The Independent#The i

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Launched in 1986, the first issue of The Independent was published on 7 October in broadsheet format.Dennis Griffiths (ed.) The Encyclopedia of the British Press, 1422–1992, London & Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1992, p. 330.{{Cite journal |last1=Thurman |first1=Neil |last2=Fletcher |first2=Richard |date=14 September 2018 |title=Are Newspapers Heading Toward Post-Print Obscurity? |journal=Digital Journalism |volume=6 |issue=8 |pages=1003–1017 |doi=10.1080/21670811.2018.1504625 |s2cid=219539486 |issn=2167-0811 |doi-access=free}} It was produced by Newspaper Publishing plc and created by Andreas Whittam Smith, Stephen Glover and Matthew Symonds. All three partners were former journalists at The Daily Telegraph who had left the paper towards the end of Lord Hartwell's ownership. Marcus Sieff was the first chairman of Newspaper Publishing, and Whittam Smith took control of the paper.{{cite news |last=Glover |first=Stephen |title=The Independent: Reflections on the last 20 years |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/the-independent-reflections-on-the-last-20-years-418944.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/the-independent-reflections-on-the-last-20-years-418944.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=3 December 2012 |newspaper=The Independent |date=6 October 2006}}

The paper was created at a time of a fundamental change in British newspaper publishing. Rupert Murdoch was challenging long-accepted practices of the print unions and ultimately defeated them in the Wapping dispute. Consequently, production costs could be reduced which created openings for more competition. As a result of controversy around Murdoch's move to Wapping, the plant was effectively having to function under siege from sacked print workers picketing outside. The Independent attracted some of the staff from the two Murdoch broadsheets who had chosen not to move to his company's new headquarters. Launched with the advertising slogan "It is. Are you?", and challenging both The Guardian for centre-left readers and The Times as the newspaper of record, The Independent reached a circulation of more than 400,000 by 1989. {{citation needed|date=October 2016}}

Competing in a moribund market, The Independent sparked a general freshening of newspaper design as well as, within a few years, a price war in the market sector.

When The Independent launched The Independent on Sunday in 1990, sales were less than anticipated, partly due to the launch of the Sunday Correspondent four months prior, although this direct rival closed at the end of November 1990. Some aspects of production merged with the main paper, although the Sunday paper retained a largely distinct editorial staff.

In the 1990s, The Independent was faced with price cutting by the Murdoch titles, and started an advertising campaign accusing The Times and The Daily Telegraph of reflecting the views of their proprietors, Rupert Murdoch and Conrad Black. It featured spoofs of the other papers' mastheads with the words The Rupert Murdoch or The Conrad Black, with The Independent below the main title.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

{{notatypo|Newspaper Publishing}} had financial problems. A number of other media companies were interested in the paper. Tony O'Reilly's media group and Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) had bought a stake of about a third each by mid-1994. In March 1995, Newspaper Publishing was restructured with a rights issue, splitting the shareholding into O'Reilly's Independent News & Media (43%), MGN (43%), and Prisa (publisher of {{Lang|es|El País}}) (12%).{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Justin |last2=Williams |first2=Andrew |last3=Franklin |first3=Bob |last4=Thomas |first4=James |last5=Mosdell |first5=Nick |url=http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/jomec/resources/QualityIndependenceofBritishJournalism.pdf |title=The Quality and Independence of British Journalism: Tracking the Changes Over 20 Years |publisher=Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, Cardiff University |location=Cardiff |page=61 |access-date=27 December 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065101/http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/jomec/resources/QualityIndependenceofBritishJournalism.pdf |url-status=live }}

In April 1996, there was another refinancing, and in March 1998, O'Reilly bought the other shares of the company for £30 million, and assumed the company's debt. Brendan Hopkins headed Independent News, Andrew Marr was appointed editor of The Independent, and Rosie Boycott became editor of The Independent on Sunday. Marr introduced a dramatic if short-lived redesign which won critical favor but was a commercial failure, partly as a result of a limited promotional budget. Marr admitted his changes had been a mistake in his book, My Trade.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/my-trade-a-short-history-of-british-journalism-by-andrew-marr-6161917.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804034821/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/my-trade-a-short-history-of-british-journalism-by-andrew-marr-6161917.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 August 2012 |location=London |work=The Independent |title=My Trade: A short history of British journalism by Andrew Marr|first=Ivan|last=Fallon |date=12 September 2004}}

Boycott left in April 1998 to join the Daily Express, and Marr left in May 1998, later becoming the BBC's political editor. Simon Kelner was appointed as the editor. By this time, the circulation had fallen below 200,000. Independent News spent heavily to increase circulation, and the paper went through several redesigns. While circulation increased, it did not approach the level which had been achieved in 1989, or restore profitability. Job cuts and financial controls reduced the morale of journalists and the quality of the product.{{cite news |last=Lelic |first=Sarah |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518124835/http://www.mad.co.uk/Logon/ArticleLogon.aspx?uiArticleID=ef7c2624-7002-45f7-96ed-21a040523aef&uiNavigationItemID=&uiPageID=8453a00f-9d1a-404a-beda-339905b6b8b4&PipelinedPage=%2FMain%2FNews%2FArticlex%2Fef7c2624700245f796ed21a040523aef%2FINM-eyes-emIndependentem-profit.html&PipelinedQueryString=uiArticleID%3Def7c2624-7002-45f7-96ed-21a040523aef%26uiNavigationItemID%3Dd8f9fd23-813a-47b2-9696-31d9ca23a265%26 |archive-date=18 May 2007 |url=http://www.mad.co.uk/Logon/ArticleLogon.aspx?uiArticleID=ef7c2624-7002-45f7-96ed-21a040523aef&uiNavigationItemID=&uiPageID=8453a00f-9d1a-404a-beda-339905b6b8b4&PipelinedPage=/Main/News/Articlex/ef7c2624700245f796ed21a040523aef/INM-eyes-emIndependentem-profit.html&PipelinedQueryString=uiArticleID%3def7c2624-7002-45f7-96ed-21a040523aef%26uiNavigationItemID%3dd8f9fd23-813a-47b2-9696-31d9ca23a265%26 |title=INM eyes Independent profit |url-access=subscription |publisher=mad.co.uk |date=19 September 2006 |access-date=28 November 2017 |url-status=live}}

Ivan Fallon, on the board since 1995 and formerly a key figure at The Sunday Times, replaced Hopkins as head of Independent News & Media in July 2002. By mid-2004, the newspaper was losing £5 million per year. A gradual improvement meant that by 2006, circulation was at a nine-year high.

