John Witherow

John Witherow is a British journalist who served as the editor of The Times from 2013 until 2022. His career at the newspaper spanned over four decades, during which he held several senior editorial positions, including editor of The Sunday Times. Witherow's tenure at the helm of The Times was marked by the newspaper's transition to a digital-first strategy and its coverage of major events like the Brexit referendum and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early life and education

John Witherow was born in Nairobi in the then Kenya Colony and spent part of his childhood in Southern Rhodesia. He was educated at St. John's College, Portsmouth, a Roman Catholic independent school in Hampshire. He later studied politics and philosophy at the University of Bristol, where he edited the student newspaper, Epigram. His early interest in journalism was further shaped by a stint at the Bristol Evening Post.

Career at The Times

Witherow joined The Times in 1976 as a graduate trainee, working initially as a reporter. He later moved to the foreign desk and served as a correspondent in Southern Africa, covering conflicts in countries like Angola and Mozambique. In 1984, he was appointed foreign editor of The Times, overseeing coverage of major international events including the end of the Cold War and the First Gulf War. He moved to The Sunday Times in 1990 as deputy editor, working under editor Andrew Neil at the newspaper's offices in Wapping.

Editorship of The Times

Witherow was appointed editor of The Sunday Times in 1994, a role he held for nearly two decades. During his editorship, the newspaper broke significant stories such as the Cash for Questions scandal and published major investigations into BCCI and Saddam Hussein's regime. He succeeded James Harding as editor of The Times in 2013, following the merger of the daily and Sunday titles' editorial operations under News UK. A key focus of his editorship was driving the newspaper's digital expansion, increasing online subscriptions in competition with rivals like The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph. He oversaw coverage of pivotal events including the Scottish independence referendum, the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, and the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Witherow stepped down as editor in 2022 and was succeeded by Tony Gallagher.

Views and controversies

Witherow is considered a traditionalist within British journalism, advocating for rigorous reporting and a clear separation between news and comment. Under his leadership, The Times maintained a centre-right editorial stance, broadly supporting the Conservative Party while taking a critical position on Brexit negotiations. His tenure saw controversies, including disputes with the Leveson Inquiry over press standards and criticism for the newspaper's coverage of transgender issues. He also faced internal debates over the newspaper's endorsement of political figures during elections like the 2019 United Kingdom general election.

Personal life

John Witherow married journalist Sarah Baxter, a former deputy editor of The Sunday Times, in 1985. They have three children and live in London. He is a keen sailor and has participated in offshore racing events. In the 2016 Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to journalism. Category:1952 births Category:Living people Category:British newspaper editors Category:Alumni of the University of Bristol Category:Editors of The Times Category:Editors of The Sunday Times Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire