Louis Kirby (30 November 1928–14 October 2006) was aBritishnewspaper editor.
In 1971, theSketch merged with theMail.Sketch editorDavid English was appointed as editor of the merged newspaper, leaving Kirby as acting editor of the last editions of theSketch. He then moved to join English, becoming Deputy Editor of theMail.[1]
Kirby was born inLiverpool and grew up inCoalbrookdale. His first job was as a reporter on theWolverhampton Express and Star, then in 1949 he moved toBermuda where he worked atThe Royal Gazette. In 1951 he returned to Britain to work as a freelance, then joined theDaily Mail in 1953. He became theMail's lobby correspondent, then in 1962 became Chief Reporter with theDaily Sketch, and in 1969 was promoted to Executive Editor.[2] Kirby became editor of theLondon daily, theEvening News in 1974, and completed its transformation frombroadsheet totabloid.[1] Negotiations to merge theEvening News with its competitor, theEvening Standard began in 1976, but failed to make progress due to a dispute over who should edit a merged paper.[2] Circulation of theEvening News continued to fall under Kirby's editorship, and in 1979, the paper stopped publishing a Saturday edition.[1]
The two papers finally merged in November 1980 to produce theNew Standard, soon named theEvening Standard once more.[1] Kirby was appointed editor, and made more than 100 journalists redundant, most from theEvening News. He stepped down in 1986, becoming Editorial Director of Mail Newspapers. From 1988 to 1993 he was political consultant to theDaily Mail, then until 2003 he was editor of theUK Mail, a weekly news digest.[2]
Kirby was married three times, producing five children with his first wife, two with his second and two more with his third.[3]
| Media offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Acting Editor of theDaily Sketch 1971 | Succeeded by Position abolished |
| Preceded by Bruce Rothwell | Deputy Editor of theDaily Mail 1971–1974 | Succeeded by ? |
| Preceded by | Editor of theEvening News 1974–1980 | Succeeded by Position abolished |
| Preceded by | Editor of theEvening Standard 1980–1986 | Succeeded by |