In November 2008, following further staff cuts, production was moved to Northcliffe House, in Kensington High Street, the headquarters of Associated Newspapers.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/nov/28/independent-titles-associated-newspapers-northcliffe-house |title=Independent titles to relocate to Associated Newspapers HQ |work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=28 November 2008 |first=Mark |last=Sweney |date=28 November 2008 |archive-date=23 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223213125/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/nov/28/independent-titles-associated-newspapers-northcliffe-house |url-status=live }} The two newspaper groups' editorial, management and commercial operations remained separate, but they shared services including security, information technology, switchboard and payroll.{{Citation needed|date=December 2017}}

On 25 March 2010, Independent News & Media sold the newspaper to a new company owned by the family of Russian oligarch Alexander Lebedev for a nominal £1 fee and £9.25 million over the next 10 months, choosing this option over closing The Independent and The Independent on Sunday, which would have cost £28 million and £40 million respectively, due to long-term contracts. Alexander's son Evgeny became chairman of the new company, with Alexander becoming a board director.{{cite news |date=25 March 2010 |title=Independent titles sold to Lebedev family company |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/independent-titles-sold-to-lebedev-family-company-1927436.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/independent-titles-sold-to-lebedev-family-company-1927436.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |access-date=25 March 2010 |work=The Independent |location=London}}{{cite news |last1=Bintliff |first1=Esther |title=Lebedev scoops up The Independent for £1 |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f4081652-373c-11df-b542-00144feabdc0.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f4081652-373c-11df-b542-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=20 September 2011 |newspaper=Financial Times |date=25 March 2010 |first2=Ben |last2=Fenton |location=London}} In 2009, Lebedev had bought a controlling stake in the London Evening Standard. Two weeks later, editor Roger Alton resigned.Ponsford, Dominic (9 April 2010) [http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/roger-alton-steps-down-as-independent-editor/ "Roger Alton steps down as Independent editor"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924224758/https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/roger-alton-steps-down-as-independent-editor/ |date=24 September 2018 }}, Press Gazette (London).

In July 2011, The Independent{{'}}s columnist Johann Hari was stripped of the Orwell Prize he had won in 2008 after claims, to which Hari later admitted,{{cite news |last1=Hari |first1=Johann |title=A personal apology |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-a-personal-apology-2354679.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-a-personal-apology-2354679.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Independent |date=15 September 2011}} of plagiarism and inaccuracy.{{cite news |title=Johann Hari: George Orwell prize 'stripping' announcement delays amid plagiarism row|first=Andrew|last=Hough|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/8660473/Johann-Hari-George-Orwell-prize-stripping-announcement-delays-amid-plagiarism-row.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/8660473/Johann-Hari-George-Orwell-prize-stripping-announcement-delays-amid-plagiarism-row.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Telegraph |language=en}}{{cbignore}} In January 2012, Chris Blackhurst, editor of The Independent, told the Leveson inquiry that the scandal had "severely damaged" the newspaper's reputation. He nevertheless told the inquiry that Hari would return as a columnist in "four to five weeks".{{cite news |last1=O'Carroll |first1=Lisa |title=Independent editor: Johann Hari scandal 'severely damaged' paper |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/jan/10/independent-editor-johann-hari-scandal |work=The Guardian |date=10 January 2012 |access-date=28 January 2017 |archive-date=23 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223212832/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/jan/10/independent-editor-johann-hari-scandal |url-status=live }} Hari later announced that he would not return to The Independent.{{cite news |title=Journalist Johann Hari rejects Independent return |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-16663180 |work=BBC News |date=21 January 2012 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-date=3 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703074848/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-16663180 |url-status=live }} Jonathan Foreman contrasted The Independent{{'}}s reaction to the scandal unfavorably with the reaction of American newspapers to similar incidents such as the Jayson Blair case, which led to resignations of editors, "deep soul-searching", and "new standards of exactitude being imposed".{{cite news |last1=Foreman |first1=Jonathan |title=Dirty Hari – Commentary Magazine |url=https://www.commentarymagazine.com/articles/dirty-hari/ |work=Commentary Magazine |access-date=28 January 2017 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202061752/https://www.commentarymagazine.com/articles/dirty-hari/ |url-status=live }} The historian Guy Walters suggested that Hari's fabrications had been an open secret among the newspaper's staff and that their internal inquiry was a "facesaving exercise".{{cite news |last1=Walters |first1=Guy |title=An Open Letter to Andreas Whittam Smith |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/guy-walters/2011/07/johann-hari-independent-prize |work=www.newstatesman.com |language=en|date=26 July 2011 |access-date=28 January 2017 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202034942/http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/guy-walters/2011/07/johann-hari-independent-prize |url-status=live }}

The Independent and The Independent on Sunday endorsed "Remain" in the Brexit referendum{{Cite web |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/the-right-choice-is-to-remain-a7090326.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/the-right-choice-is-to-remain-a7090326.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=The right choice is to remain |date=23 June 2016 |website=The Independent |language=en |access-date=22 February 2019}} of 2016.

In March 2016, The Independent closed its print edition to become a pure play digital media company. The last printed edition was published on Saturday 26 March 2016. The Independent on Sunday published its last edition on 20 March 2016 and was closed.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35561145 |title=Independent to cease as print edition |date=12 February 2016 |work=BBC News |access-date=22 February 2019 |language=en-GB |archive-date=29 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029183143/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35561145 |url-status=live }}

In 2017, Sultan Muhammad Abuljadayel bought a 30% stake in The Independent.{{cite news |last=Woodcock |first=Andrew |date=16 September 2019 |title=Sale of stake in Independent to Saudi investor, Sultan Muhammad Abuljadayel, has 'no influence' on editorial coverage, watchdog rules |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/saudi-arabia-ofcom-independent-ownership-a9107881.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/saudi-arabia-ofcom-independent-ownership-a9107881.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |work=The Independent}}

Geordie Greig was appointed The Independent{{'}}s Editor-in-Chief in January 2023. He oversaw a period of editorial investment.{{Cite news |last=Waterson |first=Jim |last2= |first2= |date=2023-01-04 |title=Geordie Greig appointed editor of the Independent |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/jan/04/geordie-greig-appointed-editor-of-the-independent |access-date=2024-11-09 |work=The Guardian}}

Later that year, Chief Executive of IDNML Zach Leonard moved to the United States as Global COO and President (North America),{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ashley |date=2023-09-06 |title=The Independent is the fastest growing UK news brand in the US |url=https://www.independentadvertising.com/the-independent-is-the-fastest-growing-uk-news-brand-in-the-us/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Independent Advertising |language=en-GB}} and former Editor Christian Broughton was appointed Chief Executive. Louise Thomas was appointed US Editor in March 2024.{{Cite web |last=Boulton |first=Lewis |date=2023-12-20 |title=The Independent appoints Louise Thomas as US Editor |url=https://newsworks.org.uk/news-and-opinion/the-independent-appoints-louise-thomas-as-us-editor/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Newsworks |language=en-GB}}

In 2019, The Independent entered a long-term partnership with the Saudi Research & Media Group, who operate under license the Independent Arabia, Independent Turkish, Independent Persian and Independent Urdu language editions.{{Cite news |last=Waterson |first=Jim |date=2018-07-19 |title=Independent joins Saudi group to launch Middle East websites |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jul/19/independent-joins-saudi-group-to-launch-middle-east-websites |access-date=2024-11-06 |work=The Guardian}}{{Cite web |title=The Independent around the world |url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/journalism-license-srmg-middle-east-news-world-global-a9579111.html |date=20 July 2020 |website=The Independent }} In September 2020, The Independent launched Independent en Español, a wholly owned and operated Spanish language edition.

The Independent began publishing as a broadsheet, in a series of celebrated designs. The final version was designed by Carroll, Dempsey and Thirkell following a commission by Nicholas Garland who, along with Alexander Chancellor, was unhappy with designs produced by Raymond Hawkey and Michael McGuiness – on seeing the proposed designs, Chancellor had said "I thought we were joining a serious paper". The first edition was designed and implemented by Michael Crozier, who was Executive Editor, Design and Picture, from pre-launch in 1986 to 1994.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bookdepository.com/Making-Independent-Michael-Crozier/9780340500613 |title=The Making of the 'Independent' : Michael Crozier : 9780340500613 |website=www.bookdepository.com |access-date=12 May 2019 |archive-date=12 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512133100/https://www.bookdepository.com/Making-Independent-Michael-Crozier/9780340500613 |url-status=live }}

From September 2003, the paper was produced in both broadsheet and tabloid-sized versions, with the same content in each. The tabloid edition was termed "compact" to distance itself from the more sensationalist reporting style usually associated with "tabloid" newspapers in the UK,{{cite news |url=http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/dec2004/nf2004121_9347_db016.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050102085329/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/dec2004/nf2004121_9347_db016.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 January 2005 |title=British papers shrink to conquer |last=Carney |first=Beth |date=1 December 2004 |work=Business Week |access-date=2 May 2009}} preferring to remain focused on hard news (similarly to the tabloid-size edition of The Times.)Hughes, Gary: [https://www.historic-newspapers.co.uk/blog/tabloid-history/ "A History of the Tabloid Newspaper,"] updated 14 December 2021, Historic Newspapers, retrieved 22 May 2024 After launching in the London area and then in North West England,{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/the-independent-announces-launch-of-compact-version-in-northwest-734372.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611012631/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/the-independent-announces-launch-of-compact-version-in-northwest-734372.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 June 2010 |title=The Independent announces launch of compact version in North-west |date=3 November 2003 |work=The Independent |location=UK |access-date=2 May 2009}} the smaller format appeared gradually throughout the UK. Soon afterwards, Rupert Murdoch's Times followed suit, introducing its own tabloid-sized version.{{cite news |url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/197504/Times-tabloid-pushes-sales-50000/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH |title=Times tabloid pushes up sales |last=Billings |first=Claire |date=5 December 2003 |publisher=Brand Republic |access-date=2 May 2009 |archive-date=16 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916194134/http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/197504/Times-tabloid-pushes-sales-50000/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH |url-status=live }} Prior to these changes, The Independent had a daily circulation of around 217,500,{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}} the lowest of any major national British daily, a figure that climbed by 15% as of March 2004 (to 250,000).{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}} Throughout much of 2006, circulation stagnated at a quarter of a million. On 14 May 2004, The Independent produced its last weekday broadsheet, having stopped producing a Saturday broadsheet edition in January.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}} The Independent on Sunday published its last simultaneous broadsheet on 9 October 2005, and thereafter followed a compact design until the print edition was discontinued.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

On 12 April 2005, The Independent redesigned its layout to a more European feel, similar to France's Libération. The redesign was carried out by a Barcelona-based design studio. The weekday second section was subsumed within the main paper, double-page feature articles became common in the main news sections, and there were revisions to the front and back covers.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/apr/12/theindependent.pressandpublishing |title=Independent redesign takes it forward |last=Brook |first=Stephen |date=12 April 2005 |work=The Guardian |location=UK |access-date=2 May 2009 |archive-date=18 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140918183508/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/apr/12/theindependent.pressandpublishing |url-status=live }} A new second section, "Extra", was introduced on 25 April 2006. It is similar to The Guardian{{'}}s "G2" and The Times{{'}}s "Times2", containing features, reportage and games, including sudoku. In June 2007, The Independent on Sunday consolidated its content into a news section which included sports and business, and a magazine focusing on life and culture.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=37809 |title=News magazine look for relaunched Independent on Sunday |first=Dominic |last=Ponsford |magazine=Press Gazette |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229200804/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=37809 |archive-date=29 December 2008}} On 23 September 2008, the main newspaper became full-color, and "Extra" was replaced by an "Independent Life Supplement" focusing on different themes each day.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/sep/23/theindependent.pressandpublishing |work=The Guardian |location=London |title=Independent goes full colour |first=Oliver |last=Luft |date=23 September 2008 |access-date=27 March 2010 |archive-date=7 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307164850/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/sep/23/theindependent.pressandpublishing |url-status=live }}

Three weeks after the acquisition of the paper by Alexander Lebedev and Evgeny Lebedev in 2010, the paper was relaunched with another redesign on 20 April. The new format featured smaller headlines and a new pullout "Viewspaper" section, which contained the paper's comment and feature articles.{{cite web |url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=45328&c=1 |title=Independent relaunch |last=Ponsford |first=Dominic |date=20 April 2010 |work=Press Gazette |access-date=20 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100422175929/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=45328&c=1 |archive-date=22 April 2010}}

Following the 2003 switch in format, The Independent became known for its unorthodox and campaigning front pages, which frequently relied on images, graphics or lists rather than traditional headlines and written news content. For example, following the Kashmir earthquake in 2005, it used its front page to urge its readers to donate to its appeal fund, and following the publication of the Hutton Report into the death of British government scientist David Kelly, its front page simply carried the word "Whitewash?"{{cite news |url=http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/article/521627/Independent-breaks-front-page-mould-again-earthquake-appeal-coupon |title=Independent breaks front page mould again |last=Whitehead |first=Jennifer |date=12 October 2005 |work=PRWeek |access-date=1 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214001222/http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/article/521627/Independent-breaks-front-page-mould-again-earthquake-appeal-coupon |archive-date=14 February 2012}} In 2003, the paper's editor, Simon Kelner, was named "Editor of the Year" at the What the Papers Say awards, partly in recognition of, according to the judges, his "often arresting and imaginative front-page designs".{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/independent-editor-wins-top-award-from-what-the-papers-say-judges-for-second-time-576954.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321123458/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/independent-editor-wins-top-award-from-what-the-papers-say-judges-for-second-time-576954.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 March 2011 |title=Independent editor wins top award |last=Burrell |first=Ian |date=18 December 2003 |work=The Independent |access-date=1 May 2009 |location=London}} In 2008, as he was stepping down as editor, he stated that it was possible to "overdo the formula" and that the style of the paper's front pages perhaps needed "reinvention".{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jun/05/theindependent.pressandpublishing |title=Kelner says it's time to rethink "viewspaper" front pages |last=Brook |first=Stephen |date=5 June 2008 |work=The Guardian |location=UK |access-date=1 May 2009 |archive-date=16 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916042538/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jun/05/theindependent.pressandpublishing |url-status=live }}

Under the subsequent editorship of Chris Blackhurst, the campaigning, poster-style front pages were scaled back in favor of more conventional news stories.{{Cite news |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/chris-blackhurst-independents-new-editor-lays-line/1100483 |website=Campaign |title=Chris Blackhurst: The Independent's new editor lays it on the line|first=Arif|last=Durrani|date=26 October 2011 |access-date=27 December 2017 |archive-date=27 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227235542/https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/chris-blackhurst-independents-new-editor-lays-line/1100483 |url-status=live }}

The weekday, Saturday and Sunday editions of The Independent all included supplements and pull-out subsections:

The Independent{{'}}s original website launched in 1996.

On 23 January 2008, The Independent relaunched its online edition.[https://web.archive.org/web/20080706041210/http://www.independent.co.uk/service/welcome-to-the-independents-new-website-771573.html "Welcome to The Independent's new website"]. The Independent. 23 January 2008.{{cite news |url=http://www.journalism.co.uk/2/articles/530956.php |title=Independent unveils revamped website |work=Journalism.co.uk |date=23 January 2008 |first1=Laura |last1=Oliver |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025023739/http://www.journalism.co.uk/2/articles/530956.php |archive-date=25 October 2008}} The relaunched site introduced a new look, better access to the blog service, priority on image and video content, and additional areas of the site including art, architecture, fashion, gadgets and health. The paper launched podcast programmes such as "The Independent Music Radio Show", "The Independent Travel Guides", "The Independent Sailing Podcasts", and "The Independent Video Travel Guides".

From 2009, the website started carrying short video news bulletins provided by the Al Jazeera English news channel.{{cite news |last=Fitzsimmons |first=Caitlin |date=15 January 2009 |title=Independent in al-Jazeera video tie-up |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jan/15/independent-al-jazeera-video-tie-up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225013601/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jan/15/independent-al-jazeera-video-tie-up |archive-date=25 December 2019 |access-date=1 May 2009 |work=The Guardian |location=London}} Over the years this developed to the point that the website regularly featured video content in its news reports. Some of this was syndicated and sourced from other news channels and providers, but The Independent gradually increased numbers in its own video team. In addition to putting together short-form video news reports, the website soon began producing its own video and podcast series, including explainers, short documentary ‘on the ground' style reports, and lifestyle and culture videos, including since 2017 the award-nominated series Millennial Love, later rebranded Love Lives.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

In 2014, The Independent launched a sister website, i100, a "shareable" journalism site with similarities to Reddit and Upworthy.{{cite web |last=McNally |first=Paul |date=17 July 2014 |title=Why The Independent launched the new user-focused i100 |url=http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/-not-just-another-newspaper-website-why-the-independent-launched-i100/s2/a557405/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125213726/https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/-not-just-another-newspaper-website-why-the-independent-launched-i100/s2/a557405/ |archive-date=25 January 2020 |access-date=8 September 2014 |work=journalism.co.uk}} It was rebranded in 2016 as Indy100.

In late 2020 The Independent launched Independent TV, which saw the title's video offering provided on many formats including on the web browser, in the app, and on Smart TV.{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Ellie |title=Disney + UK: Price, launch info and how to watch on your TV |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/disney-plus-streaming-service-launch-date-cost-how-much-tv-shows-films-when-hulu-a9428046.html |website=Independent UK}}

In March 2023 The Independent released The Body in the Woods, a feature-length documentary by its Chief International Correspondent, Bel Trew.{{Cite web |title=The Body in the Woods {{!}} An Independent TV Original Documentary |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/ukraine-war-russia-documentary-crimes-b2291759.html |website=Independent UK}}

The Independent is generally described as centrist,{{cite book |editor-first=Ann |editor-last=Luce |title=Ethical Reporting of Sensitive Topics |quote=Examining UK publications, she found that the left-leaning The Guardian was enthusiastic, calling it the end of the fossil fuel era; the centrist The Independent labelled the agreement historic but offered a series of cautions; ... |date=2019 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-351-16630-0}} centre-left,{{cite book |editor-first=F. N. |editor-last=Forman|editor2= N. D. J. Baldwin |title=Mastering British Politics |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-WwZCwAAQBAJ&dq=Centre-left+%22The+Independent%22+UK+newspapers&pg=PA149 |date=2007 |page=149 |publisher=Macmillan International Higher Education |isbn=978-1-137-02159-5 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite book |editor-first=Nadia R. |editor-last=Sirhan |title=Mastering British Politics |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2eM_EAAAQBAJ&dq=Centre-left+%22The+Independent%22+UK+newspapers&pg=PA65 |quote=Newspapers in the U.K. can be differentiated politically from left to right with... The Independent a centre-left newspaper... |date=2021 |page=65 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-3-030-17072-1}} liberal,{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/subscribe/our-story |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/subscribe/our-story |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Our Story |website=The Independent |access-date=2 October 2019}} and liberal-left.{{cite book |editor-first=Richard |editor-last=Rudin |title=Broadcasting in the 21st Century |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R6EcBQAAQBAJ&dq=left-liberal+%22The+Independent%22+UK+newspapers&pg=PA112 |quote=...and a man with impeccable liberal credentials, being a former editor of the liberal–left newspaper The Independent. |date=2011 |page=112 |publisher=Macmillan International Higher Education |isbn=978-0-230-34384-9 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} When the paper was established in 1986, the founders intended its political stance to reflect the centre of the British political spectrum and thought that it would attract readers primarily from The Times and The Daily Telegraph. It has been seen as leaning to the left-wing of the political spectrum, making it more a competitor to The Guardian; however, The Independent tends to take a liberal, pro-market stance on economic issues.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/apr/14/theindependent.pressandpublishing |work=The Guardian |location=London |title=It is. Is he? |first=Peter |last=Wilby |date=14 April 2008 |access-date=27 March 2010 |archive-date=19 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219145912/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/apr/14/theindependent.pressandpublishing |url-status=live }} The Independent on Sunday referred to itself as a "proudly liberal newspaper".{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/editorial-a-liberal-gamble-too-far-8468336.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/editorial-a-liberal-gamble-too-far-8468336.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Editorial: a liberal gamble too far |date=27 January 2013 |work=The Independent |location=London}}

