Editing Daily Express (section)

===Richard Desmond era===
[[File:Chancellor George Osborne and Richard Desmond.jpg|thumb|In 2000, Express Newspapers was bought by [[Richard Desmond]] (''left'')]]
In 2000, Express Newspapers was bought by Richard Desmond, publisher of celebrity magazine ''[[OK!]]'', for £125&nbsp;million. Controversy surrounded the deal since Desmond also owned [[softcore pornography]] magazines.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1375421/Soft-porn-baron-buys-the-Express.html |title=Soft-porn baron buys the Express |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=23 November 2000 |last1=Leonard |first1=Tom |last2=Trefgarne |first2=George |access-date=3 February 2016 |archive-date=27 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227153945/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1375421/Soft-porn-baron-buys-the-Express.html |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result, many staff left, including editor [[Rosie Boycott]] and columnist [[Peter Hitchens]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12148240.Boycott_and_her_deputy_quit_porn_mogul_apos_s_Daily_Express_Editor_says_parting_is_amicable_despite_rift_with_new_owner/ |title=Boycott and her deputy quit porn mogul's Daily Express Editor says parting is amicable despite rift with new owner |work=The Herald |date=26 January 2001 |location=Glasgow |access-date=3 February 2016 |archive-date=4 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204163614/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12148240.Boycott_and_her_deputy_quit_porn_mogul_apos_s_Daily_Express_Editor_says_parting_is_amicable_despite_rift_with_new_owner/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Hitchens moved to ''[[The Mail on Sunday]]'', saying working for the new owner was a moral conflict of interest since he had always attacked the pornographic magazines that Desmond published.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1061015.stm |title=Veteran columnist quits Express |publisher=BBC News |date=9 December 2000 |access-date=3 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204164207/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1061015.stm |archive-date=4 February 2016}}</ref> Despite their divergent politics, Desmond respected Hitchens.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hitchens |first=Peter |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/node/139233/ |title=Rosie Boycott hugs me: "Everything you write is complete ****," she says, "but I like you" |work=New Statesman |location=London |date=18 December 2000 |access-date=1 June 2015 |archive-date=16 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116081504/http://www.newstatesman.com/node/139233 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2007, Express Newspapers left the [[National Publishers Association]] due to unpaid fees.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/mar/24/express-newspapers-pcc |title= Express Newspapers could be kicked out of PCC |work=The Guardian |location= London |date=24 March 2009 |access-date=3 February 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160204164418/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/mar/24/express-newspapers-pcc |archive-date=4 February 2016}}</ref> Since payments to the NPA fund the [[Press Complaints Commission]], it is possible that the ''Express'' and its sister papers could cease being regulated by the PCC. The chairman of the [[Press Standards Board of Finance]], which manages PCC funds, described Express Newspapers as a "rogue publisher".<ref>{{cite news |title='Rogue publisher' Richard Desmond in fallout with PCC |url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=43409&c=1 |url-status=dead |newspaper=Press Gazette |location=London |date=24 March 2009 |access-date=28 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429165318/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=43409&c=1 |archive-date=29 April 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The Express group lost prominent libel cases in 2008–2009; it paid damages to people involved in the [[Disappearance of Madeleine McCann|Madeleine McCann]] case (see below), a member of the [[Muslim Council of Britain]], footballer [[Marco Materazzi]], and sports agent [[Willie McKay]]. The losses led the media commentator [[Roy Greenslade]] to conclude that Express Newspapers (which also publishes the ''Star'' titles) paid more in libel damages over that period than any other newspaper group. Although most of the individual amounts paid were not disclosed, the total damages were recorded at £1,570,000.<ref name="Greenslade">{{cite news
 |title        = Libel pay-outs show why Desmond is a rogue proprietor
 |newspaper    = The Guardian
 |location     = London
 |date         = 11 February 2009
 |url          = https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2009/feb/11/richarddesmond-dailyexpress
 |access-date  = 28 March 2009
 |first        = Roy
 |last         = Greenslade
 |archive-date = 16 May 2024
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20240516223228/https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2009/feb/11/richarddesmond-dailyexpress
 |url-status   = live
}}</ref> Greenslade characterised Desmond as a "rogue proprietor".<ref name="Greenslade" />

