Rosie Boycott
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Rosel Marie Boycott (born 13 May 1951), better known as Rosie Boycott, is a British journalist and feminist. She was educated at Cheltenham Ladies' College and read mathematics at the University of Kent.
After working briefly for the radical magazine Friends in 1971,[1] Boycott was responsible, with Marsha Rowe, for founding the feminist magazine Spare Rib in 1971.
In 1973 she co-founded Virago Press, with Carmen Callil and Marsha Rowe, a publishing concern committed to women's writing; Calill had originated the idea the previous year.
From 1992-96, she was editor of the men's magazine Esquire.
Boycott was the first female editor of two national broadsheets, heading The Independent and its sister publication the Independent on Sunday (1996-98). While editing the Independent on Sunday in 1997, she campaigned for the decriminalisation of cannabis use by individuals,[2], earning her the nickname "Rizla Rosie"[3]. She addressed the Decriminalise Cannabis rally in London's Trafalgar Square on 28th March, 1998.[4]
She was also editor of the Daily Express (May 1998 - January 2001), leaving when the newspaper was bought by Richard Desmond.
Boycott has made several appearances on Newsnight Review and other cultural and current affairs programmes, where the fact that she is a recovering alcoholic has been discussed. She was banned from driving for three years in September 2003 after crashing on the A303, injuring another driver. She was cut free from the wreckage. A court was told she had also been caught drunk driving the day before. 'The Times' September 3 2003 She has also presented the BBC Radio 4 programme A Good Read. Boycott has sat on judging panels for literary contests, notably chairing the panel judging the 2001 Orange Prize for Fiction. She is also a media advisor for the Council of Europe.[5]
In March 2002, she denounced the New Labour government as "more reminiscent of a dictatorship than a free healthy democratic system"[6], and announced her support for the Liberal Democrats. She is rumoured to be considering becoming a Parliamentary candidate.
[edit] Publications
- Batty Bloomers and Boycott: A Little Etymology of Eponymous Words, Peter Bedrick Books, 1983, ISBN 0-911745-12-2
- All For Love, Fontana Press, 1989, ISBN 0-00-617698-4
- A Nice Girl Like Me: A Story of the Seventies, 1988, ISBN 0-330-30103-9
- The fastest diet, London : Sphere, 1984. ISBN 0-7221-1960-7
[edit] External links
- Knight Ayton Management page
- "Sisterhood Revisited", Open Democracy public meeting at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, March 7, 2002
- Rosie Outlook (Media Guardian)
[edit] Notes
- ^ ibiblio: Friends magazine: Rosie Boycott
- ^ News briefs: British Newspaper, the Independent on Sunday, Calls for Marijuana Decriminalization
- ^ BBC News: Boycott's climb to the top
- ^ Rosie Boycott's speech in Trafalgar Square, 28 March 1998
- ^ http://www.newstatesman.co.uk/nma2002judges.htm
- ^ BBC News: Mowlam turns up heat on Blair
| Media Offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Charles Wilson |
Editor of The Independent on Sunday 1996- May 1998 |
Succeeded by Rosie Boycott |
| Preceded by Andrew Marr |
Editor of The Independent January 1998 - March 1998 |
Succeeded by Rosie Boycott and Andrew Marr |
| Preceded by Rosie Boycott |
Editor of The Independent (jointly with Andrew Marr) March 1998 - May 1998 |
Succeeded by Simon Kelner |
| Preceded by Richard Addis |
Editor of the Daily Express 1998 - 2001 |
Succeeded by Chris Williams |