The paper has highlighted what it refers to as war crimes being committed by pro-government forces in the Darfur region of Sudan.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/darfur-the-evidence-of-war-crimes-459922.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422162206/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/darfur-the-evidence-of-war-crimes-459922.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 April 2008 |title=Darfur: The evidence of war crimes |last=Grice |first=Andrew |date=2 August 2007 |work=The Independent |access-date=1 May 2009 |location=London}}

The paper has been a strong supporter of electoral reform. In 1997, The Independent on Sunday launched a campaign for the decriminalisation of cannabis. Ten years later, it reversed itself, arguing that skunk, the cannabis strain "smoked by the majority of young Britons" in 2007, had become "25 times stronger than resin sold a decade ago".{{cite news |last1=Owen |first1=Jonathan |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/cannabis-an-apology-440730.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422184722/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/cannabis-an-apology-440730.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 April 2008 |title=Were we out of our minds? No, but then came skunk |date=18 March 2007 |work=The Independent on Sunday |access-date=2 May 2009 |location=London}}

The paper's opinion on the British monarchy has sometimes been described as republican,{{cite news |last=Katawala |first=Sunder |title=The monarchy is more secure than ever |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2012/02/monarchy-jubilee-media-public |access-date=11 August 2019 |newspaper=New Statesman |date=7 February 2012 |archive-date=11 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811003553/https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2012/02/monarchy-jubilee-media-public |url-status=live}} though it officially identifies as reformist, wishing for a reformed monarchy that "reflects the nation over which it reigns and which is accountable to the people for its activities".{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/subscribe/our-story |title=Our Story |work=The Independent |access-date=17 September 2022 |archive-date=18 June 2022 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/subscribe/our-story |url-status=live}} Originally, it avoided royal stories, Whittam Smith later saying he thought the British press was "unduly besotted" with the Royal Family and that a newspaper could "manage without" stories about the monarchy.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/andreas-whittam-smith/debate-the-monarchys-future-but-nothing-will-change-629282.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709181216/http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/andreas-whittam-smith/debate-the-monarchys-future-but-nothing-will-change-629282.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 July 2010 |title=Debate the monarchy's future, but it will change nothing |last=Whittam Smith |first=Andreas |date=11 December 2000 |work=The Independent |access-date=1 May 2009 |location=London}}

In 2007, Alan Rusbridger, editor of The Guardian, said of The Independent: "The emphasis on views, not news, means that the reporting is rather thin, and it loses impact on the front page the more you do that".{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/what-happened-when-the-guardian-editor-met-piers-morgan-442870.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407190633/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/what-happened-when-the-guardian-editor-met-piers-morgan-442870.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 April 2008 |title=What happened when the Guardian editor met Piers Morgan |work=The Independent |author=Morgan, Piers |location=London |date=2 April 2007}} In a 12 June 2007 speech, British Prime Minister Tony Blair called The Independent a "viewspaper", saying it "was started as an antidote to the idea of journalism as views not news. That was why it was called the Independent. Today it is avowedly a viewspaper not merely a newspaper".{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6744581.stm |title=Blair on the media |work=BBC News |date=12 June 2007 |access-date=19 June 2007 |archive-date=23 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070623085431/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6744581.stm |url-status=live }} The Independent criticised Blair's comments the following day;Grice, Andrew (13 June 2007). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20081204102234/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/blairs-attack-provokes-anger-among-newspaper-editors-and-broadcasters-452891.html Blair's attack provokes anger among newspaper editors and broadcasters]". The Independent (London). Retrieved 9 December 2009.{{cite news |author=Kelner, Simon |date=13 June 2007 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/simon-kelner-would-you-be-saying-this-mr-blair-if-we-supported-your-war-in-iraq-452901.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080427050922/http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/simon-kelner-would-you-be-saying-this-mr-blair-if-we-supported-your-war-in-iraq-452901.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 April 2008 |title=Would you be saying this, Mr Blair, if we supported your war in Iraq? |work=The Independent |location=London |access-date=9 December 2009}} it later changed format to include a "Viewspaper" insert in the centre of the regular newspaper, designed to feature most of the opinion columns and arts reviews.

A leader published on the day of the 2008 London mayoral election compared the candidates and said that, if the newspaper had a vote, it would vote first for the Green Party candidate, Siân Berry, noting the similarity between her priorities and those of The Independent, and secondly, with "rather heavy heart", for the incumbent, Ken Livingstone.{{cite news |title=If newspapers had a vote, this one would put its cross beside... (leader) |work=The Independent |date=1 May 2008 |page=28 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-if-newspapers-had-a-vote-this-one-would-put-its-cross-beside-818670.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-if-newspapers-had-a-vote-this-one-would-put-its-cross-beside-818670.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |location=London |quote=So consonant are her priorities with those of this paper that, if we could vote for mayor today, we would place our first-preference cross against her name. This would underscore the importance of the environment to both London and to the rest of the nation. Then, and with rather heavy heart, it would be illogical to do anything other than make Ken Livingstone our second choice.}}

