Editing The Independent (section)

==History==

===1980s===
{{More citations needed|section|date=January 2024}}
Launched in 1986, the first issue of ''The Independent'' was published on 7 October in [[broadsheet]] format.<ref name="Griffiths">Dennis Griffiths (ed.) ''The Encyclopedia of the British Press, 1422–1992'', London & Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1992, p. 330.</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Thurman |first1=Neil |last2=Fletcher |first2=Richard |date=14 September 2018 |title=Are Newspapers Heading Toward Post-Print Obscurity? |journal=Digital Journalism |volume=6 |issue=8 |pages=1003–1017 |doi=10.1080/21670811.2018.1504625 |s2cid=219539486 |issn=2167-0811 |doi-access=free}}</ref> It was produced by Newspaper Publishing plc and created by [[Andreas Whittam Smith]], [[Stephen Glover (columnist)|Stephen Glover]] and [[Matthew Symonds]]. All three partners were former journalists at ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' who had left the paper towards the end of [[Michael Berry, Baron Hartwell|Lord Hartwell]]'s ownership. [[Marcus Sieff]] was the first chairman of Newspaper Publishing, and Whittam Smith took control of the paper.<ref>{{cite news |last=Glover |first=Stephen |title=The Independent: Reflections on the last 20 years |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/the-independent-reflections-on-the-last-20-years-418944.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/the-independent-reflections-on-the-last-20-years-418944.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=3 December 2012 |newspaper=The Independent |date=6 October 2006}}</ref>

The paper was created at a time of a fundamental change in British newspaper publishing. [[Rupert Murdoch]] was challenging long-accepted practices of the print unions and ultimately defeated them in the [[Wapping dispute]]. Consequently, production costs could be reduced which created openings for more competition. As a result of controversy around Murdoch's move to Wapping, the plant was effectively having to function under siege from sacked print workers picketing outside. ''The Independent'' attracted some of the staff from the two Murdoch broadsheets who had chosen not to move to his company's new headquarters. Launched with the advertising slogan "It is. Are you?", and challenging both ''[[The Guardian]]'' for centre-left readers and ''[[The Times]]'' as the newspaper of record, ''The Independent'' reached a circulation of more than 400,000 by 1989. {{citation needed|date=October 2016}}

Competing in a moribund market, ''The Independent'' sparked a general freshening of newspaper design as well as, within a few years, a price war in the market sector.

===1990s===
When ''The Independent'' launched ''The Independent on Sunday'' in 1990, sales were less than anticipated, partly due to the launch of the ''[[Sunday Correspondent]]'' four months prior, although this direct rival closed at the end of November 1990. Some aspects of production merged with the main paper, although the Sunday paper retained a largely distinct editorial staff.

In the 1990s, ''The Independent'' was faced with price cutting by the Murdoch titles, and started an advertising campaign accusing ''The Times'' and ''The Daily Telegraph'' of reflecting the views of their proprietors, Rupert Murdoch and [[Conrad Black]]. It featured spoofs of the other papers' [[Masthead (British publishing)|mastheads]] with the words ''The Rupert Murdoch'' or ''The Conrad Black'', with ''The Independent'' below the main title.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

