Robin Esser
Encyclopedia
Robin Charles Esser is a British
newspaper executive and former editor.
After undertaking National Service
and studying at Wadham College, Oxford University where he edited the Cherwell newspaper, Esser began his career as a reporter with the Daily Express
and Daily Sketch
in 1957. He edited the Express' "Hickey" column, and gave both Nigel Dempster
and Paul Dacre
their first jobs on a national newspaper. By 1969, he was the newspaper's New York
editor, and was the first British journalist to interview the Apollo 11
astronauts. He later became consultant editor of the London Evening News
, before in 1985 returning to the Daily Express. In 1986, he became editor of the Sunday Express, serving until 1989. A great supporter and friend of Margaret Thatcher
, Esser was due to receive a Knighthood in 1990 but declined the Honour in November following the Conservative leadership challenge stating that he wanted no part in what he saw as a betrayal by her own party.
Esser moved to the Daily Mail
in 1991, where he introduced an arts and entertainment supplement, published on Fridays. He subsequently became the paper's Executive Managing Editor, with special responsibility for its website. He is an active member of the Society of Editors and the Commonwealth Press Union for which he currently chairs the Parliamentary & Legal Committee.
He has written two books, The Hot Potato (1969) and The Paperchase (1971).
He is married and has six children
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
newspaper executive and former editor.
After undertaking National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
and studying at Wadham College, Oxford University where he edited the Cherwell newspaper, Esser began his career as a reporter with the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
and Daily Sketch
Daily Sketch
The Daily Sketch was a British national tabloid newspaper, founded in Manchester in 1909 by Sir Edward Hulton.It was bought in 1920 by Lord Rothermere's Daily Mirror Newspapers but in 1925 Rothermere offloaded it to William and Gomer Berry The Daily Sketch was a British national tabloid newspaper,...
in 1957. He edited the Express' "Hickey" column, and gave both Nigel Dempster
Nigel Dempster
Nigel Richard Patton Dempster was a British journalist, author, broadcaster and diarist. Best known for his celebrity gossip columns in newspapers, his work appeared in the Daily Express and Daily Mail and also in Private Eye magazine...
and Paul Dacre
Paul Dacre
Paul Michael Dacre is a British journalist and current editor of the British newspaper the Daily Mail. He is also editor in chief of the Mail group titles, which also includes The Mail on Sunday. He is also a director of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc and was a member of the Press Complaints...
their first jobs on a national newspaper. By 1969, he was the newspaper's New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
editor, and was the first British journalist to interview the Apollo 11
Apollo 11
In early 1969, Bill Anders accepted a job with the National Space Council effective in August 1969 and announced his retirement as an astronaut. At that point Ken Mattingly was moved from the support crew into parallel training with Anders as backup Command Module Pilot in case Apollo 11 was...
astronauts. He later became consultant editor of the London Evening News
London Evening News
The London Evening News was a newspaper that was first published on 14 August 1855.Usually when people mention the London Evening News they are actually referring to The Evening News, that was published in London from 1881 to 1980 when it was incorporated into the Evening Standard.A newspaper under...
, before in 1985 returning to the Daily Express. In 1986, he became editor of the Sunday Express, serving until 1989. A great supporter and friend of Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
, Esser was due to receive a Knighthood in 1990 but declined the Honour in November following the Conservative leadership challenge stating that he wanted no part in what he saw as a betrayal by her own party.
Esser moved to the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
in 1991, where he introduced an arts and entertainment supplement, published on Fridays. He subsequently became the paper's Executive Managing Editor, with special responsibility for its website. He is an active member of the Society of Editors and the Commonwealth Press Union for which he currently chairs the Parliamentary & Legal Committee.
He has written two books, The Hot Potato (1969) and The Paperchase (1971).
He is married and has six children
- Sarah Jane Winifred
- Daniel Charles Frederick
- Toby Crispin David
- Rebecca Elizabeth Jane
- Jacob Henry David
- Samuel Charles Bradley