Daily Mail's Dacre Is The Editors' Favourite

Britain's editors rate the Daily Mail's Paul Dacre as the 'most impressive' among their ranks, according to MORI's latest survey. Dacre was the favourite, ahead of second place Independent's Simon Kelner, in MORI's biennial rankings.

MORI asked 30 British editors to name spontaneously the editor they thought most impressive (apart from themselves). One in three editors (up three votes since 2002) named Paul Dacre, far ahead of all his peers. The Independent's Simon Kelner secured second place with five votes out of the 30 'electorate', followed by the Guardian's Alan Rusbridger with four votes. Paul Dacre took first place in the 1998 and 2000 MORI surveys but narrowly lost to Alan Rusbridger in 2002.

Simon Kelner did not receive a single vote in the previous two studies. With five votes this year, he eroded Alan Rusbridger's pre-eminent position. Rusbridger received only half as many nominations as he did in 2002. Only one other editor receives more than one mention from his peers; the Observer's Roger Alton, who gets two votes this time.

Technical details

MORI conducted in-depth face-to-face interviews among 30 British editors between 13 September and 29 October 2004.

This survey is one of a number in MORI's multi-client research series. Part of MORI's Reputation Centre, these multi-client studies are a cost-effective way to monitor reputation and communications. MORI's research studies are conducted among elite groups, such as MPs, specialist journalists, captains of industry and City investors and analysts. (see www.ipsos-mori.com/kit for full details.)

Most Impressive British Editor — Trends

Q Who, in your opinion, is the most impressive British Editor at the moment?

One mention each: Andy Coulson (News of the World), Andrew Marr (Political Editor, BBC News), Bill Emmott (Economist), Ian Hislop (Private Eye), Robert Thompson (The Times), Richard Wallace (The Daily Mirror), Jim Gray (Channel Four News), Dominic Lawson (The Sunday Telegraph).