Daily Telegraph, The

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[[Category:Politics and social sciences]]
 
[[Category:Politics and social sciences]]
[[Category:Communication]]
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[[Category:Media Organizations]]
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{{Infobox Newspaper-Daily Telegraph |
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{{epname|Daily Telegraph, The}}
name = [[Image:The_Daily_Telegraph.jpg|200px]] |
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'''''The Daily Telegraph''''' is a [[United Kingdom|British]] broadsheet [[newspaper]] founded in 1855. Its sister paper, ''The Sunday Telegraph'', was founded in 1961. Together with ''[[The Times]]'' and ''[[The Guardian]]'', ''The Daily Telegraph'' is regarded as one of the "big three" quality newspapers in Great Britain. The paper is known for its conservative politics and comprehensive news coverage.  
type = Daily [[newspaper]] |
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{{toc}}
format = [[Broadsheet]] |
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The first British national newspaper to develop an online version, ''The Daily Telegraph'' remains the highest selling "quality" daily newspaper in Britain. Thus, despite changes in the newspaper industry due to innovations in technology, ''The Daily Telegraph''' has continued to be successful, and determined to maintain its place offering one of the several options available to the British public to receive timely and relevant information about newsworthy events.
foundation = 1855 |
 
owners = [[David and Frederick_Barclay|Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay]] |
 
political = [[Conservative]] |
 
headquarters = [[Canary Wharf]], [[London]] |
 
website = [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ www.telegraph.co.uk] |
 
}}
 
  
'''''The Daily Telegraph''''' is a [[United Kingdom|British broadsheet newspaper]] founded in 1855. Its sister paper, '''''The Sunday Telegraph''''', was founded in 1961. In November 2005, the ''Telegraph'' was the highest selling British broadsheet, with a certified average [[newspaper circulation|daily circulation]] of 904,955. This compared with a circulation of 692,581 for ''[[The Times]]'', 261,193 for ''[[The Independent]]'', and 378,618 for ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref>From the Audit Bureau of Circulations Ltd. These figures do not take into account the varying numbers of free copies of each paper given away at hotels, railway stations, and in aeroplanes.</ref> According to a [[MORI]] survey conducted in 2004, 61% of ''Telegraph'' readers were [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] supporters compared with 31% of the general population.<ref>MORI poll of 21,727 British adults, July-December 2004 - http://www.mori.com/polls/2004/voting-by-readership.shtml </ref>
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==Founding history==
 
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[[Image:New Daily Telegraph Offices Fleet Street ILN 1882.jpg|thumb|275px|In 1882 the ''Daily Telegraph'' moved to new Fleet Street premises, which were pictured in the ''Illustrated London News''.]]
==Editorial history==
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The ''Daily Telegraph'' was established on June 29, 1855, by Colonel Arthur B. Sleigh. He controlled it only briefly before selling it to his printer, Joseph Moses Levy, father of the 1st Baron Burnham. Levy appointed his sons as editors and relaunched the paper on September 17. His most significant and successful move was reducing the price of the paper to a penny, the first of the "penny press." Within twelve months the new paper was outselling ''[[The Times]]''.
The ''Telegraph'' is traditionally seen as being on the [[Right-wing politics|right]] of the political spectrum. <ref>''BBC News'', "Telegraph buy-out is 'done deal'", [[20 January]], [[2004]] - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3412517.stm</ref> The combination of personal links between the paper's editorial team and the leadership of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], along with the paper's influence over Conservative activists, results in the paper often being jokingly referred to as the ''Torygraph''.
 
  
===Editors===
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In 1908, Kaiser [[Wilhelm II of Germany]] gave a controversial interview<ref> October 28, 1908, [http://www.lib.byu.edu/~rdh/wwi/1914m/dailytel.html Interview with Emperor Wilhelm II] ''London Daily Telegraph''. Retrieved February 25, 2008.</ref> to ''The Daily Telegraph'' which severely damaged Anglo-German relations and added to international tension leading to [[World War I]].
Editors in recent years have been
 
  
* 1974-1986 : [[Bill Deedes|W. F. Deedes]],
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In 1928, the son of the 1st Baron Burnham sold the paper to the 1st Viscount Camrose, in partnership with his brother Viscount Kemsley and the 1st Baron Iliffe. Both the Camrose (Berry) and Burnham (Levy-Lawson) families remained involved in management until Conrad Black took control in 1986.
* 1986-1995 : [[Max Hastings|Sir Max Hastings]],
 
* 1995-2003 : [[Charles Moore (journalist)|Charles Moore]],
 
*: On October 1 2003, the newspaper announced that Moore was stepping down as the editor of the paper to spend his time working on a biography of [[Margaret Thatcher]]
 
* 2003-2005 : [[Martin Newland]], and
 
* Since 2005 : [[John Bryant (journalist)|John Bryant]], (Acting Editor); since October 2005, [[Jeff Randall (reporter)|Jeff Randall]] has been 'editor-at-large'.
 
