Chris Blackhurst

Chris Blackhurst (born 24 December 1959) is a British journalist who is a former editor of The Independent. He became Group Content Director of the four titles overseen by Evgeny Lebedev in June 2013.[1]

Early life and education

Born in Barrow-in-Furness, Blackhurst's father is a former teacher and Conservative borough councillor. His mother is an ex-special needs teacher.

Blackhurst was educated at Barrow Grammar School for Boys in his home town of Barrow-in-Furness, after which he went on to study Law at Trinity Hall, Cambridge.[2] He has said that his school instilled self-confidence in him and has argued for the restoration of grammar schools.[3]

Life and career

Blackhurst after graduation joined the staff of a legal magazine, but soon moved to Fleet Street, where he joined The Sunday Times working on the Business section, then Insight investigations team. In 1990 he became City Editor of the Sunday Express in 1990 moving to The Independent on Sunday in 1992 as their Senior Business Writer, and then to The Independent in 1993 as Westminster Correspondent. He became Deputy Editor of The Independent on Sunday and The Independent then followed editor Rosie Boycott to the Daily Express in 1998, as Deputy Editor.[4] From 2002, Blackhurst edited the City Pages of the Evening Standard, until he was appointed Editor of The Independent in 2011.[5]

He was succeeded as Independent editor by Amol Rajan in June 2013.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 William Turvill "Amol Rajan is made editor of The Independent as Chris Blackhurst becomes group content director", Press Gazette, 17 June 2013
  2. ↑ Roy Greenslade, "Simon Kelner replaced after 13 years as editor of the Independent", The Guardian, 1 July 2011
  3. ↑ Chris Blackhurst (25 May 2012). "Grammar schools educated people to lead the world. They can do so again". The Independent. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  4. ↑ Rachel Baird "Media in Brief: Change of leader for Express", Press Gazette, 1 May 1998
  5. ↑ James Robinson "Independent return: Chris Blackhurst's career in profile", The Guardian, 1 July 2011
Media offices
Preceded by
Martin Jacques		 Deputy Editor of The Independent
1996–1998 		Succeeded by
Ian Birrell
Preceded by
Tessa Hilton		 Deputy Editor of the Daily Express
1998–2001 		Succeeded by
Nicola Briggs
Preceded by
Simon Kelner		 Editor of The Independent
2011–2013 		Succeeded by
Amol Rajan