With parting of reporter, BBC loses 60,000 Twitter followers to competitor

Kuenssberg, BBC’s former chief political correspondent, was poached by ITV, a rival broadcaster in the U.K. Laura built up a Twitter following of more than 60,000 in the last couple of years working for the BBC. Her Twitter account was @BBCLauraK, but as soon as she joined ITV she changed it to @ITVLauraK.

ITV told the Financial Times that Kuenssberg’s Twitter following was “an additional benefit” to hiring her as it will help extend the network’s reach on social media. FT, meanwhile, said the BBC was “magnanimous” about the loss.