Origin Story
The Daily Mail – Part two – Paper Tigers
Dec 18, 2024
Dive into the tumultuous history of the Daily Mail and its dramatic leadership shifts. Discover how Esmond Harmsworth’s era led to distress and decline, juxtaposed with his son Vere's transformative relaunch as a tabloid. Meet the controversial figure of Paul Dacre, who wielded unyielding power and shaped media narratives for over two decades. Explore the often toxic dynamics between journalism and politics, and how the Mail’s provocative stance has influenced public opinion and political discourse in Britain.
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Quick takeaways
- Esmond Harmsworth's uninspired leadership led to a decline in the Daily Mail's influence and readership during the mid-20th century.
- David English's relaunch in the 1970s successfully merged serious journalism with entertainment, revitalizing the Mail for a contemporary audience.
Deep dives
The Origins of the Daily Mail
The Daily Mail was founded in the early 20th century, rooted in the ideologies of its first owner, Lord Northcliffe. His vision was to create a newspaper that resonated with the growing middle class, focusing on sensational news that appealed to their prejudices and societal issues. The paper quickly became successful, but its legacy is marred by involvement in questionable political alignments, including flirtations with fascist ideologies during the interwar years, driven largely by Northcliffe and his brother Lord Rothermere. This early history set a precedent for the newspaper’s later editorial direction and its ongoing contentious relationship with political power.
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