Changes

When it was launched by Alfred and Harold Harmsworth (who later became respectively [[Lord Northcliffe]] and [[Lord Rothermere]]) it made an unashamed bid for the mass market. It was published at half the price of other newspapers, and kept its coverage both more concise and more populist. This approach led to it being highly successful.<ref> Taylor, S. J. ‘’The Great Outsiders: Northcliffe, Rothermere and the Daily Mail.’’ </ref>

When it was launched by Alfred and Harold Harmsworth (who later became respectively [[Lord Northcliffe]] and [[Lord Rothermere]]) it made an unashamed bid for the mass market. It was published at half the price of other newspapers, and kept its coverage both more concise and more populist. This approach led to it being highly successful.<ref> Taylor, S. J. ‘’The Great Outsiders: Northcliffe, Rothermere and the Daily Mail.’’ </ref>

Its editorial stances were rigidly controlled by Alfred Harmsworth. Its politics were imperialist, in the era of the [[Second Boer War]], during which the British government invaded a sovereign country ([[South Africa]]) and found that despite its military might it could not prevail against the lightly-armed but evasive Boers, who carried out terrorist activities in a bid to win their country’s independence from the control of the [[British Empire]].

Its editorial stances were rigidly controlled by Alfred Harmsworth. Its politics were imperialist, in the era of the [[Boer War]] (1899-1902), during which the British government provoked a war against the two Boer Republics of the [[Transvaal]] (South African Republic) and the [[Orange Free State]] and found that despite its military might it could not prevail against the lightly-armed but evasive Boers, who carried out guerilla warfare in a bid to win their country’s independence from the control of the [[British Empire]].

The Daily Mail also set out to be entertaining, using in particular competitions as a means of promotion, and focusing on human-interest stories as a way of attracting readers to whom in-depth political analysis did not appeal. Among other promotions, they began the [[Ideal Home Exhibition]], which continues to be held in [[London]] every year.

The Daily Mail also set out to be entertaining, using in particular competitions as a means of promotion, and focusing on human-interest stories as a way of attracting readers to whom in-depth political analysis did not appeal. Among other promotions, they began the [[Ideal Home Exhibition]], which continues to be held in [[London]] every year.

==1930s==

==1930s==

In the 1930s, The Daily Mail was politically sympathetic to [[fascism]], and Lord Rothermere wrote articles praising the [[British Union of Fascists]] and  their leader [[Oswald Mosley]] in particular for showing “sound, commonsense, Conservative doctrine,” although he toned down his support after the Fascist party was involved in street violence. The Mail’s political stance was also influenced by Rothermere’s personal friendship with both [[Benito Mussolini]] and [[Adolf Hitler]] and his [[Nazi party]] – the only newspaper to support them both consistently. Rothermere sent Hitler a telegram of congratulations after Germany invaded the [[Sudetenland]] in 1938. The paper also published [[The Protocols Of The Elders of Zion]] in serial form, and ran inflammatory articles about Jewish immigrants.<ref> Griffiths, Richard. ‘’Fellow Travellers of the Right: British Enthusiasts for Nazi Germany, 1933-9.’’ </ref>

In the 1930s, The Daily Mail was politically sympathetic to [[fascism]], and Lord Rothermere wrote articles praising the [[British Union of Fascists]] and  their leader [[Oswald Mosley]] in particular for showing “sound, commonsense, Conservative doctrine.” One headline notoriously read "Hurrah for the Blackshirts". However, he toned down his support after the Fascist party was involved in street violence. The Mail’s political stance was also influenced by Rothermere’s personal friendship with both [[Benito Mussolini]] and [[Adolf Hitler]] and his [[Nazi party]] – the only newspaper to support them both consistently. Rothermere sent Hitler a telegram of congratulations after Germany invaded the [[Sudetenland]] in 1938. The paper also published [[The Protocols Of The Elders of Zion]] in serial form, and ran inflammatory articles about Jewish immigrants.<ref> Griffiths, Richard. ‘’Fellow Travellers of the Right: British Enthusiasts for Nazi Germany, 1933-9.’’ </ref>

[[Neville Chamberlain]]’s [[appeasement]] policy was supported by The Daily Mail until after the [[Munich Agreement]], but the newspaper changed its stance after the Nazi invasion of [[Hungary]] in 1939. This change of attitude may have been influenced by Chamberlain’s threat to close them down.

[[Neville Chamberlain]]’s [[appeasement]] policy was supported by The Daily Mail until after the [[Munich Agreement]], but the newspaper changed its stance after the Nazi invasion of [[Hungary]] in 1939. This change of attitude may have been influenced by Chamberlain’s threat to close them down.