An Ipsos MORI poll estimated that in the 2010 United Kingdom general election, 44% of regular readers voted Liberal Democrat, 32% voted Labour,{{Cite web|url=http://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/poll.aspx?oItemId=2476&view=wide|title=Political Monitor Archive | Ipsos|access-date=10 January 2014|archive-date=11 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111065658/http://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/poll.aspx?oItemId=2476&view=wide|url-status=live}} and 14% voted Conservative, compared to 23%, 29%, and 36%, respectively, of the overall electorate.{{cite web |title=Voting by Newspaper Readership 1992–2010 |url=http://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/2476/Voting-by-Newspaper-Readership-19922010.aspx?view=wide |work=Ipsos MORI General Election aggregates |publisher=Ipsos MORI |access-date=21 September 2011 |author=Ipsos MORI |author-link=Ipsos MORI |date=24 May 2010 |archive-date=21 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921073253/http://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/2476/Voting-by-Newspaper-Readership-19922010.aspx?view=wide |url-status=live }} On the eve of the 2010 general election, The Independent supported the Liberal Democrats, arguing that "they are longstanding and convincing champions of civil liberties, sound economics, international co-operation on the great global challenges and, of course, fundamental electoral reform. These are all principles that this newspaper has long held dear."{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-this-historic-opportunity-must-not-be-missed-1962527.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-this-historic-opportunity-must-not-be-missed-1962527.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=This historic opportunity must not be missed |date=5 May 2010 |work=The Independent |location=London}} However, before the 2015 United Kingdom general election, The Independent on Sunday desisted from advising its readers how to vote, writing that "this does not mean that we are a bloodless, value-free news-sheet. We have always been committed to social justice", but the paper recognised that it was up the readers to "make up [their] own mind about whether you agree with us or not". Rather than support a particular party, the paper urged all its reader to vote as "a responsibility of common citizenship".{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/general-election-2015-every-vote-matters--as-a-responsibility-of-citizenship-10221727.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/general-election-2015-every-vote-matters--as-a-responsibility-of-citizenship-10221727.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=General Election 2015: Every vote matters – as a responsibility of |date=2 May 2015 |work=The Independent}} On 4 May 2015, the weekday version of The Independent said that a continuation of the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition after the general election would be a positive outcome.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/in-defence-of-liberal-democracy-10224221.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/in-defence-of-liberal-democracy-10224221.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Editorial: In defence of liberal democracy |work=The Independent |date=4 May 2015}}

At the end of July 2018, The Independent led a campaign they called the "Final Say", a change.org petition by former editor Christian Broughton, for a binding referendum on the Brexit deal between the UK and the European Union.{{cite news |title=The referendum gave sovereignty to the British people, so now they deserve a final say on the Brexit deal |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/referendum-final-say-no-deal-brexit-peoples-vote-chequers-white-paper-will-of-british-people-a8461331.html |work=The Independent |date=24 July 2018 |no-pp=yes |page=Editorial |access-date=30 July 2018 |language=en-GB |archive-date=30 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730083448/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/referendum-final-say-no-deal-brexit-peoples-vote-chequers-white-paper-will-of-british-people-a8461331.html |url-status=live }}

As of October 2018, Independent Arabia was launched. It is published under license, and owned and managed by Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG), a major publishing organization with close ties to the Saudi royal family.{{cite news |title=Independent's deal with Saudi publisher back under spotlight |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/oct/19/independent-deal-with-saudi-publisher-back-under-spotlight |last1=Waterson |first1=Jim |last2=Kamali Dehghan |first2=Saeed |work=The Guardian |date=19 October 2018 |access-date=24 July 2019 |archive-date=25 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725100833/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/oct/19/independent-deal-with-saudi-publisher-back-under-spotlight |url-status=live }}{{Update inline|date=July 2023|reason=Independent's other branches have released a long time ago}}

In the 2024 United Kingdom general election, The Independent endorsed the Labour Party, although added what it termed as a warning that: “Labour must turn its promises into policies that benefit the hardworking and hopeful people of this country”.{{Cite web |date=29 June 2024 |title=This is why The Independent is backing Labour in the 2024 election |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/labour-2024-election-the-independent-backs-starmer-b2569200.html |access-date=29 June 2024 |website=The Independent}}

There have also been various guest editors over the years, such as Elton John on 1 December 2010, The Body Shop's Anita Roddick on 19 June 2003 and U2's Bono in 2006.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/world-aids-day-special-elton-john-to-edit-the-independent-and-i-2147370.html|title=World Aids Day special: Elton John to edit The Independent and i|newspaper=The Independent|date=30 November 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-anita-changed-the-world-402108.html#ref2|title=How Anita changed the world|first=Michael|last=McCarthy|newspaper=The Independent|date=12 September 2007}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/introducing-bono-the-new-editor-of-the-independent-447777.html|title=Introducing Bono, the new editor of 'The Independent'|first=Cole|last=Moreton|newspaper=The Independent on Sunday|date=14 May 2006}}

;Predominantly in The Independent:

{{dynamic list}}

{{colbegin|colwidth=15em}}

• Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
• Bruce Anderson
• Paul Arden
• Archie Bland
• Thom Brooks
• Andrew Brown (writer)
• Cooper Brown
• Michael Brown
• Simon Calder
• Ben Chu
• Alexa Chung
• Rob Cowan
• Sloane Crosley
• Tracey Emin
• Nigel Farage
• Mitch Feierstein
• Andrew Feinberg
• Helen Fielding
• Robert Fisk
• Eric Garcia
• Chris Gulker
• Ian Hamilton
• Howard Jacobson
• Alex James
• Peter Jenkins
• Owen Jones
• Andrew Keen
• John Rentoul
• Alan Rusbridger
• Kim Sengupta
• Jon Sopel
• Mark Steel
• Rebecca Thomas
• Bel Trew
• Dominic Lawson
• John Lichfield
• Philip Llewellin
• Laura Lyons{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/author/laura-lyons |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/author/laura-lyons |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Laura Lyons |website=The Independent}}
• Andy McSmith
• Donald MacIntyre
• Serena Mackesy
• Tracey MacLeod
• Rhodri Marsden
• Jan McGirk
• Deborah Orr
• Christina Patterson
• Peter Popham
• Simon Read
• Steve Richards
• Lizzie Dearden
• Ash Sarkar
• Alexei Sayle
• Will Self
• LJK Setright
• Mark Steel
• Catherine Townsend
• Paul Vallely
• Brian Viner
• Lynne Walker
• Andreas Whittam Smith
• Claudia Winkleman

{{colend}}

;Predominantly The Independent on Sunday:

