Sunday Mirror

The Sunday Mirror is a British Sunday national newspaper published as the weekend sister title of the Daily Mirror. It originated on 14 March 1915 under the name Sunday Pictorial, commonly shortened in everyday usage to the Sunday Pic. The title was launched under the ownership of Lord Rothermere and was intended to combine reporting on major public issues with entertainment, human-interest material and popular features. Its first editor was F. R. Sanderson. The newspaper gained a large readership quickly. Within six months of launch, the Sunday Pictorial was reported to be selling more than one million copies. Its early success was supported by a mixture of wartime reporting, political coverage, sport and highly prominent contributors. Articles by Winston Churchill were particularly commercially significant, with contemporary accounts stating that issues containing his contributions could receive a substantial increase in sales. Football and other sports also became important parts of the paper's popular editorial mix. After a weaker period in the 1930s, the title was revitalised under Hugh Cudlipp, who became editor in 1937 at the age of 24. During his first period in charge, circulation rose to more than 1.7 million by 1940. Following the Second World War, Cudlipp resumed the editorship and shaped the Sunday paper around the stronger social awareness of the post-war period. He served as editor during three periods and later became editor-in-chief and editorial director of the wider Mirror Group, where he also influenced the Daily Mirror. The newspaper adopted the name Sunday Mirror in 1963. In its early years under the new name it covered the Profumo affair, one of the major political scandals of twentieth-century Britain. The paper's reporting formed part of a wider press campaign that contributed to public pressure on the government and to the political difficulties surrounding the Macmillan administration. Robert Edwards became editor in 1974. During the following year, circulation rose to approximately 5.3 million, and Edwards ultimately served for 13 years before becoming deputy chairman of Mirror Group in 1985. During his period of leadership the publication moved into colour printing, introduced in 1988. The title also developed a large-format glossy Sunday magazine, combining celebrity journalism, photography, competitions, offers and feature content. This magazine later evolved into Notebook. Tina Weaver became editor in 2001 and remained in the role for 11 years. The paper has had many editors across its history; reference material associated with the title states that it had reached 25 editors, with Lloyd Embley identified as editor-in-chief in the referenced account. The Sunday Mirror continues to operate within the Mirror newspaper portfolio of Reach plc, combining national news, politics, investigations, celebrity and entertainment coverage, sport, lifestyle material and consumer-oriented features. The title's print circulation has faced the same long-term structural pressure affecting much of the British newspaper industry. An average weekly circulation of 620,861 was reported for 2016, falling to 505,508 in 2017. At the same time, the paper has benefited from major news events and competitive opportunities: in July 2011, on the second weekend after the closure of the News of the World, it sold more than two million copies, its strongest level since January 2000 according to the cited reference material. Its digital presence is represented through the wider Mirror website and associated online publishing operations.

The Sunday Mirror began as the Sunday Pictorial on 14 March 1915. Lord Rothermere owned the new title, which was designed to balance serious public-interest reporting with entertainment and popular features. F. R. Sanderson was its first editor. The launch edition focused on the First World War and included reports from the front. The paper quickly built a mass audience, reportedly exceeding one million sales within six months. Its early editorial formula combined war reporting, political commentary, sport and human-interest stories. Contributions by Winston Churchill were particularly prominent and were credited with producing substantial increases in sales when published. Football was also treated as major popular news, helping establish a style in which sport and public events could share the front page with political and social stories. The newspaper's momentum weakened during the mid-1930s. A major revival followed Hugh Cudlipp's appointment as editor in 1937. By 1940, circulation had risen above 1.7 million. Cudlipp resumed the editorship after the Second World War and adjusted the paper to the social and political concerns of post-war Britain. He held the editorship during three periods before moving into senior editorial roles across Mirror Group. The title was renamed the Sunday Mirror in 1963. Among its early major stories under the new name was coverage of the Profumo affair, which became one of the defining political scandals of the era. The paper remained part of the popular national press, using a mixture of investigations, political reporting, celebrity coverage, sport and entertainment. Robert Edwards became editor in 1974. Within a year, the circulation was reported to have reached approximately 5.3 million. Edwards remained in charge for 13 years and later became deputy chairman of Mirror Group. During his tenure, the paper introduced colour printing in 1988 and expanded its magazine proposition. The Sunday Mirror Magazine used a large glossy format and featured celebrity stories, photographs, competitions, prizes and money-saving offers. Its later form became known as Notebook. Tina Weaver was appointed editor in 2001 and stayed for 11 years. The title has had numerous editors throughout its existence; the referenced historical account counts 25 editors and identifies Lloyd Embley as editor-in-chief in the relevant period. In the twenty-first century, the Sunday Mirror continued as part of the Mirror newspaper group, now associated with Reach plc, while extending its publishing activity through the wider Mirror digital operation. The paper has experienced substantial circulation decline as UK newspaper consumption has shifted toward digital media. Average weekly circulation was reported at 620,861 in 2016 and 505,508 in 2017. Nevertheless, exceptional news-market events have produced temporary peaks. In July 2011, shortly after the News of the World closed, the Sunday Mirror sold more than two million copies on the second weekend after the closure, reportedly its best result since January 2000. The brand remains an active British Sunday newspaper with a broad popular editorial remit.

