Veronica Wadley
Encyclopedia
Veronica Judith Colleton Wadley (born 28 February 1952) is a British
journalist, and former editor of London's Evening Standard
from February 2002 to February 2009, during which it was owned by Associated Newspapers
. She was the first female editor of the title. After Alexander Lebedev
acquired the Standard in 2009, he replaced her with former Tatler
editor Geordie Greig
.
Wadley was born in Chelsea and educated at the independent Francis Holland School
in central London and at Benenden School
in Kent. She has worked at Vogue
, The Daily Telegraph
and the two Mail
titles.
During her time at the Standard, the newspaper was particularly critical of the then London Mayor, Ken Livingstone
. This came to a head in the run-up to the 2008 London mayoral election
, in which Wadley's newspaper aggressively attacked Livingstone each day. According to articles in The Guardian
and Time Out London, she was strongly influenced by the need to renew Associated Newspaper's multi-million pound contract to deliver the Metro
free paper in London Underground
stations in 2010, a decision within the gift of the Mayor. A few months after Wadley left the Standard, the publication launched its "Sorry" promotion. "London is laughing at this ludicrous campaign", she claimed.The Guardian reported "The market research evidently discovered that Londoners considered the Standard to be too negative, not celebratory enough and guilty of failing to cater for the capital's needs. A great city with great facilities was being persistently talked down."
On 7 October 2009, it emerged Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw
had rejected London Mayor Boris Johnson
's choice of Wadley as head of the London Arts Council. Bradshaw had been advised that the appointment broke rules established by the Committee on Standards in Public Life
. The Daily Telegraph
reported on the 23rd that Johnson anticipated the rerun of the selection process would still result in Wadley gaining the post. Wadley applied again. In June 2010 she was appointed to the £6,400 30 day (maximum) a year job.
Veronica Wadley has been married to the investigative journalist Tom Bower
since 1985 and has two children, a boy and a girl, plus two stepsons from her husband's first marriage.
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...
journalist, and former editor of London's Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
from February 2002 to February 2009, during which it was owned by Associated Newspapers
Associated Newspapers
Associated Newspapers is a large national newspaper publisher in the UK, which is a subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust. The group was established in 1905 and is currently based at Northcliffe House in Kensington...
. She was the first female editor of the title. After Alexander Lebedev
Alexander Lebedev
Alexander Yevgenievich Lebedev is a Russian businessman, referred to as one of the Russian oligarchs.In May 2008, he was listed by Forbes magazine as one of the richest Russians and as the 358th richest person in the world with an estimated fortune of $3.1 billion...
acquired the Standard in 2009, he replaced her with former Tatler
Tatler
Tatler has been the name of several British journals and magazines, each of which has viewed itself as the successor of the original literary and society journal founded by Richard Steele in 1709. The current incarnation, founded in 1901, is a glossy magazine published by Condé Nast Publications...
editor Geordie Greig
Geordie Greig
Geordie Greig is a British journalist and newspaper editor. He is the editor of the Evening Standard newspaper. He attended Eton College and St Peter's College, Oxford.-Journalism career:...
.
Wadley was born in Chelsea and educated at the independent Francis Holland School
Francis Holland School
Francis Holland School is the name of two independent day schools for girls in central London governed by the Francis Holland Schools Trust...
in central London and at Benenden School
Benenden School
Benenden School is an independent boarding school for girls in Kent, England. It is located in Benenden in the Kentish countryside, between Cranbrook and Tenterden....
in Kent. She has worked at Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
, The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
and the two 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...
titles.
During her time at the Standard, the newspaper was particularly critical of the then London Mayor, Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
. This came to a head in the run-up to the 2008 London mayoral election
London mayoral election, 2008
The London mayoral election, 2008 for the office of Mayor of London was held on 1 May 2008 and was won by Conservative Party candidate Boris Johnson....
, in which Wadley's newspaper aggressively attacked Livingstone each day. According to articles in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and Time Out London, she was strongly influenced by the need to renew Associated Newspaper's multi-million pound contract to deliver the Metro
Metro (Associated Metro Limited)
Metro is a free daily newspaper in the United Kingdom published by Associated Newspapers Ltd . It is available from Monday to Friday each week on many public transport services across the United Kingdom.-History:The paper was launched in London in 1999, and can now be found in 14 UK urban centres...
free paper in London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
stations in 2010, a decision within the gift of the Mayor. A few months after Wadley left the Standard, the publication launched its "Sorry" promotion. "London is laughing at this ludicrous campaign", she claimed.The Guardian reported "The market research evidently discovered that Londoners considered the Standard to be too negative, not celebratory enough and guilty of failing to cater for the capital's needs. A great city with great facilities was being persistently talked down."
On 7 October 2009, it emerged Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw
Ben Bradshaw
Benjamin Peter James Bradshaw is a British Labour politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Exeter since 1997, and served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport....
had rejected London Mayor Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
's choice of Wadley as head of the London Arts Council. Bradshaw had been advised that the appointment broke rules established by the Committee on Standards in Public Life
Committee on Standards in Public Life
The Committee on Standards in Public Life is an advisory non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom Government.The Committee on Standards in Public Life is constituted as a standing body with its members appointed for up to three years.-History:...
. The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
reported on the 23rd that Johnson anticipated the rerun of the selection process would still result in Wadley gaining the post. Wadley applied again. In June 2010 she was appointed to the £6,400 30 day (maximum) a year job.
Veronica Wadley has been married to the investigative journalist Tom Bower
Tom Bower
Tom Bower is a British writer, noted for his revelatory investigative work such as his unauthorized biographies.A former Panorama reporter, his books include unauthorised biographies of Tiny Rowland, Robert Maxwell, Mohamed Al-Fayed, Geoffrey Robinson, Gordon Brown and Richard Branson...
since 1985 and has two children, a boy and a girl, plus two stepsons from her husband's first marriage.
External links
- "The Standard Bearer", interview in The Guardian, June 7, 2004