kay-Jelski, editor-in-chief, the Athletic UK

<p>Simon and Rachel speak with <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKayJelski?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank">Alex Kay-Jelski</a>, the editor-in-chief in the UK of sports website <a href="https://theathletic.com/uk/" target="_blank">the Athletic</a>. Alex, previously sports editor of the <em>Times</em> and the <em>Daily Mail</em>, set up British operations for the Athletic in 2019, hiring well-known names from other publications (and new young journalists) in a move that shook up the sportswriting scene. Originally established in 2016, the Athletic had 1.2 million subscribers as of December 2021, and this month was acquired by the <em>New York Times</em> for $550m - £400m (we recorded this interview before news of the acquisition broke). We spoke to Alex about committing to sports journalism in his teens, his years at the <em>Daily Mail</em> and the <em>Times</em>, and launching the Athletic with its roster of celebrated football journalists. The piece on the sacking of Frank Lampard discussed in the interview is <a href="https://theathletic.com/2298337/2021/01/25/lampards-chelsea-sacking-tension-with-marina-unhappy-players-and-secret-job-offers/?article_source=search&amp;search_query=frank%20lampard%20leaving%20chelsea" target="_blank">available here</a> (subscription required).</p> <p>You can find us online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alwaystakenotes.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">alwaystakenotes.com</a>, on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/takenotesalways" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@takenotesalways</a>, on Instagram&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/alwaystakenotes/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@alwaystakenotes,</a>&nbsp;and on Facebook at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/alwaystakenotes" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">facebook.com/alwaystakenotes</a>. Our crowdfunding page is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.patreon.com/alwaystakenotes" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">patr