  
==Founding history==
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In 1937, the newspaper absorbed ''The Morning Post'', which had traditionally espoused a Conservative position and sold predominantly amongst the retired officer class. Originally William Ewart Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose, bought ''The Morning Post'' with the intention of publishing it alongside the ''Daily Telegraph'', but poor sales of the former led him to merge the two. For some years the paper was retitled ''The Daily Telegraph and Morning Post'' before it reverted to just ''The Daily Telegraph''.
[[Image:New Daily Telegraph Offices Fleet Street ILN 1882.jpg|thumb|275px|In 1882 the Daily Telegraph moved to new [[Fleet Street]] premises, which were pictured in the ''[[Illustrated London News]]''.]]
 
The ''Daily Telegraph'' was established on June 29, [[1855]] by [[Colonel Arthur B. Sleigh]]. He controlled it only briefly before selling it to his printer, [[Joseph Moses Levy]], father of the 1st [[Baron Burnham]]. Levy appointed his sons as editors and relaunched the paper on September 17. His most significant and successful move was reducing the price of the paper to a penny, the first of the [[penny press]]. Within twelve months the new paper was outselling ''[[The Times]]''.
 
  
In 1908, [[Kaiser]] [[Wilhelm II of Germany]] gave a controversial [http://www.lib.byu.edu/~rdh/wwi/1914m/dailytel.html interview] to ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' which severely damaged Anglo-German relations and added to international tension leading to [[World War I]].
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''The Daily Telegraph'' reached new heights of readership under the guidance of Michael Berry, Lord Hartwell, who began editing the paper in 1954 after the death of his father. Berry introduced the popular column "The Way of the World," started ''The Sunday Telegraph'', and was one of the first to add color [[magazine]] supplements. Lord Hartwell is credited with instilling a strong sense of [[journalism|journalistic]] integrity in the ''Daily Telegraph''. He retired in 1987.
  
In 1928 the son of the 1st [[Baron Burnham]] sold it to the 1st [[Viscount Camrose]], in partnership with his brother [[Viscount Kemsley]] and the 1st [[Baron Iliffe]]. Both the Camrose (Berry) and Burnham (Levy-Lawson) families remained involved in management until [[Conrad Black]] took control in 1986.
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==''The Sunday Telegraph''==
 
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''The Daily Telegraph'''s sister Sunday paper, ''The Sunday Telegraph'', was founded in 1961. The conservative polemicist Sir Peregrine Worsthorne is probably the best known journalist associated with the title (1961-1997), eventually being editor for three years from 1986. In 1989, the Sunday title was briefly merged into a seven-day operation under Max Hastings' overall control.
In 1937 the newspaper absorbed ''[[The Morning Post]]'' which traditionally espoused a [[Conservative]] position and sold predominantly amongst the retired officer class. Originally [[William Ewart Berry]], 1st [[Viscount Camrose]] bought ''[[The Morning Post]]'' with the intention of publishing it alongside the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'', but poor sales of the former led him to merge the two. For some years the paper was retitled ''The Daily Telegraph and Morning Post'' before it reverted to just ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''.
 
