Guardian editor who during 20 years in the role played a decisive part in shaping the paper’s futurePeter Preston,editor of this newspaper for almost 20 years from 1975 – then the longest service of any editor since CP Scott; a member of its controlling Scott Trust for almost 30; and overwhelmingly the most decisive and influential figure in its reshaping and development through the later years of the 20th century, has died aged 79.
The Guardian – not long since the Manchester Guardian when he joined it in 1963 – was his first and only national newspaper until it acquired the Observer, and to which he also became and remained deeply committed. This was not for want of offers to move elsewhere – there were always plenty of those – but because it was always where he wanted to be. In Peter’s case this was not so much for its politics as for its commitment to generous writing and generous reading,and the sharp, inquisitive eye that it turned on life.
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Source: guardian.co.uk