Daily Express: Encyclopedia II - Daily Express - Desmond era

Daily Express - Desmond era

In 2000, it was bought by Richard Desmond, publisher of a range of magazines including the celebrity magazine OK!. Controversy surrounded the aquisition because, at the time, Desmond also owned a selection of pornographic magazines such as Big Ones and Asian Babes. He is still the owner of the most popular pornographic television channel in the UK, Television X. Desmond's purchase of the paper led to the departure of many staff including the editor, Rosie Boycott, and columnist Peter Hitchens.

The Daily Express has for many years been a rival of the Daily Mail, and each frequently attacks the other's journalistic integrity. In the 1990s The Express had a less stridently right wing political stance than the Mail and, under editor Rosie Boycott, presented a relatively liberal agenda. Since then, however, the paper has returned to its traditionalist roots. In the 2001 general election it supported the Labour Party, but in 2004 switched its support to the Conservative Party.

On October 31, 2005 UK Media Group Entertainment Rights secured majority interest from the Daily Express on Rupert Bear. They paid £6 million for a 66.6% control of the character. Expess Newspaper retains minority interest in Rupert Bear of 33.33% plus the right to publish Rupert Bear(R) comic strips in certain Express publications.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Desmond era", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki