How the pandemic revived the newspaper stunt
Patriotism is fertile ground for an ancient form of journalism
AFTER WEEKS of criticism of the government’s failure to organise enough personal protective equipment for health workers, a plane from China touched down at Heathrow Airport on April 28th with 20 tons of the stuff. But these were not government-ordered supplies; the consignment had been arranged by the Daily Mail, a newspaper that ministers have long credited as the authentic voice of Middle England. “Touchdown for Mail Force One,” roared the paper, above pictures of its precious cargo. More supplies will be procured thanks to donations from readers to a charity founded by the newspaper, Salesforce, a software firm, and Marshall Wace, a hedge fund.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Stunt men”
Britain May 9th 2020
- What will be the new normal for offices?
- How pubs, cinemas and shops will reopen
- Britain’s government says it is “following the science”. Which science?
- Why Britain is ignoring the Google-Apple protocol for its tracing app
- Lockdown is making the Tory party restive
- How covid-19 puts vulnerable children in greater danger
- How the pandemic revived the newspaper stunt
- The rise of isolationism in the Conservative Party
From the May 9th 2020 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Britain
Britain’s brokers are diversifying and becoming less British
London’s depleted stockmarket is forcing them to change
What a buzzy startup reveals about Britain’s biotech sector
Lots of clever scientists, not enough business nous
Britain’s government lacks a clear Europe policy
It should be more ambitious over getting closer to the EU
The Rachel Reeves theory of growth
The chancellor says it’s her number-one priority. We ask her what that means for Britain