The Matrix Project is an effort to document personal factors that undermine powerful journalists’ claims of objectivity and impartiality. Are factors such as an elite education, establishment connections, personal wealth and interests in rival fields compatible with journalistic integrity? 

This page looks at Daily Mail Royal Editor Rebecca English. For more information on the database click here.

Education

Learn about the significance of a private/Oxbridge education here

Insufficient information to complete – not in the public domain.

Revolving Door

Learn about the significance of the Revolving Door here

Insufficient information to complete – not in the public domain.

“Establishment” Connections

Learn about the significance of Establishment Connections here

Primary

Insufficient information to complete – not in the public domain.

Secondary

Insufficient information to complete – not in the public domain.

Salary/Indications of Wealth

Learn about the significance of journalists with an unusual level of wealth here.

Neither Rebecca English or the Daily Mail have disclosed details of her salary. As a long-serving journalist at the Mail (22 years and counting – source) and the paper’s Royal Editor, she is likely to earn significantly more than the average taxpayer.

As a point of reference, the Office for National Statistics list the average UK salary for 2021 as £26,193

Complaints / apologies / Controversies

Learn about the significance of complaints/apologies here

Rebecca English has been accused of paying a private investigator to spy on Prince Harry’s former partner, Chelsy Davy. The Mail allegedly teamed up with rivals at Rupert Murdoch’s The Sun to pay for illegal surveillance. The details were revealed as part of Prince Harry’s High Court phone hacking lawsuit over allegedly illegal newspaper snooping (source)

Summary

Rebecca English appears to guard her background and private life carefully – very little information on her is in the public domain. Rebecca is, however, happy to subject others to scrutiny – allegedly employing a private investigator to illegally track the movements of Chelsy Davy. Rebecca is a long-time Daily Mail employee (22 years), rising to Royal Editor, and, as such, is likely to earn vastly more than the UK average salary.

Independent? Impartial? Holding power to account?

Learn more about the Matrix Project here.

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