What changes when a journalist stops simply reporting the news—and starts getting paid to have an opinion about it?

In this episode of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy sits down with Dave Lee, Bloomberg Opinion's US technology columnist, to talk about his journey from the BBC in London to Silicon Valley, the Financial Times, and now Bloomberg in New York—and what he's learned from more than a decade covering the technology industry.

Dave explains what makes opinion journalism different, why he now spends more than half his day reading, and why startups may actually have more opportunity to catch his attention in the AI era than they think. They also dig into the differences between British and American tech and journalism, the rise of independent media, how PR teams can work effectively with columnists, and why good data still matters.

Plus, Dave shares how he's thinking about AI in journalism, why the US-China relationship could become the defining question of the AI era, and the role he thinks the UK could play in what comes next.

00:00 – Meet Dave Lee, Bloomberg Opinion's US technology columnist 01:00 – From the BBC in London to Silicon Valley, the FT and Bloomberg 05:15 – Reporter vs columnist: what changes when you're paid to have a take? 07:00 – Why “your output can never be greater than your input” 09:15 – How Dave decides when to react quickly—and when to let a story breathe 11:10 – How the relationship between PRs and journalists changes when you're a columnist 13:15 – The risk—and reward—of pitching an opinion writer 15:20 – Can startups and scaleups realistically get Bloomberg's attention? 17:15 – Why being small and experimental can actually be an advantage in the AI era 18:00 – UK vs US tech: capital, ambition and why Silicon Valley still has the edge 21:00 – Has the UK failed to capitalise on its technology successes? 23:00 – British vs American journalists—and the difference in newsroom culture 26:00 – The rise of independent journalism and the economics behind it 29:00 – What Dave reads to keep up with AI and technology 30:30 – Becoming an “AI-enhanced journalist” 31:20 – Quick fire: press releases, data vs narrative and what actually makes a good pitch 33:30 – Why the best startup pitch might come directly from the founder 35:00 – Email, DM or Signal? And exclusive vs embargo 36:00 – Why US-China could be the defining technology question of the AI era 37:00 – Where does Europe fit—and could the UK carve out a unique role in AI?

A Brief Coffee With… is the podcast from CEW Communications, where Cathy White sits down with journalists and creators for honest, unfiltered conversations about the stories behind the stories.

If you're looking for communications support—from PR and media relations to content, social and thought leadership—get in touch with CEW Communications.