Mary Howarth (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Mary Howarth was a British
newspaper editor.
Howarth edited the women's column in the Daily Mail
in the late 1890s. In November 1903, she was appointed as the first editor of the Daily Mirror.
Although sometimes described as the first female editor on Fleet Street
, she was preceded by Rachel Beer
and Delariviere Manley. Almost all the staff at the Mirror were women, proprietor Alfred Harmsworth
describing it as a paper "for gentlewomen by gentlewomen".
The first issue sold a healthy 276,000 copies, but the second sold 143,000 and Harmsworth lost confidence in his plan for the paper. He wrote to Hamilton Fyfe
to offer him the job of editor. Fyfe replied, confirming that he would be happy to take up the post, as soon as he could resign as editor of the Morning Advertiser
.
By the end of the first week, sales were down to 100,000 copies, and Howarth returned to her job at the Mail. Fyfe took up the editorial post early in 1904, sacking almost all the female staff. He relaunched the paper with a focus on printing photographs of events.
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.
Howarth edited the women's column 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 the late 1890s. In November 1903, she was appointed as the first editor of the Daily Mirror.
Although sometimes described as the first female editor on Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
, she was preceded by Rachel Beer
Rachel Beer
Rachel Beer was an Indian-born British newspaper editor. She was editor-in-chief of The Observer and The Sunday Times.-Biography:...
and Delariviere Manley. Almost all the staff at the Mirror were women, proprietor Alfred Harmsworth
Alfred Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe
Alfred Charles William Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe rose from childhood poverty to become a powerful British newspaper and publishing magnate, famed for buying stolid, unprofitable newspapers and transforming them to make them lively and entertaining for the mass market.His company...
describing it as a paper "for gentlewomen by gentlewomen".
The first issue sold a healthy 276,000 copies, but the second sold 143,000 and Harmsworth lost confidence in his plan for the paper. He wrote to Hamilton Fyfe
Hamilton Fyfe
Henry Hamilton Fyfe was a British journalist and writer who served as editor of both the Daily Mirror and the Daily Herald.-Career:...
to offer him the job of editor. Fyfe replied, confirming that he would be happy to take up the post, as soon as he could resign as editor of the Morning Advertiser
Morning Advertiser
Morning Advertiser is the only weekly pub trade publication in the UK. It currently has a circulation of more than 32,500 that reaches the key decision-makers in England and Wales. In March 2011, William Reed Business Media, bought The Publican from United Business Media and merged the two titles...
.
By the end of the first week, sales were down to 100,000 copies, and Howarth returned to her job at the Mail. Fyfe took up the editorial post early in 1904, sacking almost all the female staff. He relaunched the paper with a focus on printing photographs of events.