Robin Esser

{{Short description|British newspaper executive (1933–2017)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

Robin Charles Esser (6 May 1933 – 6 November 2017){{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2017/11/09/robin-esser-newspaper-executive-obituary/|title = Robin Esser, newspaper executive – obituary|newspaper = The Telegraph|date = 9 November 2017}} was a British newspaper executive and former editor.

After doing National Service and studying at Wadham College, Oxford University, where he edited the Cherwell newspaper, Esser began his career as a reporter with the Daily Express and Daily Sketch in 1957.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2017/11/09/robin-esser-newspaper-executive-obituary/|title=Robin Esser Obituary, Telegraph Court and Social|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=9 November 2017|accessdate=29 November 2017}} He edited the Express' "Hickey" column, and gave both Nigel Dempster and Paul Dacre their first jobs on a national newspaper. By 1969, he was the newspaper's New York editor, and was the first British journalist to interview the Apollo 11 astronauts.{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/876848/Robin-Esser-Sunday-Express-editor-press-freedom-campaigner-dies-aged-84|title=Robin Esser, Express Newspapers|website=Express.co.uk|date=8 November 2017|accessdate=29 November 2017}}

He later became consultant editor of the London Evening News, before in 1985 returning to the Daily Express. In 1986, he became editor of the Sunday Express,"[http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=39797§ioncode=6 Robin Esser: No plans to retire as he marks 50 years in press]", Press Gazette, 27 December 2007. a post he held until 1989. A great supporter and friend of Margaret Thatcher, Esser was due to receive a knighthood in 1990 but declined the honour on the grounds that it was not appropriate for a serving editor to accept it.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/robin-esser-obituary-s92jcvzrq|title=Robin Esser Obituary, Times Register|website=The Times|access-date=29 November 2017}}

Esser moved to the Daily Mail in 1991, where he introduced an arts and entertainment supplement, published on Fridays. He subsequently became the paper's Executive Managing Editor and oversaw the launch of its website MailOnline.

He was an active member of the Society of Editors, for which he chaired the Parliamentary & Legal Committee,{{cite web|url=http://www.societyofeditors.co.uk/page-view.php?pagename=RobinEsser|title=Society of Editors, Fighting for media freedom|website=Societyofeditors.co.uk|accessdate=20 November 2017}} and the Commonwealth Press Union Media Trust.

Esser published three books, The Hot Potato (1969), The Paper Chase (1971), and Crusaders In Chains (2015).{{cite web|url=https://www.wadham.ox.ac.uk/news/2015/june/wadham-journalist-speaks-out|title=Alumni News, Wadham College|website=Wadham.ox.ac.uk|accessdate=29 November 2017}}