Daily Mail
In a year of extraordinary turmoil at home and abroad, no paper could touch the Mail for quality and impact in 2023. Hard-hitting investigations agenda-setting exclusives, fearless on-the-ground reporting and award-winning commentary were mixed with brilliant features, uplifting interviews and joyful sections to give readers an unbeatable package that left rivals trailing in our wake. How do we know? Because the Mail, already Britain’s best-selling paper, grew its market lead by 5%, drove digital subscriptions to an all-time high, now selling more copies than The Times, Express, Mirror and Guardian combined.
Impactful investigations and campaigns
• Corrupt migrant lawyers exposed: Our explosive undercover investigation resulted in a crackdown from No10 and an urgent sector review by the solicitors’ watchdog.
• Albanian Narcos: At extraordinary personal risk, veteran reporter Stephen Wright spent a month in Ecuador investigating the rise of the cocaine-dealing Albanian mafia. Wright’s print and digital package led to the ringleader’s arrest.
• Child “ST”: Both before and after her tragic death, we championed the plight of Sudiksha Thirumalesh – or “Child ST” – in her fight with the opaque Court of Protection. • Secret Justice: Just 24 hours into our campaign against draconian police proposals to withhold the names of suspects charged with crimes, the guidance was ditched. • Stop the Social Media Scammers: We fought for victims of this ever-increasing crime – winning them hundreds of thousands of pounds and greater protections in law.
Jaw-dropping scoops
• Phillip Schofield: In the face of persistent legal threats, we led the way by revealing Phillip Schofield’s relationship with a much younger colleague – and his repeated lies. • Lawrence Killer’s Sickening Selfies from Prison: Our revelation resulted in an immediate investigation into murderer David Norris – and a wider prison crackdown. • Red Arrows Sexual Harassment: Our discoveries brought about two sackings – now the RAF’s failings are subject to a public inquiry.
• £2500 to Smuggle Foreign Criminals Out of the UK: Thanks to the Mail, the trafficker helping fugitives flee justice is himself in jail.
Podcasts that broke the mould
Our acclaimed Trial of Lucy Letby podcast was the first to take on the daunting task of reporting an ongoing jury trial – with astonishing results. A staggering 14 million tuned in, bringing a new meaning to open justice.
Unbeatable foreign reporting
The Mail was in Ukraine from day one and – 20 months and a £12 million fundraiser later – we are still there, sending back vivid frontline despatches and analysis. Mail readers learnt first:
• How exiled Russian news anchor Marina Ovsyannikova escaped Putin’s grasp. • What it feels like to give birth in bomb-hit Kyiv. • What fashion designer Paul Smith had to say about his company operating in Russia.
• How oligarchs’ lives in the UK are unaffected by sanctions.
And our team scrambled within hours of Hamas’ attacks – staying for weeks to report first-hand from Israel and now from inside Gaza too.
Unrivalled features and analysis No one beats the Mail for features, commentary and interviews.
In 2023, our legendary roster of columnists led the way. From big-hitters like Boris Johnson, Sarah Vine, Richard Littlejohn, Andrew Neil and Jan Moir to new voices such as Nana Akua – all provoked debate, punctured pomposity, and skewered hypocrisy on even the most controversial topics.
Renowned Royal heavyweights Richard Kay and Robert Hardman had the perfect showcase in a historic Coronation year, alongside our fearless Palace Confidential panel, led by Diary supremo Richard Eden.
And we were the first to interview:
• David Hunter, who killed his wife in Cyprus to spare her an agonising death.
• Richard Spencer, whose wife was convicted of horrific domestic abuse.
• Whistleblower Sophie Brook on endemic Navy harassment.
• Elon Musk’s colourful father Errol.
Top-quality sections for the perfect package
Weekend, the nation’s favourite and most comprehensive TV magazine… Femail and Inspire to entertain and inform our 1.1 million women readers… authoritative City coverage… indispensable advice from Good Health and MoneyMail… the unmissable Verdict and Match Day supplements… and a star-studded line-up for our award-winning sports pages. With impact and quality on every page, which paper could lay greater claim to be of Newspaper of the Year?