{{notatypo|Newspaper Publishing}} had financial problems. A number of other media companies were interested in the paper. [[Tony O'Reilly]]'s media group and [[Trinity Mirror|Mirror Group Newspapers]] (MGN) had bought a stake of about a third each by mid-1994. In March 1995, Newspaper Publishing was restructured with a rights issue, splitting the shareholding into O'Reilly's [[Independent News & Media]] (43%), [[Trinity Mirror|MGN]] (43%), and [[PRISA|Prisa]] (publisher of {{Lang|es|[[El País]]}}) (12%).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Justin |last2=Williams |first2=Andrew |last3=Franklin |first3=Bob |last4=Thomas |first4=James |last5=Mosdell |first5=Nick |url=http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/jomec/resources/QualityIndependenceofBritishJournalism.pdf |title=The Quality and Independence of British Journalism: Tracking the Changes Over 20 Years |publisher=Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, Cardiff University |location=Cardiff |page=61 |access-date=27 December 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065101/http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/jomec/resources/QualityIndependenceofBritishJournalism.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 1996, there was another refinancing, and in March 1998, O'Reilly bought the other shares of the company for £30&nbsp;million, and assumed the company's debt. Brendan Hopkins headed Independent News, [[Andrew Marr]] was appointed editor of ''The Independent'', and [[Rosie Boycott]] became editor of ''The Independent on Sunday''. Marr introduced a dramatic if short-lived redesign which won critical favor but was a commercial failure, partly as a result of a limited promotional budget. Marr admitted his changes had been a mistake in his book, ''My Trade''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/my-trade-a-short-history-of-british-journalism-by-andrew-marr-6161917.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804034821/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/my-trade-a-short-history-of-british-journalism-by-andrew-marr-6161917.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 August 2012 |location=London |work=The Independent |title=My Trade: A short history of British journalism by Andrew Marr|first=Ivan|last=Fallon |date=12 September 2004}}</ref>

Boycott left in April 1998 to join the ''[[Daily Express]]'', and Marr left in May 1998, later becoming the [[BBC]]'s political editor. [[Simon Kelner]] was appointed as the editor. By this time, the circulation had fallen below 200,000. Independent News spent heavily to increase circulation, and the paper went through several redesigns. While circulation increased, it did not approach the level which had been achieved in 1989, or restore profitability. Job cuts and financial controls reduced the morale of journalists and the quality of the product.<ref name="Mad eyes">{{cite news |last=Lelic |first=Sarah |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518124835/http://www.mad.co.uk/Logon/ArticleLogon.aspx?uiArticleID=ef7c2624-7002-45f7-96ed-21a040523aef&uiNavigationItemID=&uiPageID=8453a00f-9d1a-404a-beda-339905b6b8b4&PipelinedPage=%2FMain%2FNews%2FArticlex%2Fef7c2624700245f796ed21a040523aef%2FINM-eyes-emIndependentem-profit.html&PipelinedQueryString=uiArticleID%3Def7c2624-7002-45f7-96ed-21a040523aef%26uiNavigationItemID%3Dd8f9fd23-813a-47b2-9696-31d9ca23a265%26 |archive-date=18 May 2007 |url=http://www.mad.co.uk/Logon/ArticleLogon.aspx?uiArticleID=ef7c2624-7002-45f7-96ed-21a040523aef&uiNavigationItemID=&uiPageID=8453a00f-9d1a-404a-beda-339905b6b8b4&PipelinedPage=/Main/News/Articlex/ef7c2624700245f796ed21a040523aef/INM-eyes-emIndependentem-profit.html&PipelinedQueryString=uiArticleID%3def7c2624-7002-45f7-96ed-21a040523aef%26uiNavigationItemID%3dd8f9fd23-813a-47b2-9696-31d9ca23a265%26 |title=INM eyes Independent profit |url-access=subscription |publisher=mad.co.uk |date=19 September 2006 |access-date=28 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===2000s===
Ivan Fallon, on the board since 1995 and formerly a key figure at ''The Sunday Times'', replaced Hopkins as head of Independent News & Media in July 2002. By mid-2004, the newspaper was losing £5&nbsp;million per year. A gradual improvement meant that by 2006, circulation was at a nine-year high.<ref name="Mad eyes" />

