Nicky Cox
Encyclopedia
Nicky Cox MBE is a British journalist. As of 2011 she is editor of First News
, a British national newspaper for children.
Group, part of Portsmouth and Sunderland Newspapers. Eighteen months later she won the Jesse Ward Young Journalist of the Year Award. She went on to work as a sub-editor on The Sunday Mirror
and Sunday Times. She took up the post of launch editor of Early Times, a newspaper for children in the 1980s, which had limited private financial backing. Cox once took four child reporters to 10 Downing Street to interview Margaret Thatcher
.
(then called BBC Enterprises) with a brief to launch a junior version of Radio Times
. The first magazine she launched for the BBC in 1989 was Fast Forward
. She went on to work for 13 years as editorial director of the children's division at the BBC launching some 50 children's magazines in total, ranging in age from Teletubbies through to Top of the Pops. She was also editorial director of BBC children's books, DVD and audio in the UK. She sat on the BBC brand development board, working on programmes such as Tweenies
. While at the BBC she became executive producer of two charity concerts at Wembley Stadium
in aid of ChildLine
, which featured Boyzone
, Dannii Minogue
and Take That
.
newspaper's Bizarre page at the time.
Before the launch of First News
, Cox worked as editorial director at Tree Top Media for four years launching magazines including Tinkerbell and Ant and Dec's pre-school animation, Engie Benjy
, as well as ITV's Pop Idol
. During this period she became a BAFTA judge for children's television programmes.
The newspaper was launched by Cox and Morgan and Cox's cousins, Steve and Sarah Thomson, in May 2006. The official launch was held at a party hosted by Prime Minister Gordon Brown
at Downing Street. He said: "Children should be spoken to and listened to more." It is now the widest-read publication for children in the UK with more than a million readers a week (Source: You Gov). The newspaper won an award from Save The Children
for "Outstanding Contribution To Children". Nicky collected the award from HRH Princess Anne.
was signed-up to by 230,000 children across the country. The campaign was to raise awareness of the issues facing children caught up in wars around the world, particularly child soldiers. Nicky brought a choir of orphans from Uganda to perform at 10 Downing Street for Prime Minister Gordon Brown
and his wife{. Shortly after their return to Uganda, one of the children died from AIDS{
Cox has frequently toured UK schools on the First News Reading Tour with dyslexic author and former actor Henry Winkler
, who writes the Hank Zipzer
children's novels
In June 2009 she was awarded an MBE
in the Queen's birthday honours list, for services to children. Testimonials for the MBE came from Esther Rantzen
, Managing Director at BBC Magazines
Peter Phippen, and Save The Children's Chief Executive, Jasmine Whitbread
First News (newspaper)
First News is a weekly newspaper aimed at 7-14 year olds. It is in tabloid format, and aims to present current events in a child-friendly format, alongside news on entertainment, sport and computer games...
, a British national newspaper for children.
Early career
Nicky Smith (her name before she married) began her career in regional newspapers, as a trainee reporter with the Croydon AdvertiserCroydon Advertiser
The Croydon Advertiser is a weekly newspaper covering the London Borough of Croydon, South London, and surrounding areas. It is the third-highest selling paid-for weekly paper in London...
Group, part of Portsmouth and Sunderland Newspapers. Eighteen months later she won the Jesse Ward Young Journalist of the Year Award. She went on to work as a sub-editor on The Sunday Mirror
Sunday Mirror
The Sunday Mirror is the Sunday sister paper of the Daily Mirror. It began life in 1915 as the Sunday Pictorial and was renamed the Sunday Mirror in 1963. Trinity Mirror also owns The People...
and Sunday Times. She took up the post of launch editor of Early Times, a newspaper for children in the 1980s, which had limited private financial backing. Cox once took four child reporters to 10 Downing Street to interview Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
.
BBC
Shortly afterwards she joined BBC WorldwideBBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide Limited is the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in 1995. In the year to 31 March 2010 it made a profit of £145m on a turnover of £1.074bn. The company had made a profit of £106m...
(then called BBC Enterprises) with a brief to launch a junior version of Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
. The first magazine she launched for the BBC in 1989 was Fast Forward
Fast Forward
Fast Forward was Australia’s highest rating, longest running and most critically awarded commercial television sketch comedy , broadcast for 90 one hour episodes from 12 April 1989 to 26 November 1992....