  
==''The Sunday Telegraph''==
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==Editorial Stance==
The Telegraph's sister Sunday paper was founded in 1961. The conservative polemicist Sir [[Peregrine Worsthorne]] is probably the best known journalist associated with the title  (1961-97), eventually being editor for three years from 1986. In 1989 the Sunday title was briefly merged in to a seven-day operation under [[Max Hastings|Max Hastings']] overall control.  
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The ''Telegraph'' is traditionally seen as being on the right of the political spectrum.<ref> 2004, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3412517.stm ''Telegraph buy-out is 'done deal''] ''BBC News''. Retrieved February 25, 2008.</ref> According to a survey conducted in 2004, 61 percent of ''Telegraph'' readers were Conservative Party supporters compared with 31 percent of the general population.<ref> 2004, [http://www.mori.com/polls/2004/voting-by-readership.shtml MORI poll of 21,727 British adults] Retrieved February 25, 2008.</ref>
  
===Editors===
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The combination of personal links between the paper's editorial team and the leadership of the Conservative Party, along with the paper's influence over Conservative activists, has resulted in the paper often being jokingly referred to as the ''Torygraph''.
Its editors in recent years have been
 
* [[John Thompson]]
 
* [[Peregrine Worsthorne|Sir Peregrine Worsthorne]] (1986-1989)
 
* [[Trevor Grove]] (1989-1992),  
 
* [[Charles Moore (journalist)|Charles Moore]] (1992-1995),
 
* [[Dominic Lawson]] (1995-2005),
 
* [[Sarah Sands]] (2005-2006)
 
* [[Patience Wheatcroft]] (2006-present)
 
  
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After taking over ownership in 2004, Sir David Barclay suggested that ''The Daily Telegraph'' might in the future no longer be the "house newspaper" of the Conservative Party. In an interview with ''The Guardian'' he said, "Where the government are right we will support them." The editorial board continued to endorse the Conservatives in the 2005 general election.<!--source:DT leader of 5/5/2005. subscription required for online access—>
  
 
==Recent history==
 
==Recent history==
''The Daily Telegraph'' is owned by the [[Barclay brothers]]. Until January 2004 the newspaper group was controlled by [[Canada|Canadian]] businessman, [[Conrad Black|Conrad, Lord Black]]. Black, through his holding company [[Ravelston Corporation]], owned [[Hollinger Inc.]] which in turn owns 30% of [[Hollinger International]] and, under a deal struck by [[Andrew Stephen Bower Knight|Andrew Knight]] through which Black bought the newspaper group in 1986, owns 78% of the voting rights. Hollinger Inc. also owns the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', the ''[[Jerusalem Post]]'', and other right-leaning publications such as ''[[The Spectator]]''.
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The ''Daily Telegraph'' continues to be the highest selling British "national quality" newspaper, with an average circulation of 901,238. This is compared with a circulation of 653,780 for ''[[The Times]]'', 432,980 for the ''Financial Times'', 253,737 for ''The Independent'', and 382,393 for ''[[The Guardian]]'' as of November 2006.<ref> Interactive Analysis National Newspaper Selection Audit Bureau of Circulations Ltd. </ref> These figures do not take into account the varying numbers of free copies of each paper given away at hotels, railway stations, and in airplanes.
 
 
On January 18 2004, Black was sacked as [[chairman of the board|chairman]] of the Hollinger International [[board of directors|board]] over allegations of financial wrongdoing. Black was also sued by the company. Later that day it was reported that the [[Barclay brothers]] had agreed to purchase Hollinger Inc. from Black, giving them the controlling interest in the newspaper group. They then launched a [[takeover]] bid for the rest of the group, [[valuation|valuing]] the company at [[Pound sterling|£]]200m. However, a suit has been filed by the Hollinger International board with the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] to try to block Black selling [[stock|shares]] in the company until an investigation into his dealings have been completed. Black filed a counter-suit but eventually United States judge Leo Strine sided with the Hollinger International board and blocked Black from selling his Hollinger Inc. shares and interests to the twins. On Sunday March 7, the twins announced they were launching another takeover bid, this time just for the ''Daily Telegraph'' and its Sunday sister paper rather than the whole stable. Current owner of the ''[[Daily Express]],'' [[Richard Desmond]], was also interested in purchasing the paper, selling his interest in several pornographic magazines to finance the initiative. Desmond withdrew in March 2004 when the price climbed above £600m, as did Daily Mail and General Trust plc on June 17.
 
 
 
Eventually, the Barclay brothers purchased Hollinger, and with it the ''Telegraph'', for around £665m  in late June 2004.
 
 
 
Amidst the unravelling of the takeover Sir David Barclay suggested that ''The Daily Telegraph'' might in future no longer be the "house newspaper" of the Conservative Party. In an interview with ''The Guardian''  he said, "Where the government are right we will support them." The editorial board endorsed the Conservatives in the 2005 general election.<!--source:DT leader of 5/5/2005. subscription required for online access—>  
 
 
 
November 15 [[2004]] saw the tenth anniversay of the launch of the ''Telegraph's'' website [[Electronic Telegraph]]. Now rebranded to [http://www.telegraph.co.uk telegraph.co.uk] the website was the UK's first national newspaper online.
 
