John Blake (journalist)
Encyclopedia
John Blake is a British journalist
and publisher. He lives beside the River Thames near London with his wife Diane.
in London
. His work developed into a column titled "Ad Lib", an early example of a celebrity gossip column and lifestyle guide which survived the merger of The Evening News with the Evening Standard
.
, the UK's leading tabloid daily, Blake launched 'Bizarre', a page that took celebrity gossip to a new level and established much of today's UK media obsession with the topic, helping to found what is now referred to as the cult of celebrity;
and Daily Mirror owner Robert Maxwell
. Maxwell won the bidding war and Blake launched a pop column called White Hot Club. He went on to become editor of Maxwell's Sunday People, an appointment that lasted until Maxwell suddenly decided he wished to appoint Britain's first female national newspaper editor. Blake found himself President of the Mirror Group in the USA in the run-up to Maxwell's anticipated purchase of the National Enquirer, a job which imploded when Maxwell failed to complete the deal. He resolved to enjoy his hobby of sailing, with occasional contributions as a TV writer in the Daily Mail
. In 1976 he wrote a book about the Rolling Stones's 'Up and Down with the Rolling Stones' with their drug dealer "Spanish Tony" Sanchez which became a best seller.
John Blake Publishing Ltd. is an independent publishing company which now specialises in high profile, mass-market non-fiction. Their commissioning criterion is: could it be a bestseller? It is this attitude that has allowed them grow into a major force in British publishing. In recent years they have acquired the Metro list which has diversified their output even more. Their collection of health, lifestyle, cookery and mind, body, spirit books are second to none.
John Blake Publishing books are regular features in the bestseller lists. From the publishing phenomenon that was Being Jordan by Katie Price to Neil Simpson's best-selling biography of Paul O'Grady; from Noel Botham's Book of Useless Information to Kate Kray and David Bailey's Diamond Geezers, their books are what people want to read. Being Jordan by Katie Price
, became the fastest selling autobiography ever.
The Gold Book Award was also awarded to them for Being Jordan for sales of over 500,000 copies.
In 2010 the company was voted Trade Publisher Of The Year and also Independent Publisher Of The Year.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and publisher. He lives beside the River Thames near London with his wife Diane.
Debut
Blake first came to prominence in the early 1970s as a pop columnist for the Evening NewsEvening 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...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. His work developed into a column titled "Ad Lib", an early example of a celebrity gossip column and lifestyle guide which survived the merger of The Evening News with 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...
.
Cult of celebrity
Head-hunted by 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...
, the UK's leading tabloid daily, Blake launched 'Bizarre', a page that took celebrity gossip to a new level and established much of today's UK media obsession with the topic, helping to found what is now referred to as the cult of celebrity;
Career
A tug-of-war ensued over Blake between The Sun owner Rupert MurdochRupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
and Daily Mirror owner Robert Maxwell
Robert Maxwell
Ian Robert Maxwell MC was a Czechoslovakian-born British media proprietor and former Member of Parliament , who rose from poverty to build an extensive publishing empire...
. Maxwell won the bidding war and Blake launched a pop column called White Hot Club. He went on to become editor of Maxwell's Sunday People, an appointment that lasted until Maxwell suddenly decided he wished to appoint Britain's first female national newspaper editor. Blake found himself President of the Mirror Group in the USA in the run-up to Maxwell's anticipated purchase of the National Enquirer, a job which imploded when Maxwell failed to complete the deal. He resolved to enjoy his hobby of sailing, with occasional contributions as a TV writer in 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 1976 he wrote a book about the Rolling Stones's 'Up and Down with the Rolling Stones' with their drug dealer "Spanish Tony" Sanchez which became a best seller.
John Blake Publishing
Subsequently, he gravitated towards publishing and incorporated John Blake Publishing. Blake enlisted the help of his criminal contacts and set up his controversial true crime series. His first number one bestseller was The Guv'nor with Lenny McLean and Peter Gerrard. This title, voted best biography of 1998, created a genre that helped John Blake Publishing extend into leisure, fiction and other sectors.John Blake Publishing Ltd. is an independent publishing company which now specialises in high profile, mass-market non-fiction. Their commissioning criterion is: could it be a bestseller? It is this attitude that has allowed them grow into a major force in British publishing. In recent years they have acquired the Metro list which has diversified their output even more. Their collection of health, lifestyle, cookery and mind, body, spirit books are second to none.
Subjects
The bulk of their output centres on the biography and true crime lists, including the successful true crime library and 'hard men' series of books, as well as the ever-popular stars, media & sports personality titles.John Blake Publishing books are regular features in the bestseller lists. From the publishing phenomenon that was Being Jordan by Katie Price to Neil Simpson's best-selling biography of Paul O'Grady; from Noel Botham's Book of Useless Information to Kate Kray and David Bailey's Diamond Geezers, their books are what people want to read. Being Jordan by Katie Price
Jordan (Katie Price)
Katie Price , previously known under the pseudonym Jordan, is an English media personality, author, former glamour model, occasional singer and businesswoman....
, became the fastest selling autobiography ever.
Awards
In 2005 the company was voted Small Publisher Of The Year.The Gold Book Award was also awarded to them for Being Jordan for sales of over 500,000 copies.
In 2010 the company was voted Trade Publisher Of The Year and also Independent Publisher Of The Year.
External links
- Company website
- Publishing commentator Danuta Kean interview with John Blake.
- Interview as The Celebrity Man with John Blake