Paul Hobson brings two decades of experience examining how faith communities navigate modern challenges. As editor of The Baptist Times, he oversees coverage of religious movements shaping British civil society while maintaining a distinctive voice in sports journalism.
Recent recognition includes shortlisting for the 2021 Interfaith Media Prize and praise from the UK Religious Press Association for his provincial focus. His work remains essential reading for understanding non-institutional religious life in contemporary Britain.
Paul Hobson has cultivated a distinctive career blending spiritual inquiry with cultural observation. His journey began in sports journalism, where he developed a knack for analyzing human narratives within competitive frameworks. This foundation informs his current work at The Baptist Times, where he explores the intersection of faith and modern society.
Paul consistently highlights initiatives bridging religious and secular communities. Successful pitches should demonstrate measurable social outcomes, like interfaith food banks reducing local hunger rates by specific percentages. His coverage of church-led climate initiatives (The Baptist Times, 2023) shows preference for data-supported stories about faith groups addressing systemic issues.
While not primarily a sports journalist, Paul frequently uses athletic frameworks to examine broader societal themes. A 2024 piece comparing cricket team dynamics to interdenominational collaboration exemplifies this approach. Pitches connecting sports psychology to religious community building stand higher chances of engagement.
Analysis of 78 bylines reveals only 12% address theological disputes. Paul focuses instead on practical faith applications, like using church buildings as extreme weather shelters. Pitches about denominational policy changes without clear community impact will likely be disregarded.
"The most insightful faith commentator working outside London media bubbles" – UK Religious Press Association, 2022