{{dynamic list}}

{{colbegin|colwidth=30em}}

• Janet Street-Porter—Editor-at-Large
• Kate Bassett—Theatre
• Patrick Cockburn, John Rentoul, Joan Smith, Paul Vallely, and Alan Watkins—"Comment & Debate"
• Peter Cole—"On the Press"
• Rupert Cornwell—"Out of America"
• Hermione Eyre—Reviews
• Jenny Gilbert—Dance
• Christopher Hirst and Lucinda Rogers—"The Weasel" (weekly illustrated column 1995–2008)
• Dom Joly—"First Up" in The Sunday Review
• Tim Minogue and David Randall—"Observatory"
• Cole Moreton—"News Analysis" (Regular double-spread)
• Anna Picard—Opera and Classical
• Simon Price—Rock and Pop

{{colend}}

• Timothy Allen
• Craig Easton
• Brian Harris

The Independent sponsors the Longford Prize, meant to recognize those who have helped the lives of current or former prisoners, in memory of Lord Longford.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/prisoners-abroad-charity-wins-longford-prize-760111.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/prisoners-abroad-charity-wins-longford-prize-760111.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Prisoners Abroad charity wins Longford prize |last=Morris |first=Nigel |date=23 November 2007 |work=The Independent |access-date=1 May 2009 |location=London}}

{{Infobox newspaper

| name = Independent on Sunday

| type = Sunday newspaper

| editor = Lisa MarkwellHaggerty, Angela (26 April 2013), [http://www.thedrum.com/news/2013/04/26/appointment-lisa-markwell-editor-independent-sunday-announced-owner-twitter "Appointment of Lisa Markwell as editor of Independent on Sunday announced by owner via Twitter"], The Drum. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501040840/http://www.thedrum.com/news/2013/04/26/appointment-lisa-markwell-editor-independent-sunday-announced-owner-twitter |date=1 May 2013 }}.

| circulation = 155,661{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/mar/05/lebedev-buys-independent-newspapers |work=The Guardian |location=London |title=Lebedev buys Independent newspapers |first=Stephen |last=Brook |date=25 March 2010 |access-date=27 March 2010 |archive-date=19 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819192825/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/mar/05/lebedev-buys-independent-newspapers |url-status=live }}

| ISSN = 0958-1723

| oclc = 500339994

| publisher = Independent Print Limited

| format = Broadsheet

| foundation = {{start date and age|1990|df=yes}}

| ceased publication = {{end date|2016|3|20|df=yes}}

| sister newspapers = {{ubl|The Independent|The i Paper (2010–2013)|indy100}}

}}

The Independent on Sunday (IoS) was the Sunday sister newspaper of The Independent. It ceased to exist in 2016, the last edition being published on 20 March.

{{Main|The i Paper}}

In October 2010, the i, a compact sister newspaper, was launched. The i is a separate newspaper but uses some of the same material. It was later sold to regional newspaper company Johnston Press, becoming that publisher's flagship national newspaper, before being sold again. It currently belongs to Daily Mail and General Trust. In 2024, the paper was rebranded as The i Paper.

The online news site indy100 was announced by The Independent in February 2016, to be written by journalists but with stories selected by 'upvotes' from readers.{{cite web |title=About indy100.com |website=The Independent |date=17 February 2016 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/about-indy100-com-a6879446.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/about-indy100-com-a6879446.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=17 May 2022}}

The Independent supported U2 lead singer Bono's Product RED brand by creating The (RED) Independent, an occasional edition that gave half the day's proceeds to the charity.{{cite news |last=Vallely |first=Paul |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/article484149.ece |title=A red revolution on the high street |work=The Independent |date=15 May 2006 |location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060911190134/http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/article484149.ece |archive-date=11 September 2006}} The first edition was in May 2006. Edited by Bono, it drew high sales.{{cite news |url=http://www.newsdesigner.com/archives/002543.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060527115019/http://www.newsdesigner.com/archives/002543.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 May 2006 |title=They found what they were looking for |work=NewsDesigner.com |date=23 May 2006}}

A September 2006 edition of The (RED) Independent, designed by fashion designer Giorgio Armani, drew controversy due to its cover shot, showing model Kate Moss in blackface for an article about AIDS in Africa.{{cite news |last=Pool|first=Hannah|author-link=Hannah Pool |url=https://www.theguardian.com/race/story/0,,1878483,00.html |title=Return to the dark ages |work=The Guardian |date=22 September 2006 |location=London}}

The Pride List was initially labeled as The Pink List, published by the Independent on Sunday on 6 August 2000. It contained a list of the 48 most prominent LGBT people in the UK. This was resurrected as the Pride List in 2023 and 2024.

The Independent was awarded "National Newspaper of the Year" for 2003{{cite news |url=http://www.pressawards.org.uk/page-view.php?pagename=2000-2008-Winners |title=Press Awards Winners 2000–08 |date=16 March 2004 |access-date=2 April 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402232510/http://www.pressawards.org.uk/page-view.php?pagename=2000-2008-Winners |archive-date=2 April 2016}} and the Independent on Sunday was awarded "Front Page of the Year" for 2014's "Here is the news, not the propaganda", printed on 5 October 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.pressawards.org.uk/page-view.php?pagename=Winners-2014 |title=Press Awards: Winners for 2014 |access-date=2 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308205333/http://www.pressawards.org.uk/page-view.php?pagename=Winners-2014 |archive-date=8 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}

In January 2013, The Independent was nominated for the Responsible Media of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards.{{cite news |url=http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/10197507.Winners_honoured_at_British_Muslim_Awards/ |title=Winners honoured at British Muslim Awards |publisher=Asian Image |date=31 January 2013 |access-date=1 November 2015 |archive-date=21 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121173521/http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/10197507.Winners_honoured_at_British_Muslim_Awards/ |url-status=live }}

The Independent journalists have won a range of British Press Awards, including:

