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David Leigh, doyen of investigative journalists, steps down David Leigh, doyen of investigative journalists, steps down
(6 months later)
Away in Los Angeles last week, I missed out on the formal announcement of David Leigh's retirement from The Guardian. Having got wind of his decision in early February, I wrote a short appreciation, which I'm pleased to post now...Away in Los Angeles last week, I missed out on the formal announcement of David Leigh's retirement from The Guardian. Having got wind of his decision in early February, I wrote a short appreciation, which I'm pleased to post now...
David Leigh, The Guardian's award-winning investigations executive editor, is retiring after a journalistic career stretching back 43 years.David Leigh, The Guardian's award-winning investigations executive editor, is retiring after a journalistic career stretching back 43 years.
Now 66, Leigh has been garlanded with honours after being responsible for some of the most high-profile investigations in British newspaper history.Now 66, Leigh has been garlanded with honours after being responsible for some of the most high-profile investigations in British newspaper history.
One of the most memorable was the revelation of improper contacts between Saudi Arabian arms dealers and the former Conservative minister, Jonathan Aitken, which led to him being jailed for perjury.One of the most memorable was the revelation of improper contacts between Saudi Arabian arms dealers and the former Conservative minister, Jonathan Aitken, which led to him being jailed for perjury.
Leigh also oversaw the exposure of secret bribery payments by the arms company BAE, which won him the 2007 Paul Foot award for investigative journalism in company with a colleague, Rob Evans.Leigh also oversaw the exposure of secret bribery payments by the arms company BAE, which won him the 2007 Paul Foot award for investigative journalism in company with a colleague, Rob Evans.
And he played a key role in ensuring that the Wikileaks revelations published by The Guardian in 2010 were turned into excellent and readable articles.And he played a key role in ensuring that the Wikileaks revelations published by The Guardian in 2010 were turned into excellent and readable articles.
Overall, Leigh has won seven press awards, including Granada's investigative journalist of the year, the British press awards campaigning journalist of the year and an award from the UK Freedom of Information Campaign. He received the first of his British press awards in 1979 for an exposure of jury-vetting.Overall, Leigh has won seven press awards, including Granada's investigative journalist of the year, the British press awards campaigning journalist of the year and an award from the UK Freedom of Information Campaign. He received the first of his British press awards in 1979 for an exposure of jury-vetting.
In 2010, he was one of the winners of the Daniel Pearl award for his story about the dumping of toxic waste in the Ivory Coast by the oil firm Trafigura.In 2010, he was one of the winners of the Daniel Pearl award for his story about the dumping of toxic waste in the Ivory Coast by the oil firm Trafigura.
Aside from The Guardian, he has also worked for The Scotsman and The Times and spent nine years from 1980 at The Observer as its chief investigative reporter. He then spent time as a producer for TV's leading current affairs strands, This Week and World in Action.Aside from The Guardian, he has also worked for The Scotsman and The Times and spent nine years from 1980 at The Observer as its chief investigative reporter. He then spent time as a producer for TV's leading current affairs strands, This Week and World in Action.
He is the author and co-author of several books, including The Liar (an account of the Aitken affair); Sleaze (the story of the Neil Hamilton case); and Wikileaks: Inside Julian Assange's War on Secrecy.He is the author and co-author of several books, including The Liar (an account of the Aitken affair); Sleaze (the story of the Neil Hamilton case); and Wikileaks: Inside Julian Assange's War on Secrecy.
His 1988 book, The Wilson Plot, helped to highlight attempts by the British security services and others to destabilise Harold Wilson's government in the 1970s.His 1988 book, The Wilson Plot, helped to highlight attempts by the British security services and others to destabilise Harold Wilson's government in the 1970s.
In 2006, Leigh became the Anthony Sampson professor of reporting in the journalism department at City University London.In 2006, Leigh became the Anthony Sampson professor of reporting in the journalism department at City University London.
So why is he going? He says he just feels it is time. The editor, Alan Rusbridger, [who last week described his contributions to the paper as "outstanding"], asked him to stay on, and he will certainly maintain a relationship with The Guardian.So why is he going? He says he just feels it is time. The editor, Alan Rusbridger, [who last week described his contributions to the paper as "outstanding"], asked him to stay on, and he will certainly maintain a relationship with The Guardian.
But Leigh is eager to do something outside journalism. And what is that, I asked? "I'd like to learn the guitar," he says.But Leigh is eager to do something outside journalism. And what is that, I asked? "I'd like to learn the guitar," he says.
On a personal note, having followed Leigh's work and read almost all his books, I wish him well. He is one of the finest practitioners of our craft and will be sorely missed, not least as a mentor to other reporters who he has inspired over the years.On a personal note, having followed Leigh's work and read almost all his books, I wish him well. He is one of the finest practitioners of our craft and will be sorely missed, not least as a mentor to other reporters who he has inspired over the years.
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