Editing Thomas Barnes (journalist) (section)

==Career in journalism==
With his legal career characterised by drudgery, Barnes sought an outlet for his talents. He found this through his friendship with [[Barron Field]], who was the theatre critic for ''[[The Times]]''.  Through Field, Barnes met [[John Walter (second)|John Walter]], who soon employed Barnes as a journalist reporting on law cases, politics and the theatre. Upon Field's retirement Barnes succeeded him as theatre critic, and in 1811 he became a member of the parliamentary staff. As part of his duties he penned a number of parliamentary sketches, which were later collected and published in a book, ''Parliamentary Portraits'', in 1815. During this period, he also wrote for Leigh Hunt's publications the ''[[The Examiner (1808–86)|Examiner]]'' and the ''Reflector''.<ref>Phillips, op cit.</ref>

===Editor of ''The Times''===
Walter's trust in Barnes was soon demonstrated when in 1815 Walter empowered him revise the controversial [[editorial|leading articles]] written by the intemperate [[John Stoddart]], then the editor of the paper. Upon Stoddart's dismissal at the end of 1816 Barnes was named as his successor as editor, assuming a position which he held until his death. As editor, Barnes came to enjoy a greater degree of control over the paper than his predecessors, and received a share of ownership in the paper. He used it to reshape the paper, analysing events rather than merely summarising them, and making the leading article a central component of the paper.<ref>''History of The Times'', op cit, pgs. 159, 175, 391.</ref> With the [[Peterloo Massacre]] in August 1819 he inaugurated a policy of support for the [[Whig (British political party)|Whig]] opposition in Parliament that contrasted with his predecessor's staunchly pro-[[Tory (British political party)|Tory]] stance. He became a close friend of [[Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux|Henry Brougham]], who was an important source of information for Barnes's leading articles.<ref>Phillips, ''History of The Times'', p. 256.</ref>

During Barnes's editorship, the influence and the scope of ''The Times'' grew, and with it its prominence in public affairs. Moved by what he saw during a trip to Ireland, Barnes became a passionate supporter of [[Catholic Emancipation]]. By the early 1830s his paper had earned the nickname "The Thunderer", with [[Robert Peel]] declaring it to be "a powerful advocate of Reform"<ref>[https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1832/mar/22/parliamentary-reform-bill-for-england ''Hansard'' 22 March 1832]</ref> and his colleague [[John Copley, 1st Baron Lyndhurst|Lord Lyndhurst]] describing Barnes as "the most powerful man in the country."<ref>Roy Jenkins, ''Portraits and Miniatures'' p. 176</ref> It was during this period that Barnes shifted politically, opposing the [[Poor Law Amendment Act 1834]] and falling out with Brougham.

Barnes feuded with [[Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston|Lord Palmerston]], who manipulated public opinion to enhance his control of foreign affairs. Palmerston leaked secrets to the press, published selected documents, and released letters to give himself more control and more publicity, all the while stirring up British nationalism. Barnes refused to play along with his propaganda ploys.<ref>Laurence Fenton, "Origins of Animosity: Lord Palmerston and The Times, 1830–41." ''Media History'' 16.4 (2010): 365–378; Fenton, ''Palmerston and The Times: foreign policy, the press and public opinion in mid-Victorian Britain'' (2013).</ref>