 
 
There has been much speculation about the launch of a [[compact (newspaper)|compact]] edition of ''The Daily Telegraph'' to counter the change in size of ''The Times'' to a [[tabloid]]. However, the ''Telegraph'' has denied these claims and tried to attract disgruntled ''Times'' readers who want to read a more upmarket [[broadsheet]]. One of its latest advertising slogans was ''Impact, Not Compact''. Nevertheless, new Executive Editor [[William Lewis]] is reported to be preparing a [[tabloid]] edition of the newspaper in readiness for a launch in summer 2006.
 
  
On [[10 October]] 2005, the ''Daily Telegraph'' relaunched to incorporate a tabloid sports section and a new standalone business section. The ''[[Daily Mail|Daily Mail's]]'' star columnist and political analyst [[Simon Heffer]] left that paper in October 2005 to rejoin the ''Daily Telegraph'', where he has become associate editor. Heffer, known for his combative style and wit, has written two columns a week for the ''Telegraph'' since late October 2005.
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Until January 2004 the newspaper group was controlled by [[Canada|Canadian]] businessman, Conrad Black. Black, through his holding company Ravelston Corporation, owned Hollinger Inc. which in turn owned 30 percent of Hollinger International and, under a deal struck by Andrew Knight through which Black bought the newspaper group in 1986 following Lord Hartwell's retirement, owned 78 percent of the voting rights. Hollinger Inc. also owned the ''Chicago Sun-Times'', the ''[[Jerusalem Post]]'', and other right-leaning publications such as ''[[The Spectator]]''. In June 2004, ''The Daily Telegraph'' was bought by the Barclay brothers, Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay.  
  
In [[Henry Winter]] they have a top-draw columnist who is regarded as the best football writer of this era. [[Alan Hansen]] is another who, in 1995, famously wrote "You'll never win anything with kids", after Manchester United lost their opening game of the season to Aston Villa with youngsters like Scholes replacing Ince, Beckham in for Kanchelskis and the departure of 128-goalscoring legend [[Mark Hughes]] to Chelsea. United won the double that year, but that article fired up [[Sir Alex Ferguson]] and his fledglings. Sport is now also a big business and to understand the finer details of any sporting deals there is no one better than Mihir Bose to unravel the intricacies of the deal.  
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On January 18, 2004, Black was fired as chairman of the Hollinger International board over allegations of financial wrongdoing. Black was also sued by the company. Later, it was reported that the Barclay brothers, Sir David and Sir Frederick, had agreed to purchase Hollinger Inc. from Black, giving them the controlling interest in the newspaper group. They then launched a takeover bid for the rest of the group, valuing the company at [[Pound sterling|£]]200 million. However, a suit was filed by the Hollinger International board with the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] to try to block Black from selling [[stock|shares]] in the company until an investigation into his dealings could be completed. Black filed a counter-suit but eventually United States judge Leo Strine sided with the Hollinger International board and blocked Black from selling his Hollinger Inc. shares and interests to the Barclay brothers. On March 7, 2004, the twins announced they were launching another takeover bid, this time just for the ''Daily Telegraph'' and its Sunday sister paper. Owner of the ''Daily Express,'' Richard Desmond, was also interested in purchasing the paper, selling his interest in several [[pornography|pornographic]] magazines to finance the initiative. Desmond withdrew in March 2004 when the price climbed above £600 million.
  
The ''Daily Telegraph'', still smarting after losing its star sports writer [[Paul Hayward]] to the ''Mail'' - a fact the paper trumpeted in a TV advert during the Ashes - regards the luring of Heffer back to the broadsheet after a decade as a great coup. Martin Newland, the ex-editor of the ''Daily Telegraph'', said Heffer was returning to his "natural journalistic home" - "He writes with wit, candour and intelligence and has enormous depth of knowledge. His new columns will be required reading." The poaching of Heffer followed the news that the BBC's business editor Jeff Randall had quit his job, joining the paper to write two business columns a week.  
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Eventually, the Barclay brothers purchased Hollinger, and with it the ''Telegraph'', for around £665 million in late June 2004.<ref>Simon English, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/main.jhtml?xml=/education/2004/07/10/tebGnhol23.xml  Barclay brothers buy Telegraph group for £665m] www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved February 25, 2008.</ref>
  
