Editing Daily Express (section)

===Madeleine McCann===
In the second half of 2007 the ''Daily Express'' gave a large coverage to the [[disappearance of Madeleine McCann]]. From 3 August 2007 to 10 November 2007, the ''Express'' dedicated at least part of the next 100 front pages to her. Of those, 82 used the headline to feature the details of the disappearance (often stylised by "MADELEINE" in red block capitals, plus a picture of the child).

Though the family initially said some journalists may have "overstepped their mark" they acknowledged the benefits in keeping the case in the public eye,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/Story?id=3587167&page=4 | title=From Victims to Villains | work=ABC News | date=12 September 2007 | access-date=27 June 2020 | archive-date=29 July 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729011642/https://abcnews.go.com/International/Story?id=3587167&page=4 | url-status=live }}</ref> but said coverage needed to be toned down since daily headlines were not necessarily helpful.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.1644291.0.i_dont_think_necessarily_having_newspaper_headlines_with_the_image_of_madeleine_being_thrust_on_to_people_every_single_day_helps_clearly_we_have_seen_irresponsible_reporting.php | title=I don't think necessarily having newspaper headlines with the image of Madeleine being thrust on to people every single day helps. Clearly we have seen irresponsible reporting. | work=Sunday Herald | date=26 August 2007}}{{dead link|date=November 2013}}</ref> In March 2008, the McCanns launched a [[libel]] suit against the ''Daily Express'' and the ''[[Daily Star (United Kingdom)|Daily Star]]'', as well as their Sunday equivalents, following their coverage. The action concerned more than 100 stories across the four newspapers, which accused the McCanns of causing and covering up their daughter's death.<ref name="Damages due"/> Express Newspapers pulled all references to Madeleine from its websites.<ref>{{cite news |last=Holmwood |first=Leigh |title=Express titles cut back McCann coverage |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/mar/13/pressandpublishing.dailyexpress |newspaper=The Guardian |location=UK |date=13 March 2008 |access-date=17 March 2008 |archive-date=16 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516225830/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/mar/13/pressandpublishing.dailyexpress |url-status=live }}</ref>

In a settlement at the [[High Court of Justice]], the newspapers ran a front-page apology to the McCanns on 19 March 2008, another apology on the front of the Sunday editions of 23 March and a statement of apology at the High Court. The newspapers also agreed to pay costs and damages, which the McCanns said they would use to fund the search for their daughter.<ref name="Damages due">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7303801.stm |title=Damages due over McCann stories |publisher=BBC News |date=18 March 2008 |access-date=19 March 2008 |archive-date=21 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321080011/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7303801.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Guardian'' media commentator [[Roy Greenslade]] said it was "unprecedented" for four major newspapers to offer front-page apologies but also said it was more than warranted given that the papers had committed "a substantial libel" that shamed the British press.<ref>{{cite news |author=Roy Greenslade |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2008/mar/19/expressandstarapologiesto |title=Express and Star apologies to McCanns bring all journalism into disrepute |work=The Guardian |access-date=1 June 2015 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220212636/https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2008/mar/19/expressandstarapologiesto |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Craig Silverman]] of ''Regret the Error'',  a blog that reports media errors, argued that given how many of the stories appeared on the front page, anything less than a front-page apology would have been "unacceptable".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.regrettheerror.com/2008/03/19/daily-express-daily-star-issue-front-page-apologies-pay-damages |title=Poynter |work=Regret the Error |access-date=18 May 2015 |archive-date=31 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111231045139/http://www.regrettheerror.com/2008/03/19/daily-express-daily-star-issue-front-page-apologies-pay-damages/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In its apology, the ''Express'' said "a number of articles in the newspaper have suggested that the couple caused the death of their missing daughter Madeleine and then covered it up. We acknowledge that there is no evidence whatsoever to support this theory and that Kate and Gerry are completely innocent of any involvement in their daughter's disappearance."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/38490 |title=Kate and Gerry McCann: Sorry |work=Daily Express |location=UK |date=19 March 2008 |access-date=19 March 2008 |archive-date=23 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323232437/http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/38490 |url-status=live }}</ref> This was followed in October by an apology and payout (forwarded to the fund again) to a group who had become known as the "[[Tapas Seven]]" in relation to the case.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7673148.stm |title=Libel payout for McCann friends |publisher=BBC News |date=16 October 2008 |access-date=18 May 2015 |archive-date=16 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416001330/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7673148.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>