Despite claims of 'no change' under Trinity Mirror's ownership, something else is happening on shop floor of the Daily Express and Daily Star...
In February, it was announced that Northern & Shell – owners of right-wing rags the Express and Star of newspapers – would be bought out by an unlikely organisation: Trinity Mirror.
Cue speculation: could the formerly UKIP-backing Express turn progressive following a buyout from the owners of the left-wing Daily Mirror?
It seemed unlikely. After all – the Express has a clear audience (namely ardent Brexiteers) and advertisers to match.
We looked into it, and a spokesperson for Trinity Mirror told Left Foot Forward there would be ‘no change’ in editorial policy:
“This is a commercial organisation, and they’re buying the Express and the other titles for their readership and advertisers. The last thing they want to do is change that…
“The Mirror isn’t going to become right-wing, and the Express isn’t going to become left-wing.”
There was an even more strident claim made by the Mirror group – that there would be no political editorial changes:
“The back of the books will merge. The political teams are not going to change.
“It’s much more features and sport and entertainment…”
Well, it seems the changes happening at the Daily Express and Daily Star are going to be quite significant indeed – with change starting at the very top.
How? Senior figures at the left-wing Mirror are moving directly to the (ostensibly) right-wing papers.
As Press Gazette report today:
“Daily Express editor Hugh Whittow has retired and Daily Star editor Dawn Neesom is leaving to pursue a freelance writing and broadcasting career…
And who will take over?
“Sunday Mirror and Sunday People editor Gary Jones has been appointed editor-in-chief of the Daily Express…
“Daily Mirror associate editor Jon Clark has been appointed editor-in-chief of the Daily Star.”
Remaining in post for now are the current Sunday Express and Sunday Star editors. But two factors should be noted here: firstly, who knows how much might change at those papers, given Trinity Mirror’s hands-on approach so far?
Secondly, as PR-analysts ResponseSource point out, the Sunday editors will be working under the new daily edition editors… who come from the Mirror.
As we noted when the takeover was mooted last September, the Express sells nearly 400,000 copies per day, but it’s influence goes beyond its readership. This is a paper that has put immigrant-baiting untruths on its front page for years.
Perhaps those days of hate are numbered…
Josiah Mortimer is Editor of Left Foot Forward. Follow him on Twitter.
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One Response to “All change at Brexit-backing Daily Express – as execs from left-wing Mirror take over”
joe soap
God help us the Commie Marxists are coming, quick start building the Goolags…for Whitey . Oh I forgot you don’t believe in God So any murderous crime is’ A’ ok with you really, change the Govts ten commandments on a weekly basis.