Harold Evans

Harold Evans
Name	Harold Evans
Caption	Evans in 2011
Birth name	Harold Matthew Evans
Birth date	28 June 1928
Birth place	Eccles, Lancashire, England
Death date	23 September 2020
Death place	New York City, New York, United States
Occupation	Journalist, writer, editor
Spouse	Enid Parker (m. 1953; div. 1978), Tina Brown (m. 1981)
Education	Durham University (BA), University of Chicago (MA)
Awards	Knighted (2004), BAFTA Fellowship (2013)

Harold Evans was a preeminent British-American journalist and editor whose career fundamentally shaped investigative reporting and newspaper design. He is best known for his transformative leadership of The Sunday Times and his pivotal role in the thalidomide campaign, which secured compensation for victims. Evans later became a prominent media figure in the United States, serving as editor of The Times and founding Condé Nast's *Traveler* magazine, while authoring influential books on history and journalism.

Early life and education

Born in Eccles, Lancashire, he was the eldest of four sons to a train driver and a waitress. His early fascination with newspapers was nurtured by a local newsagent, and he began his journalistic work on the Ashton-under-Lyne Reporter. After national service in the Royal Air Force, he studied politics at Durham University, where he edited the student paper *Palatinate*. A Harkness Fellowship then took him to the University of Chicago and on a seminal tour of newsrooms across America, profoundly influencing his editorial philosophy.

Journalism career

Evans's professional ascent began in northern England, where he became editor of the Darlington-based *Northern Echo* in 1961. At the *Echo*, he launched a successful campaign for a cervical cancer screening program, demonstrating his commitment to crusading journalism. His innovative approach caught the attention of Roy Thomson, who appointed him editor of The Sunday Times in 1967, a position that would define his legacy. During this period, he also authored the seminal style guide Newsman's English.

Editorship of The Sunday Times

As editor of The Sunday Times from 1967 to 1981, Evans revolutionized British journalism. He expanded the Insight Team, pioneering in-depth investigative reporting that exposed scandals like the thalidomide disaster, leading to a historic victory for victims in the European Court of Human Rights. The paper also broke the story of Kim Philby as a Soviet spy. Evans introduced the groundbreaking *Sunday Times Magazine* and oversaw a major redesign, emphasizing compelling visuals and clear typography, which was documented in his book Newspaper Design.

Later career and move to the United States

After a brief and tumultuous tenure as editor of The Times in 1981-82 under owner Rupert Murdoch, Evans moved to the United States. He served as editorial director of U.S. News & World Report and later as president and publisher of the Random House trade group. In 1986, he founded Condé Nast's *Traveler* magazine. He became a U.S. citizen in 1993 and continued as a prolific writer and editor-at-large for *The Week* magazine. His later acclaimed books include the two-volume history The American Century and Do I Make Myself Clear? on writing.

Personal life and death

He was first married to Enid Parker, with whom he had a son and a daughter. In 1981, he married the celebrated editor and writer Tina Brown; they had two children and divided their time between New York City and Martha's Vineyard. Evans was knighted in 2004 for services to journalism. He died of congestive heart failure at his home in New York City on September 23, 2020, at the age of 92.

Awards and legacy

His numerous honors include being appointed a Knight Bachelor in 2004 and receiving a BAFTA Fellowship in 2013. He was also awarded the Journalist of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Harold Evans Memorial Fund at Reuters supports investigative journalism. Evans is remembered as a fearless advocate for press freedom, a master of narrative storytelling, and a transformative figure whose work at The Sunday Times set the global standard for investigative reporting.

Category:British journalists Category:British editors Category:British expatriates in the United States Category:1928 births Category:2020 deaths