Just before Christmas 2005, it was announced that the ''Telegraph'' titles will be moving from Canada Place in Canary Wharf, to Victoria Plaza, near Victoria Station in central London. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2005/12/22/cntel22.xml]
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November 15, 2004, saw the tenth anniversary of the launch of the ''Telegraph's'' website ''Electronic Telegraph''. Now rebranded to [http://www.telegraph.co.uk telegraph.co.uk] the website was the UK's first national online newspaper. The online version has won several awards, including 'Most Innovative Technology of the Year' in the 2004 Newspaper Awards commended.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml;jsessionid=FVDEWIVELG1EZQFIQMGCFFOAVCBQUIV0?xml=/portal/aboutus/exclusions/nosplit/general.xml General Information] telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved February 25, 2008.</ref>
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In 2006, the ''Telegraph'' moved from Canada Place in Canary Wharf, to Victoria Plaza, near Victoria Station in central London.<ref>Dominic White, 2005, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2005/12/22/cntel22.xml Telegraph moves to Victoria] Retrieved February 25, 2008.</ref>
  
Monday 8th May 2006 saw the first stage of a major redesign of ''the Telegraph'''s website.
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There has been much speculation about the launch of a compact edition of ''The Daily Telegraph'' to counter the change in size of ''The Times'' to a tabloid. However, the ''Telegraph'' denied these claims and tried to attract disgruntled ''Times'' readers who want to read a more upmarket broadsheet. One of its [[advertising]] slogans was "Impact, Not Compact."
  
 
==Notable mistakes==
 
==Notable mistakes==
On at least two occasions ''the Daily Telegraph'' has erroneously published [[List of premature obituaries|premature obituaries]]:
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''The Daily Telegraph'' has erroneously published several premature obituaries:
 
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*Cockie Hoogterp, the second wife of Baron Blixen, in 1938 after the Baron's third wife died in an auto accident. Mrs. Hoogterp sent all her bills back marked "Deceased" and survived her premature obituary by over 50 years.<ref> Priscilla L. Buckley, 1987, [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_v39/ai_5091234 "Out in the noonday sun".] ''National Review''. Retrieved February 25, 2008.</ref>
*[[Dave Swarbrick]] in 1999, prompting much embarrassing publicity for the newspaper, and Swarbrick's remark "It's not the first time I have died in Coventry."
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*Dave Swarbrick in 1999, prompting much embarrassing publicity for the newspaper, and Swarbrick's remark "It's not the first time I have died in Coventry."
*Ballet dancer [[Katharine Sergava]] in 2003, which also caused ''[[The New York Times]]'' to print an erroneous obituary based on ''The Telegraph'''s.
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*Dorothy Southworth Ritter, the widow of Tex Ritter and mother of John Ritter, in August 2001. She eventually died in 2003, two months after her son's death.<ref>Craig Wilson, 2006, [http://www.usatoday.com/life/2006-06-21-obit_x.htm Death is the story of their lives] USA Today. Retrieved February 25, 2008.</ref>
 
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*Ballet dancer Katharine Sergava in 2003, which also caused ''The New York Times'' to print an erroneous obituary based on ''The Telegraph'''s.
The Telegraph is nonetheless noted for the humour and quality of writing of many of its obituaries.
 
  
On Wednesday 24 February, 1988, ''the Daily Telegraph'' was printed with the wrong date: Thursday 25 February was printed by mistake. This caused complaints from confused readers, but also inspired the first [[front page]] [[cartoon]] by [[Matt Pritchett|Matt]], who now has a cartoon on the front page of the Telegraph almost every day. The cartoon had the caption: "I hope I have a better Thursday than I did yesterday".
+
The Telegraph is nonetheless noted for the humor and quality of writing of many of its obituaries.
  
 +
On Wednesday, the 24th of February, 1988, ''the Daily Telegraph'' was printed with the wrong date: “Thursday 25 February” was printed by mistake. This caused complaints from confused readers, but also inspired the first front page [[cartoon]] by Matt Pritchett with the caption: "I hope I have a better Thursday than I did yesterday."
  
