Daily Mail

The Daily Mail is a prominent British daily newspaper.

It is often described as a middle-market tabloid with a conservative political stance. Founded in London, the paper has grown into a massive media presence. It is currently owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. While the physical newspaper is a major part of its identity, its content is also shared via the MailOnline news website. This website is managed separately and has its own dedicated editor. The newspaper has expanded through various editions, including a Scottish edition launched in 1947 and an Irish edition in 2006. Its sister publication, The Mail on Sunday, was launched later in 1982.

Running a large newspaper requires a specific organizational structure. The Daily Mail and General Trust is overseen by a chairman and controlling shareholder. Currently, this role is held by Jonathan Harmsworth, the 4th Viscount Rothermere. He is a great-grandson of one of the paper's original co-founders. While the chairman focuses on the business, the day-to-day editorial decisions are handled by a team. This team is led by an editor who decides the newspaper's editorial policy. This includes the political allegiance and the types of stories that are published. On 17 November 2021, Ted Verity took on a new role as editor. He oversees the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, and You magazine.

The history of the Daily Mail began on 4 May 1896. It was created by two brothers, Alfred Harmsworth and Harold Harmsworth. Alfred served as the editor, while Harold managed the business side. The paper was an immediate success due to its unique approach. It cost only a halfpenny, which was half the price of other London dailies. It was also more concise and used a more populist tone than its rivals. The initial planned issue was 100,000 copies, but the first print run reached 397,215. By 1899, the circulation had risen to 500,000. By 1902, it had become the largest newspaper in the world with over a million readers.

The Mail pioneered several important industry methods. In 1900, it became the first national newspaper to print simultaneously in both London and Manchester. Before this, the paper had to use special trains to bring London-printed papers to the north. This method of simultaneous printing was eventually adopted by almost all other national newspapers. The paper also focused on new markets, such as women. It was the first newspaper to include a women's interest section. It even hired Sarah Wilson, one of the first female war correspondents, to report during the Second Boer War.

Throughout its history, the paper has been known for dramatic stunts and prizes. In 1906, it offered £10,000 for the first flight from London to Manchester. It also offered £1,000 for the first flight across the English Channel. These prizes helped encourage early aviation. In 1919, Alcock and Brown won a £10,000 prize for the first flight across the Atlantic. Later, in 1930, Amy Johnson won a £10,000 prize for the first solo flight from England to Australia. The paper also started the Ideal Home Exhibition in 1908. This event promoted modern appliances and technology to help women with housework. The Mail maintained this exhibition until it was sold in 2009.

The Daily Mail's influence is reflected in its massive readership numbers. In February 2020, the paper had an average daily circulation of 1,134,184 copies. Between April 2019 and March 2020, its average daily readership was approximately 2.18 million people. This readership is divided into different demographic groups. About 1.41 million readers were in the ABC1 demographic, while 0.77 million were in the C2DE demographic. Interestingly, women make up the majority of the readership, between 52% and 55%. However, a 2014 survey showed the average reader age was 58. This meant it had the lowest number of readers aged 15 to 44 among major British dailies.

Despite its success, the paper has faced significant criticism. It has been accused of being unreliable and printing sensationalist stories. Some critics have pointed to inaccurate reports regarding science and medical research. There have also been instances of plagiarism and copyright infringement. In February 2017, the English Wikipedia banned the Daily Mail as a reliable source. However, the paper has also received high honors. It has won the National Newspaper of the Year award from The Press Awards nine times since 1994. Additionally, the Society of Editors selected it as the Daily Newspaper of the Year for 2020.