Barry Askew

Barry Askew (13 December 1936 – 17 April 2012^[1]) was a British journalist, editor of the Lancashire Evening Post and briefly of the News of the World.

Askew grew up in Preston,^[2] and worked for the Lancashire Evening Post, winning the IPC National Press Awards Campaigning Journalist award in 1972,^[3] and soon becoming editor of the paper.

In April 1981, Askew was appointed as editor of the News of the World,^[4] partly on the recommendation of Harold Evans, editor of The Times.^[2] In early December, he came into conflict with the Queen after claiming that if Princess Diana felt harassed by press photographers she should send a servant out to shop for her.^[2] At the end of the month, he left the newspaper,^[4] and spent the rest of his career in various short-term provincial posts.^[5]

References

1. ^ Barry Askew: Obituary, Lancashire Evening Post, 25 April 2012
2. ^ ^{a b c} Richard Hall, "Queen trumps Fleet St joker", The Guardian, 13 December 1981
3. ^ Simon Winchester, "Guardian writers honoured", The Guardian, 29 March 1972
4. ^ ^{a b} Philip Jordan, "News of the World replaces editor", The Guardian, 30 December 1981
5. ^ "Regrets? I’ve had a few", British Journalism Review, Vol 17, No 3 (2006)