==Notes and references==
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==Notes==
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
* [http://www.dailytelegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml DailyTelegraph.co.uk]
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All links retrieved April 30, 2023.
 +
 
 +
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3407563.stm BBC: Telegraph empire in tycoons' grip &ndash; 18 Jan 2004]
 +
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3541291.stm The continuing takeover saga] &ndash; from BBC News 7 March 2004
 +
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3412517.stm Telegraph buy-out is 'done deal'] &ndash; from BBC News Online 20 January, 2004
 
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,937565,00.html The ''Guardian'': The plight of Hollinger]
 
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,937565,00.html The ''Guardian'': The plight of Hollinger]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3407563.stm BBC: Telegraph empire in tycoons' grip &ndash; 18 Jan 2004]
 
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3412517.stm 'Daily Telegraph "may back Blair"'] &ndash; from BBC News Online
 
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3541291.stm The continuing takeover saga] &ndash; from BBC News [[7 March]] [[2004]]
 
  
 
{{Credit1|The_Daily_Telegraph|58254438|}}
 
{{Credit1|The_Daily_Telegraph|58254438|}}

Latest revision as of 15:35, 30 April 2023


The Daily Telegraph is a British broadsheet newspaper founded in 1855. Its sister paper, The Sunday Telegraph, was founded in 1961. Together with The Times and The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph is regarded as one of the "big three" quality newspapers in Great Britain. The paper is known for its conservative politics and comprehensive news coverage.

The first British national newspaper to develop an online version, The Daily Telegraph remains the highest selling "quality" daily newspaper in Britain. Thus, despite changes in the newspaper industry due to innovations in technology, The Daily Telegraph' has continued to be successful, and determined to maintain its place offering one of the several options available to the British public to receive timely and relevant information about newsworthy events.

Founding history

In 1882 the Daily Telegraph moved to new Fleet Street premises, which were pictured in the Illustrated London News.

The Daily Telegraph was established on June 29, 1855, by Colonel Arthur B. Sleigh. He controlled it only briefly before selling it to his printer, Joseph Moses Levy, father of the 1st Baron Burnham. Levy appointed his sons as editors and relaunched the paper on September 17. His most significant and successful move was reducing the price of the paper to a penny, the first of the "penny press." Within twelve months the new paper was outselling The Times.

In 1908, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany gave a controversial interview[1] to The Daily Telegraph which severely damaged Anglo-German relations and added to international tension leading to World War I.

In 1928, the son of the 1st Baron Burnham sold the paper to the 1st Viscount Camrose, in partnership with his brother Viscount Kemsley and the 1st Baron Iliffe. Both the Camrose (Berry) and Burnham (Levy-Lawson) families remained involved in management until Conrad Black took control in 1986.

In 1937, the newspaper absorbed The Morning Post, which had traditionally espoused a Conservative position and sold predominantly amongst the retired officer class. Originally William Ewart Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose, bought The Morning Post with the intention of publishing it alongside the Daily Telegraph, but poor sales of the former led him to merge the two. For some years the paper was retitled The Daily Telegraph and Morning Post before it reverted to just The Daily Telegraph.

The Daily Telegraph reached new heights of readership under the guidance of Michael Berry, Lord Hartwell, who began editing the paper in 1954 after the death of his father. Berry introduced the popular column "The Way of the World," started The Sunday Telegraph, and was one of the first to add color magazine supplements. Lord Hartwell is credited with instilling a strong sense of journalistic integrity in the Daily Telegraph. He retired in 1987.

The Sunday Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph's sister Sunday paper, The Sunday Telegraph, was founded in 1961. The conservative polemicist Sir Peregrine Worsthorne is probably the best known journalist associated with the title (1961-1997), eventually being editor for three years from 1986. In 1989, the Sunday title was briefly merged into a seven-day operation under Max Hastings' overall control.

Editorial Stance

The Telegraph is traditionally seen as being on the right of the political spectrum.[2] According to a survey conducted in 2004, 61 percent of Telegraph readers were Conservative Party supporters compared with 31 percent of the general population.[3]

The combination of personal links between the paper's editorial team and the leadership of the Conservative Party, along with the paper's influence over Conservative activists, has resulted in the paper often being jokingly referred to as the Torygraph.

