{{Short description|British newspaper executive (1933–2017)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''Robin Charles Esser''' (6 May 1933 &ndash; 6 November 2017)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2017/11/09/robin-esser-newspaper-executive-obituary/|title = Robin Esser, newspaper executive – obituary|newspaper = The Telegraph|date = 9 November 2017}}</ref> was a [[British people|British]] [[newspaper executive]] and former [[newspaper editor|editor]].

After doing [[National Service]] and studying at [[Wadham College]], [[Oxford University]], where he edited the ''[[Cherwell newspaper|Cherwell]]'' newspaper, Esser began his career as a reporter with the ''[[Daily Express]]'' and ''[[Daily Sketch]]'' in 1957.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2017/11/09/robin-esser-newspaper-executive-obituary/|title=Robin Esser Obituary, Telegraph Court and Social|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=9 November 2017|accessdate=29 November 2017}}</ref> He edited the Express' "Hickey" column, and gave both [[Nigel Dempster]] and [[Paul Dacre]] their first jobs on a national newspaper. By 1969, he was the newspaper's [[New York City|New York]] editor, and was the first British journalist to interview the [[Apollo 11]] astronauts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/876848/Robin-Esser-Sunday-Express-editor-press-freedom-campaigner-dies-aged-84|title=Robin Esser, Express Newspapers|website=Express.co.uk|date=8 November 2017|accessdate=29 November 2017}}</ref>

He later became consultant editor of the ''[[London Evening News]]'', before in 1985 returning to the ''Daily Express''. In 1986, he became editor of the ''[[Sunday Express]]'',<ref name="no">"[http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=39797&sectioncode=6 Robin Esser: No plans to retire as he marks 50 years in press]", ''[[Press Gazette]]'', 27 December 2007.</ref> a post he held until 1989. A great supporter and friend of [[Margaret Thatcher]], Esser was due to receive a [[knighthood]] in 1990 but declined the honour on the grounds that it was not appropriate for a serving editor to accept it.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/robin-esser-obituary-s92jcvzrq|title=Robin Esser Obituary, Times Register|website=[[The Times]]|access-date=29 November 2017}}</ref>

Esser moved to the ''[[Daily Mail]]'' in 1991, where he introduced an arts and entertainment supplement, published on Fridays. He subsequently became the paper's Executive Managing Editor and oversaw the launch of its website MailOnline.<ref name="no"/>

He was an active member of the Society of Editors, for which he chaired the Parliamentary & Legal Committee,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.societyofeditors.co.uk/page-view.php?pagename=RobinEsser|title=Society of Editors, Fighting for media freedom|website=Societyofeditors.co.uk|accessdate=20 November 2017}}</ref> and the [[Commonwealth Press Union|Commonwealth Press Union Media Trust]].

Esser published three books, ''The Hot Potato'' (1969), ''The Paper Chase'' (1971), and ''Crusaders In Chains'' (2015).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wadham.ox.ac.uk/news/2015/june/wadham-journalist-speaks-out|title=Alumni News, Wadham College|website=Wadham.ox.ac.uk|accessdate=29 November 2017}}</ref>

==Personal life== He was married to Shirley Clough and had 4 children with her. After an accident in 1972 while on holiday Shirley died and Robin was left a widower. He Met Tui France his second wife and remarried in 1981 and went on to have 2 more children with her. He died a father of 6, a grandfather of 10 and a great grandfather of 4.<ref>[[Who's Who 2017]]</ref>{{full citation needed|date=February 2021}}

==References== {{Reflist}} *[[Burke's Peerage]] *[[Who's Who 2009]]

{{s-start}} {{s-media}} {{succession box|title=Editor of the ''[[Sunday Express]]''|years=1986&ndash;1989|before=[[John Junor]]|after=[[Robin Morgan (journalist)|Robin Morgan]]}} {{s-end}}

{{Express newspapers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Esser, Robin}} [[Category:1935 births]] [[Category:2017 deaths]] [[Category:Alumni of Wadham College, Oxford]] [[Category:British newspaper editors]] [[Category:British newspaper executives]]