Harold Evans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harold Evans
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Evans in 2009
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| Born |
Harold Matthew Evans
28 June 1928 Eccles, England
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| Died | 23 September 2020 (aged 92) New York City, U.S.
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| Nationality | British and American |
| Alma mater | University College, Durham |
| Occupation | Journalist |
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Notable credit(s)
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The Sunday Times The Week The Guardian BBC Radio 4 |
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| Children | 5 |
Sir Harold Matthew Evans (born June 28, 1928 – died September 23, 2020) was a famous British-American journalist and writer. He was known for his strong belief in telling the truth and fighting for what was right. He worked as an editor for major newspapers like The Sunday Times and The Times in Britain. Later, he moved to the United States and became an American citizen, continuing his important work in journalism.
One of his most famous achievements was leading a campaign at The Sunday Times to help families affected by a drug called thalidomide. This drug caused severe birth defects in children, and Evans fought hard to get compensation for the families. He was honored as a Knight Bachelor in 2004 for his great contributions to journalism.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Harold Evans was born in Eccles, England. He was the oldest of four brothers. His parents were from Wales. His father was an engine driver, and his mother ran a small shop from their home.
Harold didn't pass the test to get into a grammar school, which was a special type of school in Britain. Instead, he went to St Mary's Central School in Manchester and then a business school. There, he learned shorthand, which is a fast way of writing, a key skill for journalists.
He started his journalism career very young, at just 16 years old. He worked as a reporter for a local newspaper in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Starting His Journalism Career
After serving in the Royal Air Force for a few years, Harold Evans went to Durham University. He was one of the few people who got into a university after contacting every single one in Britain! While studying economics and politics, he edited the university's newspaper, Palatinate. He graduated in 1952.
After university, he became a sub-editor at the Manchester Evening News. He even traveled to India to teach newspaper techniques. In 1956, he won a special fellowship that allowed him to study in the United States at universities like Chicago and Stanford.
When he returned to the UK, he became an assistant editor. In 1961, he became the editor of a regional newspaper called The Northern Echo. While there, he successfully campaigned to pardon Timothy Evans, a man who had been wrongly convicted and executed for murder. This showed Harold's dedication to justice.
In 1966, Harold Evans moved to London to work for The Sunday Times. Soon after, he became the editor of the newspaper in 1967.
Fighting for Justice: The Sunday Times Years
As editor of The Sunday Times, Harold Evans led many important investigations. One early story exposed Kim Philby as a spy for Russia. Even when the government tried to stop him from publishing, he went ahead because he believed it was important for the public to know.
The Thalidomide Campaign
One of his most famous and important campaigns was about thalidomide. This drug was given to pregnant mothers for morning sickness, but it caused thousands of children to be born with severe limb deformities. The families had not received any money from the drug manufacturers.
Harold Evans organized his newspaper's investigative team, called Insight, to look into the case. He fought against the drug companies in court. Eventually, he won a major victory in the European Court of Human Rights in 1979. This ruling forced the British government to change its laws, allowing newspapers to report on civil cases more freely. Because of Evans' campaign, the families of thalidomide victims finally received £32.5 million in compensation. A documentary film about this campaign was made in 2016.
Another time, the British government tried to stop him from publishing parts of a former government minister's diaries. Evans risked being prosecuted, but a judge ruled that publishing the diaries was not against the public interest.
A New Chapter: The Times and Beyond
In 1981, Rupert Murdoch bought The Sunday Times and its sister paper, The Times. Murdoch appointed Harold Evans as the editor of The Times. However, Evans only stayed for a year. He resigned because he had different ideas from Murdoch about how independent a newspaper's editorial decisions should be. Evans believed in strong editorial independence, meaning the newspaper's content should not be controlled by its owners. He wrote a book about this experience called Good Times, Bad Times.
After leaving The Times, Evans worked for a film and television company.
Moving to America
In 1984, Harold Evans and his wife, Tina Brown, moved to the United States. He taught at universities like Duke University and Yale University. He also held important roles at American publications such as U.S. News & World Report and the New York Daily News.
In 1986, he founded Condé Nast Traveler magazine. He made a rule that the staff could not accept free travel or hospitality from the places they wrote about. This was to make sure their reporting was always fair and honest.
From 1990 to 1997, he was the president and publisher of Random House, a major book publishing company. He worked with many famous authors. He even bought the rights to a memoir called Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama, who was just starting his political career at the time.
In 1993, Harold Evans became a naturalized United States citizen, holding dual British and American nationality. He continued to write books on history and journalism, including The American Century (1998) and They Made America (2004), which was about important American inventors.
From 2001, he was an editor-at-large for The Week magazine. He also contributed to The Guardian newspaper and BBC Radio 4. In 2011, he became editor-at-large for the Reuters news agency.
His Legacy and Awards
Harold Evans was recognized for his outstanding work in journalism throughout his life.
- In 1980, he received the Hood Medal for his public service in photography.
- In 2000, he was named one of the International Press Institute's 50 World Press Freedom Heroes of the past fifty years.
- In 2004, Queen Elizabeth II appointed him a Knight Bachelor for his services to journalism. This means he was given the title "Sir."
- In 2015, he received an award for his outstanding contribution to publishing.
Harold Evans passed away in New York City on September 23, 2020, at the age of 92, due to heart failure. He left behind a powerful legacy as a journalist who always fought for truth and justice.
See also
In Spanish: Harold Evans para niños