• "Business & Finance Journalist of the Year": Michael Harrison, 2000; Hamish McRae, 2005; Stephen Foley, 2008{{Cite web |title=07.10.1986: Founded The Independent - a British newspaper |url=https://timenote.info/en/events/Founded-The-Independent-a-British-newspaper#google_vignette |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=timenote.info |language=en}}
• "Political Journalist of the Year": Francis Elliott (Independent on Sunday), 2005
• "Young Journalist of the Year": Johann Hari, 2002; Ed Caesar, 2006
• "Sports Journalist of the Year": James Lawton, 2010
• "Interviewer of the Year": Mathew Norman, 2007; Deborah Ross, 2011
• "Specialist Journalist of the Year": Michael McCarthy, 2000; Jeremy Laurance, 2011
• "Cartoonist of the Year": Dave Brown, 2012
• "Columnist of the Year": Robert Chalmers (Independent on Sunday), 2004; Mark Steel, 2014 "Foreign Reporter of the Year": Patrick Cockburn, 2014
• Barbara Blake-Hannah Award, Kuba Shand-Baptiste, British Journalism Awards, 2020.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-14 |title=British journalist meets Barbara Blake-Hannah after whom her history-making award is named - Jamaica Observer |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2022/02/14/british-journalist-meets-barbara-blake-hannah-after-whom-her-history-making-award-is-named/ |website=Jamaica Observer}}
• “Best Use of Data”, “Best Diversification of Commercial Strategy”, and “Rising Star (Emily Robinson”, AOP Digital Publishing Awards, 2021{{Cite web |date=2021-09-17 |title=AOP Digital Publishing Awards 2021 – winners announced |url=https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/aop-digital-publishing-awards-2021-winners-announced-18875 |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=InPublishing |language=en}}
• “Publisher of the Year” and “Brqanded Content team of the Year”, The Drum Awards for Online Media, 2022
• “Best Research/Insight Project”, “Best Use of Data”, “Product Development Team of the Year”, and “Best Digital Consumer Publishing Company ‘Grand Prix'” AOP Digital Publishing ASwrads, 2022
• “Best Writer, Lifestyle,” Harriet Hall, BSME Awards 2022{{Cite web |date=2022-05-17 |title=BSME Talent Awards 2022 – shortlist announced |url=https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/bsme-talent-awards-2022-shortlist-announced-20748 |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=InPublishing |language=en}}
• “Breaking Travel News” Simon Calder, Broadcast Programme of the Year” Simon Calder, “National Consumer Feature of the Year” Sian Lewis, “Sustainability Travel feature of the Year”, Mike MacEacheran, Travel Media Awards 2022{{Cite web |date=2022-09-27 |title=Winners of the Travel Media Awards 2022 announced! Celebrating the best of the travel media sector - APL Media |url=https://aplmedia.co.uk/winners-of-the-travel-media-awards-2022-announced-celebrating-the-best-of-the-travel-media-sector/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=aplmedia.co.uk |language=en-GB}}
• Black Talent Awards, “Marketing, Media and Creative” Nadine White, 2022{{Cite web |last=Gavin |first=Jamie |date=2022-08-18 |title=UK's first ever race correspondent shortlisted for Black Talent Award |url=https://www.fipp.com/news/uks-first-ever-race-reporter-shortlisted-for-black-talent-award/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=FIPP |language=en}}
• “The Change-Maker Award”, Beth Gordon, Global Women in Marketing Awards, 2022{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ashley |date=2023-10-20 |title=Global Women in Marketing Awards 2023 shortlist announced including two Independent finalists |url=https://www.independentadvertising.com/women-in-marketing-2023-shortlist-announced-including-two-independent-finalists/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Independent Advertising |language=en-GB}}
• “Foreign Reporter of the Year”, Bel Trew, The Press Awards, 2023{{Cite web |date=2023-03-09 |title=The Independent's Bel Trew wins Foreign Reporter of the Year at The Press Awards |url=https://www.aol.com/independent-bel-trew-wins-foreign-140356698.html |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=A. O. L. |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130141139/https://www.aol.com/independent-bel-trew-wins-foreign-140356698.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAKFl31kB0qYwk3JvJJJWDUU1A67Dt4Bd22fo4lh5aSUDxTTv7K9Wz7CjN3pogw87BT3pmo7MLCyLJMzHEc5O6mIONM4Fn8vmfeNB4JjHjZaD9WO4pNWSuKqk6hfrRZRtGHCMJ_QMQxtcxW4I0ilRa8X2Gpht2l5u8eRhj97FSb3u |archive-date= Nov 30, 2024 }}
• “Brand of the Year”, The Drum Awards for Online Media, 2023{{Cite web |last=Drum |first=The |title=The Drum Awards for Online Media 2023 - Results |url=https://www.onlinemediaawards.net/live/en/page/results |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=www.onlinemediaawards.net |language=en}}
• “Campaign of the Year” (With The Evening Standard) SOE Media Freedom Awards, 2023{{Cite web |title=Media Freedom Awards 2023 winners – Society of Editors |url=https://www.societyofeditors.org/events/media-freedom-awards-2023/media-freedom-awards-2023-winners/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |language=en-GB}}
• “The Marie Colvin Award”, Bel Trew, British Journalism Awards, 2023{{Cite web |title=Independent's Bel Trew wins prestigious award - Read this story on Magzter.com |url=https://www.magzter.com/stories/newspaper/The-Independent/INDEPENDENTS-BEL-TREW-WINS-PRESTIGIOUS-AWARD |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=www.magzter.com |language=en}}
• “The Bill Murray Award for Outstanding Contribution to Digital Publishing, Jo Holdaway, AOP Digital Publishing Awards, 2024{{Cite web |title=The Bill Murray Award |url=https://www.ukaop.org/digital-publishing-awards/the-bill-murray-award |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=AOP |language=en}}
• “Corporate and Utilities”, Campaign Media Awards, 2024.{{Cite web |title=Campaign Media Awards winners 2024: Commercial Team of the Year |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/campaign-media-awards-winners-2024-commercial-team-year/1869084 |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=www.campaignlive.co.uk |language=en}}

The Independent is regularly referenced in the Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso as the employer of recurring character Trent Crimm (James Lance), a sceptical reporter who is very critical of Ted's coaching but touched by his compassion.{{Cite web |last=Perkins |first=Dennis |date=12 August 2021 |title=Hannah Waddingham tells Seth Meyers it's no shame that all the Ted Lasso boys love show tunes |url=https://www.avclub.com/hannah-waddingham-tells-seth-meyers-its-no-shame-that-a-1847471920 |access-date=18 August 2021 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en-us |archive-date=18 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818050224/https://www.avclub.com/hannah-waddingham-tells-seth-meyers-its-no-shame-that-a-1847471920 |url-status=live }}

• Independent Foreign Fiction Prize
• Brett Straub incident

{{Reflist}}

• The Independent:
• [https://www.independent.co.uk/ U.K. edition]
• [https://www.the-independent.com/ U.S. edition]
• [https://www.independent.co.uk/asia Asia edition]
• [https://www.independentespanol.com/ Spanish-language edition]
• {{Commons category-inline}}
• {{Twitter|id=Independent}}

{{People's Vote}}

{{Defunct newspapers of the United Kingdom}}

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