Robert Donald
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Donald was a British
newspaper editor.
Working as a clerk, Donald submitted free articles to a local journal, then gained employment at the Edinburgh Evening News
. He also worked on The Courant and the Northampton Echo before becoming a freelancer. In 1888, he joined The Star
, a new London evening newspaper. He specialised in investigations into local government in London, then briefly ran a journal, London, funded by the Progressive Party
. With more success, he launched and edited the Municipal Journal and the Municipal Year Book
In 1895, Robert Lloyd (son of Edward Lloyd
) appointed Donald as news editor of the Daily Chronicle
. He left in 1899 to become publicity manager for Gordon Hotels, but returned to the Chronicle as editor in 1904, also becoming editor of Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper
in 1906. He subsequently became Managing Director of United Newspapers and President of the Institute of Journalists.
Donald long had a friendly relationship with the Prime Minister, David Lloyd George
, and in 1917, Lloyd George commissioned him to produce a report on government propaganda efforts, which Donald prepared in just four weeks. He was then appointed to John Buchan's four person Advisory Committee on the Department of Information, and in December he prepared a further report, calling for greater centralisation of the propaganda effort and a larger role for the Advisory Committee. Donald often questioned Lloyd George's decisions and, in 1918, the two fell out. A consortium centred on Lloyd George bought the Chronicle and Lloyd's, leading Donald to resign, complaining that Lloyd George was trying to "corner public opinion"
Donald bought The Globe in 1919, but sold it in 1921. The following year, he became editor of The People
and The Referee
, serving for two years. From 1915 to 1926, Donald chaired the Empire Press Union
. In 1931, he joined National Labour and edited its party newspaper: initially the News-Letter, and later Everyman.
Following the 1922 General Election
, Donald was appointed by the Conservative
government to chair the Empire Wireless Committee, to urgently 'consider and advise upon the policy to be adopted as regards an Imperial wireless service
', a long delayed project promoted heavily by the Empire Press Union.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
newspaper editor.
Working as a clerk, Donald submitted free articles to a local journal, then gained employment at the Edinburgh Evening News
Edinburgh Evening News
The Edinburgh Evening News is a local newspaper based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is published daily . It has a circulation of 68,000 and is owned by Johnston Press, which also owns The Scotsman and many regional titles throughout the UK.Much of the copy contained in the Evening News concerns local...
. He also worked on The Courant and the Northampton Echo before becoming a freelancer. In 1888, he joined The Star
The Star (London)
The Star was a London evening newspaper founded in 1788.The first edition was printed on 3 May 1788 under the editorship of Peter Stuart. Founding sponsors of the new paper included publisher John Murray and William Lane of the Minerva Press...
, a new London evening newspaper. He specialised in investigations into local government in London, then briefly ran a journal, London, funded by the Progressive Party
Progressive Party (London)
The Progressive Party was a political party based around the Liberal Party that contested municipal elections in the County of London.It was founded in 1888 by a group of Liberals and leaders of the labour movement. It was also supported by the Fabian Society, and Sidney Webb was one of its...
. With more success, he launched and edited the Municipal Journal and the Municipal Year Book
In 1895, Robert Lloyd (son of Edward Lloyd
Edward Lloyd (publisher)
Edward Lloyd was a British publisher.Born in Thornton Heath, Lloyd studied shorthand at the London Mechanics' Institution, then wrote a book on stenography. Before he was eighteen, he had opened shops in London to sell cheap books and valentines.From 1835, he began publishing cheap books, many...
) appointed Donald as news editor of the Daily Chronicle
Daily Chronicle
The Daily Chronicle was a British newspaper that was published from 1872 to 1930 when it merged with the Daily News to become the News Chronicle.-History:...
. He left in 1899 to become publicity manager for Gordon Hotels, but returned to the Chronicle as editor in 1904, also becoming editor of Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper
Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper
-Founding:The paper was launched by Edward Lloyd in 1842 as Lloyd's Illustrated London Newspaper, following the success of his Lloyd's Penny Weekly Miscellany. The new paper was intended as a rival for the Illustrated London News...
in 1906. He subsequently became Managing Director of United Newspapers and President of the Institute of Journalists.
Donald long had a friendly relationship with the Prime Minister, David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
, and in 1917, Lloyd George commissioned him to produce a report on government propaganda efforts, which Donald prepared in just four weeks. He was then appointed to John Buchan's four person Advisory Committee on the Department of Information, and in December he prepared a further report, calling for greater centralisation of the propaganda effort and a larger role for the Advisory Committee. Donald often questioned Lloyd George's decisions and, in 1918, the two fell out. A consortium centred on Lloyd George bought the Chronicle and Lloyd's, leading Donald to resign, complaining that Lloyd George was trying to "corner public opinion"
Donald bought The Globe in 1919, but sold it in 1921. The following year, he became editor of The People
The People
The People, previously known as the Sunday People, is a British tabloid Sunday-only newspaper. The paper was founded on 16 October 1881.It is published by the Trinity Mirror Group.In July 2011 it had an average daily circulation of 806,544....
and The Referee
Sunday Referee
The Sunday Referee was a Sunday newspaper in the United Kingdom.The paper was founded in 1877 as The Referee, primarily covering sports news...
, serving for two years. From 1915 to 1926, Donald chaired the Empire Press Union
Commonwealth Press Union
-Commonwealth Press Union :The Commonwealth Press Union was an association composed of 750 members in 49 countries, including newspaper groups , individual newspapers, and news agencies throughout the Commonwealth of Nations...
. In 1931, he joined National Labour and edited its party newspaper: initially the News-Letter, and later Everyman.
Following the 1922 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
, Donald was appointed by the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
government to chair the Empire Wireless Committee, to urgently 'consider and advise upon the policy to be adopted as regards an Imperial wireless service
Imperial Wireless Chain
The Imperial Wireless Chain, also known as the Empire Wireless Chain, was a strategic international wireless telegraphy communications network, created to link the countries of the British Empire. Although the idea was conceived prior to World War I, Britain was the last of the world's Great Powers...
', a long delayed project promoted heavily by the Empire Press Union.