. She went on to work for 13 years as editorial director of the children's division at the BBC launching some 50 children's magazines in total, ranging in age from Teletubbies through to Top of the Pops. She was also editorial director of BBC children's books, DVD and audio in the UK. She sat on the BBC brand development board, working on programmes such as Tweenies
Tweenies
Tweenies was a television programme aimed at young children, broadcast on the BBC's Cbeebies channel.-Overview:The programme was created by Iain Lauchlan and Will Brenton, a pair with a track record of being involved in BBC children's programming...
. While at the BBC she became executive producer of two charity concerts at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
in aid of ChildLine
ChildLine
ChildLine is a free 24 hour counselling service for children and young people up to 18 in the UK provided by the NSPCC. ChildLine deals with any issue which causes distress or concern, common issues dealt with include child abuse, bullying, parental separation or divorce, pregnancy and substance...
, which featured Boyzone
Boyzone
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...
, Dannii Minogue
Dannii Minogue
Danielle Jane "Dannii" Minogue is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress, television personality, radio personality, fashion designer and model...
and Take That
Take That
Take That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
.
First News
While working at the BBC, Cox first met Piers Morgan who was editing The SunThe Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
newspaper's Bizarre page at the time.
Before the launch of First News
First News (newspaper)
First News is a weekly newspaper aimed at 7-14 year olds. It is in tabloid format, and aims to present current events in a child-friendly format, alongside news on entertainment, sport and computer games...
, Cox worked as editorial director at Tree Top Media for four years launching magazines including Tinkerbell and Ant and Dec's pre-school animation, Engie Benjy
Engie Benjy
Engie Benjy was a pre-school children's television show, broadcast on ITV's children's strand, CITV. Engie Benjy is a blue haired boy, a mechanic who helps fix problems with his friends' vehicles. His dog is Jollop. Other characters include Pilot Pete and Astronaut Al...
, as well as ITV's Pop Idol
Pop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
. During this period she became a BAFTA judge for children's television programmes.
The newspaper was launched by Cox and Morgan and Cox's cousins, Steve and Sarah Thomson, in May 2006. The official launch was held at a party hosted by Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
at Downing Street. He said: "Children should be spoken to and listened to more." It is now the widest-read publication for children in the UK with more than a million readers a week (Source: You Gov). The newspaper won an award from Save The Children
Save the Children
Save the Children is an internationally active non-governmental organization that enforces children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries...
for "Outstanding Contribution To Children". Nicky collected the award from HRH Princess Anne.
Campaign work
Cox's Conflict Children campaign, supported by Save The Children and the Government's Department for International DevelopmentDepartment for International Development
The Department For International Development is a United Kingdom government department with a Cabinet Minister in charge. It was separated from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1997. The goal of the department is "to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty". The current...
was signed-up to by 230,000 children across the country. The campaign was to raise awareness of the issues facing children caught up in wars around the world, particularly child soldiers. Nicky brought a choir of orphans from Uganda to perform at 10 Downing Street for Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
and his wife{. Shortly after their return to Uganda, one of the children died from AIDS{
Cox has frequently toured UK schools on the First News Reading Tour with dyslexic author and former actor Henry Winkler
Henry Winkler
Henry Franklin Winkler, OBE is an American actor, director, producer, and author.Winkler is best known for his role as Fonzie on the 1970s American sitcom Happy Days...
, who writes the Hank Zipzer
Hank Zipzer
Hank Zipzer: The World's Greatest Underachiever is a series of children's books by actor Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver, published by Grosset & Dunlap.-Overview:Hank Zipzer is a young boy growing up on the Upper West Side...
children's novels
In June 2009 she was awarded an MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
in the Queen's birthday honours list, for services to children. Testimonials for the MBE came from Esther Rantzen
Esther Rantzen
Esther Louise Rantzen CBE is an English journalist and television presenter who is best known for presenting the BBC television series That's Life!, and for her work in various charitable causes. She is founder of the child protection charity ChildLine, and also advocates the work of the Burma...
, Managing Director at BBC Magazines
BBC Magazines
BBC Magazines is the magazine publishing division of BBC Worldwide, the commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation.A list of the published magazines and the age groups they are targeted towards follows:-Adult:*BBC History*BBC Music...
Peter Phippen, and Save The Children's Chief Executive, Jasmine Whitbread