In November 2008, following further staff cuts, production was moved to Northcliffe House, in Kensington High Street, the headquarters of [[Associated Newspapers Ltd|Associated Newspapers]].<ref name="Northcliffe move">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/nov/28/independent-titles-associated-newspapers-northcliffe-house |title=Independent titles to relocate to Associated Newspapers HQ |work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=28 November 2008 |first=Mark |last=Sweney |date=28 November 2008 |archive-date=23 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223213125/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/nov/28/independent-titles-associated-newspapers-northcliffe-house |url-status=live }}</ref> The two newspaper groups' editorial, management and commercial operations remained separate, but they shared services including security, information technology, switchboard and payroll.{{Citation needed|date=December 2017}}

===2010s===
On 25 March 2010, Independent News & Media sold the newspaper to a new company owned by the family of [[Russian oligarchs|Russian oligarch]] [[Alexander Lebedev]] for a nominal £1 fee and £9.25 million over the next 10 months, choosing this option over closing ''The Independent'' and ''The Independent on Sunday'', which would have cost £28 million and £40 million respectively, due to long-term contracts. Alexander's son Evgeny became chairman of the new company, with Alexander becoming a board director.<ref name="i2010-03-25">{{cite news |date=25 March 2010 |title=Independent titles sold to Lebedev family company |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/independent-titles-sold-to-lebedev-family-company-1927436.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/independent-titles-sold-to-lebedev-family-company-1927436.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |access-date=25 March 2010 |work=The Independent |location=London}}</ref><ref name=bintliff>{{cite news |last1=Bintliff |first1=Esther |title=Lebedev scoops up The Independent for £1 |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f4081652-373c-11df-b542-00144feabdc0.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f4081652-373c-11df-b542-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=20 September 2011 |newspaper=Financial Times |date=25 March 2010 |first2=Ben |last2=Fenton |location=London}}</ref> In 2009, Lebedev had bought a controlling stake in the ''[[Evening Standard|London Evening Standard]]''. Two weeks later, editor [[Roger Alton]] resigned.<ref>Ponsford, Dominic (9 April 2010) [http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/roger-alton-steps-down-as-independent-editor/ "Roger Alton steps down as Independent editor"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924224758/https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/roger-alton-steps-down-as-independent-editor/ |date=24 September 2018 }}, ''[[Press Gazette]]'' (London).</ref>

In July 2011, ''The Independent''{{'}}s columnist [[Johann Hari]] was stripped of the [[Orwell Prize]] he had won in 2008 after claims, to which Hari later admitted,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hari |first1=Johann |title=A personal apology |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-a-personal-apology-2354679.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-a-personal-apology-2354679.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Independent |date=15 September 2011}}</ref> of plagiarism and inaccuracy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Johann Hari: George Orwell prize 'stripping' announcement delays amid plagiarism row|first=Andrew|last=Hough|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/8660473/Johann-Hari-George-Orwell-prize-stripping-announcement-delays-amid-plagiarism-row.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/8660473/Johann-Hari-George-Orwell-prize-stripping-announcement-delays-amid-plagiarism-row.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Telegraph |language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In January 2012, [[Chris Blackhurst]], editor of ''The Independent'', told the [[Leveson inquiry]] that the scandal had "severely damaged" the newspaper's reputation. He nevertheless told the inquiry that Hari would return as a columnist in "four to five weeks".<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Carroll |first1=Lisa |title=Independent editor: Johann Hari scandal 'severely damaged' paper |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/jan/10/independent-editor-johann-hari-scandal |work=The Guardian |date=10 January 2012 |access-date=28 January 2017 |archive-date=23 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223212832/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/jan/10/independent-editor-johann-hari-scandal |url-status=live }}</ref> Hari later announced that he would not return to ''The Independent''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Journalist Johann Hari rejects Independent return |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-16663180 |work=BBC News |date=21 January 2012 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-date=3 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703074848/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-16663180 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Jonathan Foreman (journalist)|Jonathan Foreman]] contrasted ''The Independent''{{'}}s reaction to the scandal unfavorably with the reaction of American newspapers to similar incidents such as the [[Jayson Blair]] case, which led to resignations of editors, "deep soul-searching", and "new standards of exactitude being imposed".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Foreman |first1=Jonathan |title=Dirty Hari – Commentary Magazine |url=https://www.commentarymagazine.com/articles/dirty-hari/ |work=Commentary Magazine |access-date=28 January 2017 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202061752/https://www.commentarymagazine.com/articles/dirty-hari/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The historian [[Guy Walters]] suggested that Hari's fabrications had been an open secret among the newspaper's staff and that their internal inquiry was a "facesaving exercise".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walters |first1=Guy |title=An Open Letter to Andreas Whittam Smith |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/guy-walters/2011/07/johann-hari-independent-prize |work=www.newstatesman.com |language=en|date=26 July 2011 |access-date=28 January 2017 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202034942/http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/guy-walters/2011/07/johann-hari-independent-prize |url-status=live }}</ref>