After taking over ownership in 2004, Sir David Barclay suggested that The Daily Telegraph might in the future no longer be the "house newspaper" of the Conservative Party. In an interview with The Guardian he said, "Where the government are right we will support them." The editorial board continued to endorse the Conservatives in the 2005 general election.

Recent history

The Daily Telegraph continues to be the highest selling British "national quality" newspaper, with an average circulation of 901,238. This is compared with a circulation of 653,780 for The Times, 432,980 for the Financial Times, 253,737 for The Independent, and 382,393 for The Guardian as of November 2006.[4] These figures do not take into account the varying numbers of free copies of each paper given away at hotels, railway stations, and in airplanes.

Until January 2004 the newspaper group was controlled by Canadian businessman, Conrad Black. Black, through his holding company Ravelston Corporation, owned Hollinger Inc. which in turn owned 30 percent of Hollinger International and, under a deal struck by Andrew Knight through which Black bought the newspaper group in 1986 following Lord Hartwell's retirement, owned 78 percent of the voting rights. Hollinger Inc. also owned the Chicago Sun-Times, the Jerusalem Post, and other right-leaning publications such as The Spectator. In June 2004, The Daily Telegraph was bought by the Barclay brothers, Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay.

On January 18, 2004, Black was fired as chairman of the Hollinger International board over allegations of financial wrongdoing. Black was also sued by the company. Later, it was reported that the Barclay brothers, Sir David and Sir Frederick, had agreed to purchase Hollinger Inc. from Black, giving them the controlling interest in the newspaper group. They then launched a takeover bid for the rest of the group, valuing the company at £200 million. However, a suit was filed by the Hollinger International board with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to try to block Black from selling shares in the company until an investigation into his dealings could be completed. Black filed a counter-suit but eventually United States judge Leo Strine sided with the Hollinger International board and blocked Black from selling his Hollinger Inc. shares and interests to the Barclay brothers. On March 7, 2004, the twins announced they were launching another takeover bid, this time just for the Daily Telegraph and its Sunday sister paper. Owner of the Daily Express, Richard Desmond, was also interested in purchasing the paper, selling his interest in several pornographic magazines to finance the initiative. Desmond withdrew in March 2004 when the price climbed above £600 million.

Eventually, the Barclay brothers purchased Hollinger, and with it the Telegraph, for around £665 million in late June 2004.[5]

November 15, 2004, saw the tenth anniversary of the launch of the Telegraph's website Electronic Telegraph. Now rebranded to telegraph.co.uk the website was the UK's first national online newspaper. The online version has won several awards, including 'Most Innovative Technology of the Year' in the 2004 Newspaper Awards commended.[6] In 2006, the Telegraph moved from Canada Place in Canary Wharf, to Victoria Plaza, near Victoria Station in central London.[7]

There has been much speculation about the launch of a compact edition of The Daily Telegraph to counter the change in size of The Times to a tabloid. However, the Telegraph denied these claims and tried to attract disgruntled Times readers who want to read a more upmarket broadsheet. One of its advertising slogans was "Impact, Not Compact."

Notable mistakes

The Daily Telegraph has erroneously published several premature obituaries:

  • Cockie Hoogterp, the second wife of Baron Blixen, in 1938 after the Baron's third wife died in an auto accident. Mrs. Hoogterp sent all her bills back marked "Deceased" and survived her premature obituary by over 50 years.[8]
  • Dave Swarbrick in 1999, prompting much embarrassing publicity for the newspaper, and Swarbrick's remark "It's not the first time I have died in Coventry."
  • Dorothy Southworth Ritter, the widow of Tex Ritter and mother of John Ritter, in August 2001. She eventually died in 2003, two months after her son's death.[9]
  • Ballet dancer Katharine Sergava in 2003, which also caused The New York Times to print an erroneous obituary based on The Telegraph's.

The Telegraph is nonetheless noted for the humor and quality of writing of many of its obituaries.

On Wednesday, the 24th of February, 1988, the Daily Telegraph was printed with the wrong date: “Thursday 25 February” was printed by mistake. This caused complaints from confused readers, but also inspired the first front page cartoon by Matt Pritchett with the caption: "I hope I have a better Thursday than I did yesterday."

Notes

  1. October 28, 1908, Interview with Emperor Wilhelm II London Daily Telegraph. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
  2. 2004, Telegraph buy-out is 'done deal BBC News. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
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External links

All links retrieved April 30, 2023.

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