Simon Kelner
Encyclopedia
Simon Kelner is a British journalist and newspaper editor. Kelner was editor-in-chief of The Independent
and Independent on Sunday newspaper
s. He was appointed in May 1998 to succeed Andrew Marr
and Rosie Boycott
and ended his tenure in 2008. After a stint as Managing Director of the Independent titles he was reappointed editor in April 2010 by the new owner Alexander Lebedev.
on Tenterden Street in Bury
. He qualified in journalism
at the former Preston Polytechnic, now the University of Central Lancashire
.He has an Honorary Fellowship from the department of Journalism, Media and Communication, University of Central Lancashire
in 1976, staying there until 1979. From 1980-3, he worked as a sports reporter at the Kent Evening Post. He joined The Observer
in 1983 as assistant sports editor, then The Independent as deputy sports editor in 1986, where he stayed until 1989. He was then sports editor of the now defunct Sunday Correspondent
, editor of The Observer magazine, and also the Mail on Sunday supplement Night and Day. He rejoined The Independent as editor when Alexander Lebedev
bought the newspaper. He was replaced as editor by Chris Blackhurst, former city editor of the Evening Standard, on 2 July, 2011.
format, which proved to have an immediate and sustained uplift in sales, and which also acted as the catalyst for other broadsheet newspapers across the world shrinking in size. This success saw him become one of the longest-serving editors in the short history of The Independent.
; they live in Marylebone
. He married his first wife, Karen Bowden, in May 1988 in Islington
; they have a daughter Phoebe (born May 1989). His elder brother Martin Kelner
is also a journalist, as well as an established radio presenter. He follows Swinton Rugby League Club
and supports Manchester City
.
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
and Independent on Sunday newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s. He was appointed in May 1998 to succeed Andrew Marr
Andrew Marr
Andrew William Stevenson Marr is a Scottish journalist and political commentator. He edited The Independent for two years until May 1998, and was political editor of BBC News from 2000 until 2005....
and Rosie Boycott
Rosie Boycott
Rosel Marie Boycott , better known as Rosie Boycott, is a British journalist and feminist.-Journalism career:Daughter of Major Charles Boycott and Betty Boycott née Le Sueur, Rosel Boycott was born in St Helier, Jersey and was educated at the independent Cheltenham Ladies' College and read...
and ended his tenure in 2008. After a stint as Managing Director of the Independent titles he was reappointed editor in April 2010 by the new owner Alexander Lebedev.
Early life
He attended Bury Grammar SchoolBury Grammar School
Bury Grammar School is an independent grammar school in Bury, Greater Manchester, England, that has existed since Kev Cryer was born, c.1570. The current headmaster is the Reverend Steven Harvey MA. The previous headmaster, Keith Richards MA, retired after sixteen years of headmastership on 7...
on Tenterden Street in Bury
Bury
Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester...
. He qualified in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
at the former Preston Polytechnic, now the University of Central Lancashire
University of Central Lancashire
The University of Central Lancashire is a university based in Preston, Lancashire, England.The university has its roots in The Institution For The Diffusion Of Useful Knowledge which was founded in 1828. In 1992 it was granted University status by the Privy Council...
.He has an Honorary Fellowship from the department of Journalism, Media and Communication, University of Central Lancashire
Journalism, Media and Communication, University of Central Lancashire
The School of Journalism, Media and Communication, University of Central Lancashire is one of the UK's longest established centres of journalism teaching, growing out of the Harris College, Preston.-Education:...
Career
Kelner started at the Neath GuardianNeath Guardian
The Neath Guardian was a local weekly newspaper published between 1925 and 2009 covering Neath, Wales, and the surrounding area. At the time of its closure, it was published weekly, on a Wednesday, in the tabloid format by Media Wales , part of the Trinity Mirror group.The newspaper had two...
in 1976, staying there until 1979. From 1980-3, he worked as a sports reporter at the Kent Evening Post. He joined The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
in 1983 as assistant sports editor, then The Independent as deputy sports editor in 1986, where he stayed until 1989. He was then sports editor of the now defunct Sunday Correspondent
Sunday Correspondent
The Sunday Correspondent was a shortlived British weekly national broadsheet newspaper. Launched on 17 September 1989, it ceased publication on 25 November 1990. It was edited by Peter Cole....
, editor of The Observer magazine, and also the Mail on Sunday supplement Night and Day. He rejoined The Independent as editor when 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...
bought the newspaper. He was replaced as editor by Chris Blackhurst, former city editor of the Evening Standard, on 2 July, 2011.
Awards
Kelner won several awards whilst at The Independent, including Editor of the Year in 2004 and 2010. His accolades followed the radical decision in September 2003 to relaunch The Independent in compactCompact (newspaper)
A compact newspaper is a broadsheet-quality newspaper printed in a tabloid format, especially one in the United Kingdom. The term is used also for this size came into use in its current use when The Independent began producing a smaller format edition for London's commuters, designed to be easier...
format, which proved to have an immediate and sustained uplift in sales, and which also acted as the catalyst for other broadsheet newspapers across the world shrinking in size. This success saw him become one of the longest-serving editors in the short history of The Independent.
Personal life
He married the cartoonist Sally Ann Lasson (b. 7 May 1959) in September 2001 in the borough of Kensington and ChelseaRoyal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is a central London borough of Royal borough status. After the City of Westminster, it is the wealthiest borough in England....
; they live in Marylebone
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
. He married his first wife, Karen Bowden, in May 1988 in Islington
London Borough of Islington
The London Borough of Islington is a London borough in Inner London. It was formed in 1965 by merging the former metropolitan boroughs of Islington and Finsbury. The borough contains two Westminster parliamentary constituencies, Islington North and Islington South & Finsbury...
; they have a daughter Phoebe (born May 1989). His elder brother Martin Kelner
Martin Kelner
Martin B. Kelner is a British journalist, author, comedian and radio presenter, educated at Stand Grammar School, in Whitefield near Manchester....
is also a journalist, as well as an established radio presenter. He follows Swinton Rugby League Club
Swinton Lions
Swinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:...
and supports Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
.