In late 2008, Express Newspapers began cutting 80 jobs to reduce costs by £2.5&nbsp;million; however, too few staff were willing to take voluntary redundancy.<ref>{{cite news
 |title        = More than 80 jobs to go in Express cull
 |newspaper    = The Guardian
 |location     = London
 |date         = 10 October 2008
 |url          = https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/sep/10/dailyexpress.richarddesmond
 |access-date  = 28 March 2009
 |first        = Stephen
 |last         = Brook
 |archive-date = 16 May 2024
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20240516223221/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/sep/10/dailyexpress.richarddesmond
 |url-status   = live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 |title        = Express Newspapers looks for fresh savings as it misses redundancy target
 |newspaper    = The Guardian
 |location     = London
 |date         = 6 March 2009
 |url          = https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/mar/06/express-newspapers-looks-for-savings
 |access-date  = 28 March 2009
 |first        = Oliver
 |last         = Luft
 |archive-date = 16 May 2024
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20240516223227/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/mar/06/express-newspapers-looks-for-savings
 |url-status   = live
}}</ref> In early 2008, a previous cost-cutting exercise triggered the first 24-hour national press strike in the UK for 18 years.<ref>{{cite news
 |title        = Desmond braves Express picket line
 |newspaper    = The Guardian
 |location     = London
 |date         = 4 April 2009
 |url          = https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/apr/04/dailyexpress.dailystar
 |access-date  = 28 March 2009
 |first        = Stephen
 |last         = Brook
 |archive-date = 16 May 2024
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20240516223228/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/apr/04/dailyexpress.dailystar
 |url-status   = live
}}</ref> In late August 2009 came plans for a further 70 redundancies, affecting journalists across Express Newspapers (including the ''Daily'' and ''Sunday Express'', the ''Daily Star'', and the ''Daily Star Sunday'').<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- beta link -->Laura Oliver<!-- beta link --> |url=http://www.journalism.co.uk/2/articles/535630.php |title=Northern & Shell to axe 70 journalists from Express and Star titles |publisher=Journalism |access-date=2 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206073605/http://www.journalism.co.uk/2/articles/535630.php |archive-date=6 February 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In August 2009, the [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|Advertising Standards Authority]] criticised the company for [[advertorial]]s as features alongside adverts for the same products. The ASA noted that the pieces were "always and uniquely favourable to the product featured in the ads and contained claims that have been or were likely to be prohibited in advertisements".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/aug/12/express-newspapers-advertorials-richard-desmond-asa |title=ASA raps Richard Desmond's Express Newspapers over advertorials |last=Sweney |first=Mark |date=12 August 2009 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=15 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/adjudications/Public/TF_ADJ_46700.htm |publisher=ASA |title=ASA Adjudications: Express Newspapers and Goldshield Ltd |access-date=15 August 2009 |date=12 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815132414/http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/adjudications/Public/TF_ADJ_46700.htm |archive-date=15 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/adjudications/Public/TF_ADJ_46734.htm |title=ASA Adjudications: Express Newspapers and LadyCare Lifetime Ltd |publisher=ASA |access-date=15 August 2009 |date=12 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815132502/http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/adjudications/Public/TF_ADJ_46734.htm |archive-date=15 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Stephen Brook and agencies |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/aug/19/asa-daily-express-advertorial |title=Express censured for fourth time in two weeks over undeclared advertorials |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=19 August 2009 |access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref>

In January 2010, the ''Daily Express'' was censured by the Advertising Standards Authority over a front-page promotion for "free" fireworks. This led to comment that the ''Express'' has become "the [[Ryanair]] of [[Fleet Street]]", in that it is a "frequent offender" which pays little heed to the ASA's criticisms.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brook |first=Stephen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2010/jan/27/express-banned-advertising-desmond |title=Daily Express is the Rynair of Fleet Street |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=27 January 2010 |access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref>

In May 2010, Desmond announced a commitment of £100&nbsp;million over five years to buy new equipment for the printing plants, beginning with the immediate purchase of four new presses, amid industry rumours that he was going to establish a printing plant at Luton.

On 31 December 2010, the Express, with all the media titles in Desmond's [[Northern & Shell]] group, were excluded from the [[Press Complaints Commission]] after withholding payment.<ref name="guardian20110111">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2011/jan/11/richard-desmond-pcc |title=Desmond's papers excluded from system of press self-regulation |last=Greenslade |first=Roy |author-link=Roy Greenslade |date=11 January 2011 |work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=16 January 2011}}</ref> [[Guy Black, Baron Black of Brentwood|Lord Black]], chairman of [[Press Standards Board of Finance|PressBof]], the PCC's parent organisation, called this "a deeply regrettable decision".<ref name="guardian20110111"/> According to ''Press Gazette'', in December 2016 circulation figures showed gross sales of the ''[[Daily Mail]]'' were 1,491,264 compared to 391,626 for the ''Daily Express''.<ref name="circ"/>

The full run of the ''Daily Express'' has been digitised and is available at UK Press Online.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukpressonline.co.uk/|title=Home|publisher=ukpressonline|access-date=13 November 2016|archive-date=16 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716130109/https://www.ukpressonline.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2017, ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' publisher [[Trinity Mirror]] announced its interest in buying all of Express Newspapers from Desmond. The ''[[Financial Times]]'' called it potentially the biggest change in the British newspaper industry for a decade.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bond |first=David |title=Trinity Mirror in talks to acquire Express |url= https://www.ft.com/content/2f9710c2-945c-11e7-a9e6-11d2f0ebb7f0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/2f9710c2-945c-11e7-a9e6-11d2f0ebb7f0 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |newspaper=Financial Times |location=London |date=8 September 2017 |access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref>