the Observer

The first issue was published on 4 December 1791 by W.S. Bourne, making The Observer the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.{{cite web |date=5 June 2002 |orig-date=updated 22 April 2025 |title=History of the Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/gnm-archive/2002/jun/06/2 |department=Guardian News & Media archive |website=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250510204303/https://www.theguardian.com/gnm-archive/2002/jun/06/2 |archive-date=10 May 2025 }}{{cite web |last1=King |first1=Ben |date=17 September 2024 |title=Guardian in talks to sell world's oldest Sunday paper |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy80n75g5w1o |publisher=BBC News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918012816/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy80n75g5w1o |archive-date=18 September 2024 }} Believing that the paper would be a means of wealth, Bourne instead soon found himself facing debts of nearly £1,600. Though early editions purported editorial independence, Bourne attempted to cut his losses and sell the title to the government. When this failed, Bourne's brother (a wealthy businessman) made an offer to the government, which also refused to buy the paper but agreed to subsidise it in return for influence over its editorial content. As a result, the paper soon took a strong line against progressive reformers such as Thomas Paine, Francis Burdett and Joseph Priestley – in contrast to with its contemporary centre-left leaning.{{citation

| author = John Simkin

| title = Sunday Observer

| url = https://spartacus-educational.com/PRsundayobserver.htm

| website = Spartacus Educational

| orig-date = September 1997

| date = January 2020

| access-date = 2025-02-20

}}

In 1807, the brothers decided to relinquish editorial control, naming Lewis Doxat as the new editor. Seven years later, the brothers sold The Observer to William Innell Clement, a newspaper proprietor who owned a number of publications. The paper continued to receive government subsidies during this period; in 1819, of the approximately 23,000 copies of the paper distributed weekly, approximately 10,000 were given away as "specimen copies", distributed by postmen who were paid to deliver them to "lawyers, doctors, and gentlemen of the town."Dennis Griffiths (ed.), The Encyclopedia of the British Press, 1422–1992, London and Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1992, p. 159.

Clement maintained ownership of The Observer until his death in 1852.{{Cn|date=November 2022}} After Doxat retired in 1857, Clement's heirs sold the paper to Joseph Snowe, who also took over the editor's chair.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

In 1870, wealthy businessman Julius Beer bought the paper and appointed Edward Dicey as editor, whose efforts succeeded in reviving circulation. Though Beer's son Frederick became the owner upon Julius's death in 1880, he had little interest in the newspaper and was content to leave Dicey as editor until 1889.{{Cn|date=November 2022}} Henry Duff Traill took over the editorship after Dicey's departure, only to be replaced in 1891 by Frederick's wife, Rachel Beer, of the Sassoon family. She remained as editor for thirteen years, combining it in 1893 with the editorship of The Sunday Times, a newspaper that she had also bought..{{cite web

| title = A brief history of The Observer (1791 to 2006)

| url = http://www.adinfo-guardian.co.uk/the-observer/observer-history.shtml

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090917013231/http://www.adinfo-guardian.co.uk/the-observer/observer-history.shtml

| archive-date = 2009-09-17

}}

Upon Frederick's death in 1903, the paper was purchased by the newspaper magnate Lord Northcliffe. In 1911, William Waldorf Astor was approached by James Louis Garvin, the editor of The Observer, about purchasing the newspaper from Northcliffe. Northcliffe and Garvin had a disagreement over the issue of Imperial Preference, and Northcliffe had given Garvin the option of finding a buyer for the paper.

Northcliffe sold the paper to Astor, who transferred ownership to his son Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor four years later. Astor convinced his father to purchase the paper, which William did on the condition that Garvin also agree to edit the Pall Mall Gazette, which was also a property of the Astor family.Alfred M. Gollin, The Observer and J. L. Garvin, 1908–1914 (London: Oxford University Press, 1960), pgs. 300–303. Garvin departed as editor in 1942.{{Cn|date=November 2022}}

Ownership passed to Waldorf's sons in 1948, with David Astor taking over as editor. He remained in the position for 27 years, during which time he turned it into a trust-owned newspaper employing, among others, George Orwell, Paul Jennings and C. A. Lejeune. In 1977, the Astors sold the ailing newspaper to US oil giant Atlantic Richfield (now called ARCO) who sold it to Lonrho plc in 1981.{{Cn|date=November 2022}}

It became part of the Guardian Media Group in June 1993, after a rival acquisition bid by The Independent was rejected.{{cite news |last1=Leapman |first1=Michael |title=New editor chosen for 'Observer': 'Guardian' deputy to succeed Trelford |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/new-editor-chosen-for-observer-guardian-deputy-to-succeed-trelford-2322911.html |access-date=22 October 2023 |work=The Independent |date=15 May 1993}}

Farzad Bazoft, a journalist for The Observer, was executed in Iraq in 1990 on charges of spying. In 2003, The Observer interviewed the Iraqi colonel who had arrested and interrogated Bazoft and who was convinced that Bazoft was not a spy.{{cite news |last1=Vulliamy |first1=Ed |title=Writer hanged by Iraq 'no spy' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/may/18/Iraqandthemedia.iraq |access-date=22 October 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=18 May 2003}}

On 27 February 2005, The Observer Blog[https://www.theguardian.com/news/observerblog Observer blog], accessed 27 February 2007. was launched. In addition to the weekly Observer Magazine colour supplement which is still present every Sunday, for several years each issue of The Observer came with a different free monthly magazine. These magazines had the titles Observer Sport Monthly, Observer Music Monthly, Observer Woman and Observer Food Monthly.

Content from The Observer is included in The Guardian Weekly for an international readership.

The Observer followed its daily partner The Guardian and converted to Berliner format on Sunday 8 January 2006.Claire Cozens, [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/dec/19/theobserver.pressandpublishing "Observer announces relaunch date"], The Observer, 19 December 2005; accessed 27 February 2007.[https://www.theguardian.com/gnm-archive The archive – summary of holdings], accessed 27 February 2007.

The Observer was awarded the National Newspaper of the Year at the British Press Awards 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.pressawards.org.uk/page-view.php?pagename=2000-2008-Winners |title=Press Awards |first=Magstar |last=Ltd |website=www.pressawards.org.uk |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}} Editor Roger Alton stepped down at the end of 2007, and was replaced by his deputy, John Mulholland.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jan/03/theobserver.pressandpublishing |title=Mulholland reshapes Observer team |author=Stephen Brook |work=The Guardian |date=3 January 2008 |access-date=17 February 2008}}

The paper was banned in Egypt in February 2008 for publishing cartoons of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.{{cite news|title=Der Spiegel issue on Islam banned in Egypt|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20080402-der-spiegel-issue-islam-banned-egypt-egypt-germany|access-date=29 September 2013|work=France24|date=2 April 2008}}

In early 2010, the paper was restyled. An article on the paper's website previewing the new version stated that "The News section, which will incorporate Business and personal finance, will be home to a new section, Seven Days, offering a complete round-up of the previous week's main news from Britain and around the world, and will also focus on more analysis and comment."John Mulholland, [https://www.theguardian.com/help/insideguardian/2010/feb/21/new-observer "Welcome to the new Observer"], Guardian.co.uk, 21 February 2010.

In July 2021, Ofcom announced that The Guardian continued to be the UK's most widely used newspaper website and app for news and had increased its audience share by 1% over the preceding year. 23% of consumers, who used websites or apps for news, used The Guardian, which also hosts The Observer online content. This compared to 22% for the Daily Mail website.{{Cite web |last=Gayle |first=Damien |date=28 July 2021 |title=Guardian most widely used newspaper website and app for news, says Ofcom |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/jul/28/the-guardian-most-widely-used-newspaper-website-and-app-for-news-according-to-ofcom |website=The Guardian}}

In September 2024, The Guardian revealed it was in talks to sell The Observer to news website Tortoise Media.{{cite web |last1=Warrington |first1=James |last2=Mawardi |first2=Adam |title=The Guardian in talks to sell The Observer to former BBC News chief |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/09/17/the-guardian-accounts-sell-observer-tortoise/ |website=The Telegraph |access-date=20 September 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240918090828/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/09/17/the-guardian-accounts-sell-observer-tortoise/ |archive-date=18 September 2024 |date=17 September 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Farber |first1=Alex |last2=Cahill |first2=Helen |title=Guardian Media Group in talks to sell The Observer |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/guardian-media-group-in-talks-to-sell-the-observer-jkq9mpq6x |website=The Times |access-date=20 September 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240918051757/https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/guardian-media-group-in-talks-to-sell-the-observer-jkq9mpq6x |archive-date=18 September 2024 |language=en |date=17 September 2024}} Journalists at Guardian Media Group passed a vote to condemn the sale and passed a vote of no confidence in the newspaper’s owners, accusing it of betrayal amid concerns that the sale of the paper could harm the financial security of staff members.{{cite web |last1=Cahill |first1=Helen |last2=Farber |first2=Alex |title=Journalists revolt over planned sale of Observer to Tortoise Media |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/journalists-revolt-over-planned-sale-of-observer-to-tortoise-media-6zbf2bt89 |website=The Times |access-date=20 September 2024 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240919165824/https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/journalists-revolt-over-planned-sale-of-observer-to-tortoise-media-6zbf2bt89 |archive-date=19 September 2024 |language=en |date=19 September 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Warrington |first1=James |title=Guardian staff accuse management of 'betrayal' over Observer sale talks |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/09/19/guardian-staff-accuse-management-of-betrayal-over-observer/ |website=The Telegraph |access-date=20 September 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240919075850/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/09/19/guardian-staff-accuse-management-of-betrayal-over-observer/ |archive-date=19 September 2024 |date=19 September 2024}} On 6 December 2024, it was announced that, despite 48 hours of strikes by journalists, the Observer deal with Tortoise was agreed in principle and would go ahead. The agreement included the Trust taking a significant stock position in the purchaser. The final sale price has not been disclosed.{{Cite news |date=2024-12-06 |title=Sale of the Observer to Tortoise Media agreed in principle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/dec/06/sale-of-observer-to-tortoise-media-agreed-in-principle |access-date=2024-12-06 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB }}{{cite news |last1=Ponsford |first1=Dominic |title=Scott Trust approves sale of The Observer to Tortoise Media |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/nationals/observer-sold-tortoise-media/ |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=Press Gazette |date=6 December 2024}}

On 18 December 2024, Guardian Media and Tortoise Media closed the sale. A new website was launched on 25 April 2025 and the first print edition under the new owners appeared on 27 April 2025.

After the paper was rejuvenated in early 2010, the main paper came with only a small number of supplements – Sport, The Observer Magazine, The New Review and The New York Times International Weekly, an 8-page supplement of articles selected from The New York Times that has been distributed with the paper since 2007. Every four weeks the paper includes The Observer Food Monthly magazine, and in September 2013 it launched Observer Tech Monthly,{{cite web|title=Observer to launch new monthly technology supplement|author=Gavriel Hollander|url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/observer-launch-new-monthly-technology-supplement|website=Press Gazette|date=27 August 2003|access-date=21 May 2015}} a science and technology section which won the Grand Prix at the 2014 Newspaper Awards.{{cite web|title=Observer wins top prize at 2014 Newspaper Awards|url=https://www.theguardian.com/gnm-press-office/observer-wins-top-prize-at-newspaper-awards|website=The Guardian|date=2 April 2014|access-date=21 May 2015}}

Previously, the main paper had come with a larger range of supplements including Sport, Business & Media, Review, Escape (a travel supplement), The Observer Magazine and various special interest monthlies, such as The Observer Food Monthly, Observer Women monthly which was launched in 2006,{{cite journal|title=New editor at the FINANCIAL TIMES|journal=Press Business|date=February 2006|issue=1|url=http://www.press-business.com/pdf/2006_01_press_business.pdf|access-date=7 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014110104/http://www.press-business.com/pdf/2006_01_press_business.pdf|archive-date=14 October 2013}} Observer Sport Monthly and The Observer Film Magazine.

{{Update section|date=May 2025|reason=Newsroom has been closed since 2008|inaccurate=yes}}

The Observer and its sister newspaper The Guardian operate a visitor centre in London called The Newsroom. It contains their archives, including bound copies of old editions, a photographic library and other items such as diaries, letters and notebooks. This material may be consulted by members of the public. The Newsroom also mounts temporary exhibitions and runs an educational programme for schools.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

In November 2007, The Observer and The Guardian made their archives available over the Internet.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/info/2017/jun/26/how-to-access-guardian-and-observer-digital-archive|title=How to access past articles from the Guardian and Observer archive|date=15 November 2017|website=The Guardian}} The current extent of the archives available is 1791 to 2000 for The Observer and 1821 to 2000 for The Guardian. They will eventually go up to 2003. In 2023, copies from 2004 onwards and gaps were to be filled to latest edition.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

• W. S. Bourne & W. H. Bourne (1791–1807)
• Lewis Doxat (1807–1857)
• Joseph Snowe (1857–1870)
• Edward Dicey (1870–1889)
• Henry Duff Traill (1889–1891)
• Rachel Beer (1891–1904)
• Austin Harrison (1904–1908)
• James Louis Garvin (1908–1942)
• Ivor Brown (1942–1948)
• David Astor (1948–1975)
• Donald Trelford (1975–1993)
• Jonathan Fenby (1993–1995)
• Andrew Jaspan (1995–1996)
• Will Hutton (1996–1998)
• Roger Alton (1998–2007)
• John Mulholland (2008–2018)
• Paul Webster (2018–2024){{cite press release|url=https://www.theguardian.com/gnm-press-office/2018/jan/18/paul-webster-appointed-new-editor-of-the-observer|title=Paul Webster appointed new editor of The Observer|date=18 January 2018|access-date= 24 April 2020|website=The Guardian}}
• Lucy Rock (2024–){{cite press release|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/dec/18/observer-appoints-lucy-rock-as-editor-as-tortoise-media-sale-confirmed|title=Observer appointed Lucy Rock as editor|date=18 December 2024|access-date= 9 February 2025|website=The Guardian}}

• Jane Bown (resident from 1949 until her death in 2014)
• Stuart Heydinger (1960–1966){{cite news|author=Greg Whitmore|access-date=3 November 2019|title=Stuart Heydinger obituary|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/nov/03/stuart-heydinger-obituary|newspaper=The Guardian|date=3 November 2019|via=www.theguardian.com}}
• Antonio Olmos (freelance)
• Harry Borden (freelance)
• Michael Peto (freelance)
• Colin Jones (freelance)
• Dean Chalkley (freelance)
• Don McCullin (freelance)
• Philip Jones Griffiths (freelance)
• Giles Duley (freelance)

The Observer was named the British Press Awards National Newspaper of the Year for 2006.Press Gazette, [http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/hybrid.asp?typeCode=99&navcode=92# Roll of Honour], accessed 24 July 2011. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616181807/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/hybrid.asp?typeCode=99&navcode=92|date=16 June 2011}}. Its supplements have three times won "Regular Supplement of the Year" (Sport Monthly, 2001; Food Monthly, 2006, 2012).

Observer journalists have won a range of British Press Awards, including

• "Interviewer of the Year" (Lynn Barber, 2001; Sean O'Hagan, 2002; Rachel Cooke, 2005; Chrissy Iley (freelance for Observer and Sunday Times magazine), 2007)
• "Critic of the Year" (Jay Rayner, 2005; Philip French, 2008; Rowan Moore, 2013)
• "Food & Drink Writer of the Year" (John Carlin, 2003)
• "Travel Writer of the Year" (Tim Moore, 2004)

• {{Portal-inline|Journalism}}
• {{Portal-inline|London}}
• Observer Mace – debating tournament, now known as the John Smith Memorial Mace

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• Richard Cockett (1990), David Astor and The Observer, André Deutsch, London. 294 pp. with index. {{ISBN|0-233-98735-5}}. Has endpapers that are facsimiles of The Observer, with other black-and-white photographic plates of personnel linked to the newspaper.
• Jane Bown (2015), A Lifetime of Looking, Faber & Faber Ltd.{{ISBN|1-783-35088-1}}. Contains the most iconic photos she took for The Observer from 1949 to the last photo she took a few months before her death in December 2014. Photos include The Beatles, Mick Jagger, the Queen, John Betjeman and Björk.

{{commons category}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://www.theguardian.com/observer former website as part of The Guardian]
• [https://www.theguardian.com/info/2012/jul/25/digital-archive-notice DigitalArchive paid-for service]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20051028140700/http://www.gmgplc.co.uk/gmgplc/aboutus/abthistory/ History of the Guardian Media Group 1821–2004]; as of 28 October 2005; Guardian Media Group
• [https://www.theguardian.com/gnm-archive/2002/jun/11/2 Observer timeline]
• [https://www.theguardian.com/gnm-archive/2002/jun/06/2 History of the Observer]

{{Guardian Media Group}}

{{Media in the United Kingdom|newsmag}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Observer}}

Category:1791 establishments in England

Category:Centre-left newspapers

Category:Guardian Media Group

Category:Liberal media in the United Kingdom

Category:National newspapers published in the United Kingdom

Category:Publications established in 1791

Category:Republicanism in the United Kingdom

Category:Sunday newspapers published in the United Kingdom