Roger Alton

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:EngvarB Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".Template:Wikidata image Roger Alton (born 20 December 1947) is an English journalist. He was formerly editor of The Independent and The Observer, and executive editor of The Times.[1]

Early life and education

He was educated at Clifton College and Exeter College, Oxford.[2][3]

Career

He joined the Liverpool Post on graduation, moving to The Guardian five years later as a sub-editor.[4]

The Observer

Template:BLP unsourced section He was the editor of the British national Sunday newspaper The Observer from 1998 to 2007. Under his editorship, The Observer's editorial view supported the invasion of Iraq, a stance that Alton, speaking to Stephen Sackur on the BBC's HARDtalk[5] (22 August 2008) has since admitted may have been incorrect.

He resigned on 24 October 2007 after "a bitter falling-out with senior figures at the title's sister paper, The Guardian", and left The Observer at the end of 2007.[6] Previously he was arts editor and G2 editor of The Guardian. He oversaw a rise in circulation during his editorship and introduced the award-winning Observer Sports, Food, and Music Monthlies.[7]

The Independent

In April 2008, Alton was confirmed as the new editor of The Independent, beginning work on 1 July 2008.[8] Joining at the start of the recession, The Independent's circulation and advertising revenues fell sharply.[9] He also wrote a fortnightly sport column in the Spectator.[10] Alton resigned from The Independent in April 2010 when the paper reverted to its former editor, Simon Kelner.[9]

The Times

On 24 May 2010, Alton was appointed executive editor of The Times, succeeding Alex O’Connell, who was appointed arts editor. Alton began at his new paper on 28 June 2010. Alton left The Times in 2015.[11]

Personal life

Alton was briefly married to Helen Lederer, with whom he had a daughter, Hannah.[12]

Views

In July 2011, Roger Alton gave an interview with Channel 4 News in which he lambasted members of the website Mumsnet for campaigning against the News of the World.[13] Some members of the website had campaigned against the newspaper after it was revealed that the News of the World employees had hacked mobile phone voicemail messages, including those of murdered teenager Milly Dowler and, allegedly, victims of the 7 July 2005 London bombings. Alton turned his anger on members of the public who campaigned against these practices, labelling the Mumsnet members "fair trade tea"-drinking, "organic shortbread"-eating "yummy mummies." The Template:Trim Template:Replace on YouTubeScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"..[14]

References

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  8. Stephen Brook "Alton aims to make Indy 'indispensable'", The Guardian, 10 April 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
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  11. Jasper Jackson and Jane Martinson "Times executive editor Roger Alton leaves paper", The Guardian, 2 June 2015.
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External links

Media offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Deputy Editor of The Observer
1994–1998
with Jocelyn Targett Template:S-ttl/check
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Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Editor of The Independent
2008–2010 Template:S-ttl/check
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Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Executive Editor of The Times
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Template:The Independent editors