Bert Gunn
Encyclopedia
Herbert Smith "Bert" Gunn (3 April 1903–2 March 1962) was a British
newspaper editor.
Born in Gravesend
, Gunn worked as a reporter for the Kent Messenger
, and then the Straits Times in Singapore
. He returned to the UK to work at the Manchester Evening News
, then the London Evening News
and the Evening Standard
. He also married, and had two sons: Thom Gunn
, later a poet, and Ander Gunn, later a photographer.
In 1936, Gunn became the first northern editor of the Daily Express
, then in 1943 became managing editor. He wrote the headline "It's That Man Again
", referring to Hitler, later to become the title of a popular radio show.
Gunn became editor of the Evening Standard in 1944, but owner Lord Beaverbrook
disagreed with his plans to adopt a more populist approach, and Gunn left in 1952. Gunn also revealed that Labour Party
MP Garry Allighan
was leaking stories to the newspaper, following which Allighan resigned.
In 1953, Gunn joined the Daily Sketch
as its editor, and doubled its circulation in six years. In 1958–1959, he was the President of the Institute of Journalists. He moved to edit the Sunday Dispatch
in 1959, but this was merged with the Sunday Express in 1961 and Gunn resigned from Associated Newspapers
in 1962.
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 editor.
Born in Gravesend
Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...
, Gunn worked as a reporter for the Kent Messenger
Kent Messenger
This article is about the weekly paper for the Maidstone region. For the Kent Messenger Group, see KM Group.The Kent Messenger is a weekly newspaper serving the mid-Kent area. It is published in three editions - Maidstone, Malling, and the Weald...
, and then the Straits Times in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. He returned to the UK to work at the Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
The Manchester Evening News is a regional daily newspaper covering Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. It is published every day except Sunday and is owned by Trinity Mirror plc following its sale by Guardian Media Group in early 2010. It has an average daily circulation of 90,973 copies...
, then the London Evening News
Evening News (London)
Evening News, formerly known as The Evening News, was an evening newspaper published in London from 1881 to 1980, reappearing briefly in 1987. It became highly popular under the control of the Harmsworth brothers. For a long time it maintained the largest daily sale of any evening newspaper in London...
and the 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...
. He also married, and had two sons: Thom Gunn
Thom Gunn
Thom Gunn, born Thomson William Gunn , was an Anglo-American poet who was praised both for his early verses in England, where he was associated with The Movement and his later poetry in America, even after moving toward a looser, free-verse style...
, later a poet, and Ander Gunn, later a photographer.
In 1936, Gunn became the first northern editor of 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...
, then in 1943 became managing editor. He wrote the headline "It's That Man Again
It's That Man Again
It's That Man Again was a BBC radio comedy programme which ran from 1939 to 1949. The title was a contemporary phrase referring to ever more frequent news-stories about Hitler in the lead-up to World War II, and specifically a headline in the Daily Express written by Bert Gunn...
", referring to Hitler, later to become the title of a popular radio show.
Gunn became editor of the Evening Standard in 1944, but owner Lord Beaverbrook
Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook
William Maxwell "Max" Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook, Bt, PC, was a Canadian-British business tycoon, politician, and writer.-Early career in Canada:...
disagreed with his plans to adopt a more populist approach, and Gunn left in 1952. Gunn also revealed that Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
MP Garry Allighan
Garry Allighan
Garry Allighan was a British journalist and Labour Party Member of Parliament . His birth name was Ernest Alligan...
was leaking stories to the newspaper, following which Allighan resigned.
In 1953, Gunn joined the 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,...
as its editor, and doubled its circulation in six years. In 1958–1959, he was the President of the Institute of Journalists. He moved to edit the Sunday Dispatch
Sunday Dispatch
The Sunday Dispatch was a British newspaper, published between 27 September 1801 and 1961. Until 1928, it was called the Weekly Dispatch.-History:...
in 1959, but this was merged with the Sunday Express in 1961 and Gunn resigned from 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...
in 1962.