from 1988 to 1994, baker worked for the bbc as a producer in the uk and in the u.s., and worked as economics correspondent for television and radio. from 1994 to 2004, baker worked for the "financial times". from 1994 to 1998, he worked as their correspondent in tokyo, japan; from 1998 to 2002, he worked as their washington, d.c. bureau chief; and from 2002 to 2004, he worked as their chief u.s. commentator and associate editor. from 2004 to 2009, baker worked for the "times of london" as their u.s. editor and as an assistant editor.