''The Independent'' and ''The Independent on Sunday'' endorsed "Remain" in the [[Brexit referendum]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/the-right-choice-is-to-remain-a7090326.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/the-right-choice-is-to-remain-a7090326.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=The right choice is to remain |date=23 June 2016 |website=The Independent |language=en |access-date=22 February 2019}}</ref> of 2016.

In March 2016, ''The Independent'' closed its print edition to become a [[pure play]] digital media company. The last printed edition was published on Saturday 26 March 2016. ''The Independent on Sunday'' published its last edition on 20 March 2016 and was closed.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="BBC News">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35561145 |title=Independent to cease as print edition |date=12 February 2016 |work=BBC News |access-date=22 February 2019 |language=en-GB |archive-date=29 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029183143/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35561145 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2017, [[Sultan Muhammad Abuljadayel]] bought a 30% stake in ''The Independent''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Woodcock |first=Andrew |date=16 September 2019 |title=Sale of stake in Independent to Saudi investor, Sultan Muhammad Abuljadayel, has 'no influence' on editorial coverage, watchdog rules |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/saudi-arabia-ofcom-independent-ownership-a9107881.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/saudi-arabia-ofcom-independent-ownership-a9107881.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |work=The Independent}}</ref>

=== 2020s ===
Geordie Greig was appointed ''The Independent''{{'}}s Editor-in-Chief in January 2023. He oversaw a period of editorial investment.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Waterson |first=Jim |last2= |first2= |date=2023-01-04 |title=Geordie Greig appointed editor of the Independent |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/jan/04/geordie-greig-appointed-editor-of-the-independent |access-date=2024-11-09 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

Later that year, Chief Executive of IDNML Zach Leonard moved to the United States as Global COO and President (North America),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ashley |date=2023-09-06 |title=The Independent is the fastest growing UK news brand in the US |url=https://www.independentadvertising.com/the-independent-is-the-fastest-growing-uk-news-brand-in-the-us/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Independent Advertising |language=en-GB}}</ref> and former Editor Christian Broughton was appointed Chief Executive. Louise Thomas was appointed US Editor in March 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boulton |first=Lewis |date=2023-12-20 |title=The Independent appoints Louise Thomas as US Editor |url=https://newsworks.org.uk/news-and-opinion/the-independent-appoints-louise-thomas-as-us-editor/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Newsworks |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==== Foreign language editions ====
In 2019, ''The Independent'' entered a long-term partnership with the Saudi Research & Media Group, who operate under license the ''Independent Arabia'', ''Independent Turkish'', ''Independent Persian'' and ''Independent Urdu'' language editions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Waterson |first=Jim |date=2018-07-19 |title=Independent joins Saudi group to launch Middle East websites |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jul/19/independent-joins-saudi-group-to-launch-middle-east-websites |access-date=2024-11-06 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Independent around the world |url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/journalism-license-srmg-middle-east-news-world-global-a9579111.html |date=20 July 2020 |website=The Independent }}</ref> In September 2020, ''The Independent'' launched ''Independent en Español'', a wholly owned and operated Spanish language edition.