1. 2017Reported circulation fell to 505,508

   Average weekly circulation was reported to have declined from 620,861 in 2016.

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2. 2011Post-News of the World circulation surge

   The paper sold more than two million copies on the second weekend after the News of the World closure.

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3. 2001Tina Weaver became editor

   Weaver took over the editorship and remained for 11 years.

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4. 1988Colour printing introduced

   The newspaper moved to colour printing.

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5. 1974Robert Edwards became editor

   Edwards began a long editorial tenure during which circulation rose sharply.

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6. 1963Renamed Sunday Mirror

   The Sunday Pictorial adopted the Sunday Mirror name.

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7. 1937Hugh Cudlipp became editor

   Cudlipp's appointment began a major circulation revival.

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8. 1915Sunday Pictorial launched

   The newspaper was launched on 14 March as the Sunday Pictorial, later known informally as the Sunday Pic.

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Popular-market British Sunday national newspaper combining news, investigations, politics, sport, celebrity, entertainment, lifestyle and consumer features.

• Sunday Mirror newspaperSunday national newspaper1963

  The core Sunday print title, covering national and international news, politics, investigations, sport, celebrity, entertainment, lifestyle and consumer topics. It is positioned within Britain's popular national newspaper market and serves as the Sunday sister publication of the Daily Mirror.

• Sunday PictorialHistorical newspaper title1915

  The original name of the newspaper from its launch in 1915 until the 1963 renaming. The Sunday Pictorial established the title's mass-market editorial formula of public-affairs reporting, wartime and political coverage, sport and entertainment.

• NotebookMagazine supplement

  The later form of the Sunday Mirror's magazine proposition. Its predecessor, the Sunday Mirror Magazine, used a large glossy format and carried celebrity journalism, photography, competitions, prizes and money-saving offers.

• 1988Introduced colour printingOther

  The newspaper was modernising its presentation during Robert Edwards's long editorial tenure.

  What changed. The Sunday Mirror introduced colour printing.

  Aftermath. The change supported a more visually driven newspaper and magazine format.

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• 1963Adopted the Sunday Mirror nameStrategy

  The newspaper had operated for almost five decades as the Sunday Pictorial.

  What changed. The publisher renamed the title Sunday Mirror, aligning it more directly with the Daily Mirror brand.

  Aftermath. The title continued as the Sunday sister newspaper of the Daily Mirror.

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• 2013Voicemail interception admissionControversy

  Graham Johnson, a former Sunday Mirror investigations editor, pleaded guilty to intercepting voicemail messages in 2001 and voluntarily contacted police in 2013. The reference account described him as the first Mirror Group Newspapers journalist to admit phone hacking.

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• 1963Profumo affair coverageControversy

  The newly renamed Sunday Mirror covered the Profumo affair, a political scandal involving a government minister and a socialite connected to a Soviet embassy official. The coverage formed part of broader press scrutiny that damaged the Conservative government of the period.

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• 2017Sunday Mirror circulation declined between 2016 and 2017

  Reported average weekly circulation fell from 620,861 in 2016 to 505,508 in 2017, reflecting continuing pressure on UK print newspapers.

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• 2012Sunday Mirror reported Ian Brady resuscitation story

  The paper published an exclusive report claiming that Moors murderer Ian Brady had died and was subsequently resuscitated against his will.

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• 2011Sunday Mirror sold more than two million copies after News of the World closure

  On the second weekend after the News of the World closed, the Sunday Mirror reportedly sold more than two million copies, its highest level since January 2000.

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• 2001Tina Weaver appointed editor

  Tina Weaver became editor and held the position for 11 years.

  Leadership change
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• 1988Colour printing introduced

  The Sunday Mirror introduced colour printing during Robert Edwards's period of leadership.

  Product generation
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• 1974Robert Edwards became editor

  Edwards took over the editorship, and circulation rose to about 5.3 million within a year according to the cited historical account.

  Leadership change
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• 1937Hugh Cudlipp's editorship drove a circulation revival

  Cudlipp's appointment coincided with a major recovery in circulation, which exceeded 1.7 million by 1940.

  Leadership change
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• 1915Sunday Mirror sales exceeded one million within six months of launch

  The newly launched Sunday Pictorial achieved rapid mass-market traction, with reference material reporting sales above one million copies within six months.

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• 1915Churchill articles produced major circulation increases

  Articles written by Winston Churchill for the Sunday Pictorial were associated with significant issue-by-issue sales increases during the newspaper's early years.

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1. Sunday Mirror