For more than 120 years, the mirror has been one of the most familiar names in British newspapers. It has reported wars, elections, royal stories, football, celebrity news and the everyday worries of ordinary families. Today, The Mirror is much more than a paper bought from a newsstand. It is also a large digital news brand reaching readers through websites, phones and social media. Yet its long story is not simple. The Mirror has been famous for campaigning journalism and support for Labour, but its publisher has also faced serious legal cases over historic phone hacking. In 2026, a new editor is leading the title as its owner tries to find a future where print matters less and digital readers matter more.
What Is The Mirror?
The Mirror is a British national news brand.
Its printed weekday newspaper is traditionally known as the Daily Mirror.
Online, readers usually see the simpler Mirror name.
It covers major areas such as UK news, politics, sport, football, entertainment, celebrities, television, royal news, money and lifestyle.
The Daily Mirror is a tabloid.
Here, “tabloid” describes both its newspaper format and its fast, accessible style of journalism.
The Mirror often uses short headlines, strong pictures and simple language.
That has helped it speak to a mass audience for generations.
Is The Mirror the Same as the Daily Mirror?
Mostly, yes.
The Daily Mirror is the traditional newspaper name.
The online news brand generally uses The Mirror or Mirror.
There have also been periods when the printed masthead itself simply said “The Mirror,” including from 1985 to 1987 and again from 1997 to 2002.
Today, when somebody says:
“I read it in The Mirror,”
they may mean the printed Daily Mirror, the Mirror website, its app or something published through one of its social accounts.
So the modern brand stretches far beyond one printed newspaper.
When Was The Mirror Founded?
The Daily Mirror was founded in 1903.
Its first issue appeared on November 2 of that year.
Alfred Harmsworth, who later became Lord Northcliffe, created the newspaper.
Its original idea was surprisingly different from the Mirror most people know today.
It was launched as a newspaper aimed mainly at women.
Women were also supposed to play a major role in producing it.
The experiment did not work as Harmsworth hoped.
The paper quickly changed direction.
It became much more focused on photographs and began trying to appeal to a wider audience.
That change helped shape the newspaper’s future.
Was The Mirror Really Created for Women?
Yes.
This is one of the most interesting parts of its early history.
The original Mirror was designed around women’s lives and interests.
But the idea struggled commercially.
In 1904, only a short time after launch, the newspaper was redesigned as a picture-heavy publication for a broader audience.
That may sound like a small change now.
At the time, photographs were becoming an exciting new part of mass newspapers.
The Mirror eventually became famous for visual storytelling.
Pictures, bold front pages and dramatic presentation became part of its identity.
How Did The Mirror Become So Popular?
The newspaper changed again during the 1930s.
It moved towards a more strongly working-class readership and built an identity based around ordinary British families.
That strategy worked.
After the Second World War, the Mirror became enormously powerful.
By the mid-1960s, its daily sales had passed five million copies at their peak.
Think about that number.
Millions of people could see the same Mirror front page in a single morning.
There was no social media.
There were no news apps.
There were no push notifications.
A mass newspaper could therefore have an enormous influence over what Britain talked about.
Why Was The Mirror Known as a Working-Class Newspaper?
The Mirror built much of its identity around workers, families and public services.
Its stories often focused on wages, jobs, pensions, housing, healthcare and everyday financial pressure.
Its political voice also moved firmly towards Labour.
That combination gave the newspaper a clear place in Britain’s press.
Readers knew roughly what kind of voice they were getting.
It was not trying to sound like a formal financial newspaper.
It wanted stories to be understandable.
That simple, emotional style remains visible in the modern Mirror.
Who Owns The Mirror in 2026?
The Mirror is ultimately owned by Reach plc.
The Mirror’s publishing company is Mirror Group Newspapers, or MGN, which is part of Reach.
Reach says it is the largest commercial news publisher in the UK and Ireland and operates more than 120 print and digital brands.
Its other well-known brands include the Daily Express, Daily Star and Daily Record.
It also owns many important local news titles.
These include brands connected with cities and regions across Britain.
This means The Mirror is part of a much larger publishing network rather than being a completely independent company.
Is The Mirror Owned by Rupert Murdoch?
No.
This is a common mix-up because Britain has several famous tabloid newspaper groups.
Rupert Murdoch’s media businesses have historically been associated with titles such as The Sun and The Times.
The Mirror belongs to Reach plc.
Reach is a publicly listed British publishing company.
So The Mirror and The Sun may compete for similar readers at times, but they do not have the same owner.
They also have different political histories.
Who Is the Editor of The Mirror in 2026?
The current Editor-in-Chief is Chloe Hubbard.
Reach announced her appointment in December 2025 after Caroline Waterston decided to leave the role at the end of that year.
Hubbard previously worked at The Independent.
Her earlier career also included positions at BBC Sport, MailOnline, The Telegraph and Stuff in New Zealand.
When Reach announced her appointment, Hubbard said she saw The Mirror as having an important role in progressive politics, entertaining journalism and holding powerful people to account.
That gives a useful clue about the editorial direction she wants to continue.
What Happened to Caroline Waterston?
Caroline Waterston served as Mirror and Magazines Editor-in-Chief.
Reach announced in December 2025 that she would leave at the end of the year.
During her time leading the Mirror, the newspaper continued several public campaigns.
These included work around missing people and social issues.
Reach praised Waterston for maintaining The Mirror’s campaigning traditions and helping develop major projects before her departure.
Chloe Hubbard was selected as her successor.
So the editor information found in older articles can now be out of date.
What Political Side Is The Mirror On?
The Mirror is generally considered a Labour-supporting and centre-left or left-leaning tabloid.
Its political identity has been connected with Labour for many decades.
The newspaper has regularly backed Labour at general elections.
It supported Labour again during the 2024 UK general election.
This does not mean every story is ordered by the Labour Party.
The Mirror is not owned by Labour.
It can also criticise Labour politicians and Labour governments.
But its editorial voice has traditionally been more supportive of Labour values than the Conservative Party.
Did The Mirror Support Keir Starmer?
Yes.
During the 2024 general election, The Mirror urged readers to vote Labour.
Its election-day front page strongly pushed the message of voting for political change.
Labour then won the election.
The Mirror’s support was not surprising because the newspaper has a long history of backing the party.
However, readers should still separate two things.
A newspaper’s editorial opinion is one thing.
Its straight news reporting is another.
Political newspapers can publish factual news while also taking clear editorial positions.
Has The Mirror Always Supported Labour?
Not from its very beginning.
The newspaper’s political history changed over time.
Its modern Labour relationship became especially important around the 1945 general election, when the Mirror strongly backed Labour during the election that brought Clement Attlee to power.
It continued supporting Labour through many later elections.
That included elections where Labour lost badly.
This history makes The Mirror different from newspapers that frequently switch political endorsements.
Its Labour connection has become part of the title’s public identity.
Does The Mirror Only Write About Politics?
No.
Politics is just one part of the brand.
The Mirror publishes a large amount of sport coverage, particularly football.
It also covers entertainment, television, royal news, celebrities, crime, consumer issues and major breaking news.
This wide mix helps explain why the newspaper is called a popular tabloid rather than a specialist political publication.
A reader might visit in the morning for a government story.
Ten minutes later, the same reader may open an article about Manchester United.
Then they might read about a television programme or royal event.
The Mirror is designed around that broad everyday-news habit.
Why Is Football So Important to The Mirror?
Football has long been central to British popular newspapers.
The Mirror is no exception.
Football attracts readers every day rather than only when major political events happen.
Transfer rumours.
Premier League matches.
Managers.
Players.
European competitions.
England.
International football.
All generate constant interest.
Digital publishing has made sport even more useful because stories can be updated throughout the day.
The newspaper that once depended on tomorrow morning’s front page can now publish a football update within minutes.
Does The Mirror Cover Celebrity and Royal News?
Yes.
Celebrity and royal reporting are major parts of its digital content.
This reflects its tabloid tradition.
Famous people generate stories that are easy to understand and highly shareable.
But celebrity reporting also creates difficult questions around privacy and accuracy.
That is one reason British press regulation matters.
The Daily Mirror is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation, known as IPSO.
IPSO uses the Editors’ Code of Practice when dealing with complaints about participating newspapers.
Is The Mirror Regulated?
Yes.
The Daily Mirror is listed by IPSO as a regulated Reach publication.
Reach also says its titles are active members of IPSO and follow the Editors’ Code.
Readers can first make editorial complaints through Reach’s complaints procedure.
Reach says complaints can involve published articles, photographs or the conduct of journalists working for its titles.
If relevant requirements are met, complaints can also move into IPSO’s system.
IPSO can investigate possible breaches involving matters such as accuracy or privacy.
Does That Mean Everything The Mirror Publishes Is Automatically Correct?
No.
No news organisation should be treated that way.
Mistakes can happen.
Headlines can simplify complicated situations.
Developing stories can change as new information appears.
Opinion pieces can also contain arguments rather than neutral conclusions.
IPSO’s job includes considering complaints about potential breaches of its Editors’ Code. Its Complaints Committee can require remedies such as corrections or critical rulings where appropriate.
The best reading habit is simple.
Look at what type of article you are reading.
News?
Opinion?
Live update?
Exclusive?
Comment?
That context matters.
Why Is The Mirror Famous for Campaigning?
The Mirror does not only report problems.
It often tries to push governments or institutions to act.
This is known as campaigning journalism.
Reach describes campaigning as a major part of its journalism and says its publications aim to give a voice to people and communities.
The Mirror has run campaigns on health, transport, missing people and other public issues.
This style fits its historic identity as a paper claiming to speak for ordinary families.
Sometimes a campaign involves stories.
Sometimes petitions.
Sometimes meetings with politicians.
Often it combines all three.
What Is The Mirror’s Missed Campaign?
The Missed project focused on missing people.
Reach says The Mirror launched it with the charity Missing People to draw attention to publicly listed missing-person cases across the UK.
The campaign aimed to challenge differences in the amount of attention different missing people receive.
It also called for improvements in prevention and support.
Reach says Mirror reporting about missing teenager Deante James contributed to his safe return to his family in 2025.
This is a good example of what The Mirror means when it describes itself as a campaigning newspaper.
What Is The Mirror’s Dentists for All Campaign?
The Mirror has also campaigned around access to NHS dentistry.
Reach says the campaign called for better access to NHS dentists, more funding and changes to the NHS dental contract.
The newspaper worked with organisations including the British Dental Association and the Women’s Institute.
Why does a newspaper get involved?
Because campaigning tabloids often believe telling individual human stories can put pressure on government.
Rather than only publishing statistics, they show how a wider problem affects real families.
That is a very Mirror-style form of journalism.
What Happened to The Mirror Under Robert Maxwell?
Robert Maxwell bought the Mirror group in 1984.
He became one of the most famous and controversial newspaper owners in British history.
After Maxwell died in 1991, enormous problems emerged around his business empire, including the discovery of missing money from company pension funds.
The Mirror group then went through years of major change.
Eventually, Mirror Group and Trinity merged in 1999.
The combined company became Trinity Mirror.
Years later, Trinity Mirror changed its name to Reach plc.
That is how the modern ownership structure developed.
Was Piers Morgan Editor of The Mirror?
Yes.
Piers Morgan edited the Daily Mirror from 1995 until 2004.
His period as editor became one of the newspaper’s most famous modern eras.
Morgan later became much better known internationally as a television presenter and broadcaster.
However, his Mirror years also became part of later court scrutiny over historic unlawful information gathering.
In a 2023 High Court ruling involving Mirror Group Newspapers, a judge found that Morgan knew about phone hacking at the newspaper. Morgan has publicly denied hacking phones or instructing others to hack them.
That historical issue remains an important part of the Mirror group’s story.
What Was The Mirror Phone-Hacking Scandal?
Phone hacking involved unlawfully gaining access to people’s voicemail messages.
It became one of the darkest chapters in modern British tabloid journalism.
Mirror Group Newspapers eventually faced large numbers of legal claims relating to historic phone hacking and other unlawful information gathering.
A High Court ruling in 2023 found that phone hacking at Mirror Group Newspapers had been widespread over a period of years.
Mirror Group has apologised for historical wrongdoing and paid compensation in numerous cases.
It is important to describe this carefully.
These cases concern historic conduct.
They should not be presented as evidence that current Mirror journalists are carrying out the same practices.
What Happened in Prince Harry’s Case Against Mirror Group?
Prince Harry sued Mirror Group Newspapers over phone hacking and other unlawful information gathering.
In December 2023, the High Court ruled that he had been a victim of unlawful activity in some of the articles examined in his case.
He was awarded £140,600 in damages at that stage.
The case later reached a settlement over further claims in February 2024.
Mirror Group agreed to pay additional damages and legal costs.
The company said it wanted to move forward from historical events for which it had apologised.
The dispute became part of a much wider debate about British tabloid culture and privacy.
Does Mirror Group Still Face Phone-Hacking Cases?
Historical litigation did not disappear immediately after Prince Harry’s case.
In November 2024, Reuters reported that Mirror Group Newspapers was facing 101 additional phone-hacking lawsuits involving public figures.
These claims related to alleged historic activity.
The continuing cases show how events from many years ago can create legal and financial consequences far into the future.
For readers researching The Mirror, this history should not be hidden.
But it should also not be confused with the newspaper’s everyday 2026 newsroom.
Both facts can exist together.
How Popular Is The Mirror Today?
The answer depends on whether you mean print or digital.
The printed newspaper is much smaller than it was during its peak.
At its height, the Mirror sold millions of papers each day.
That world has changed.
People now receive breaking news through phones, social platforms, search engines, video apps and newsletters.
ABC, the organisation that audits newspaper circulation, shows a June 2026 Daily Mirror certificate, but the publisher now reports that circulation privately rather than making the current figure publicly visible through ABC’s standard page.
That means older public circulation numbers should not be presented as if they are the exact current August 2026 figure.
Is The Mirror Dying Because Print Sales Have Fallen?
That would be too simple.
Print is declining across much of the newspaper industry.
But newspapers no longer depend only on physical copies.
The Mirror reaches readers digitally.
Reach says its full network of more than 120 brands reaches over 66% of the UK online population each month and has more than 115 million social followers worldwide. Those numbers cover Reach as a whole, not The Mirror alone.
This distinction matters.
A reader may never buy the Daily Mirror from a shop but may still see Mirror journalism every day through search, social media or mobile news feeds.
The business is changing rather than simply disappearing.
Is Reach Having a Difficult 2026?
The publishing business still faces real pressure.
Reach reported that during the first half of 2026, group digital revenue fell 11.4% compared with the same period a year earlier.
Print revenue fell 8.3%.
Those numbers apply to Reach as a whole, not specifically to The Mirror.
Reach said major changes in how online platforms send readers to news websites have disrupted the publishing industry.
This is a huge modern newspaper problem.
For years, publishers depended heavily on Google and social platforms to send readers to articles.
When algorithms change, traffic can change quickly.
Why Do Google and Social Media Matter to The Mirror?
Imagine publishing a brilliant newspaper story in 1965.
Millions of people could see it because they bought the newspaper.
Now imagine publishing an article in 2026.
Some people open Mirror directly.
But many discover the story through search engines, Facebook, social feeds, news aggregators or other digital platforms.
That means publishers depend partly on companies they do not control.
Reach has previously said changes at platforms such as Facebook and changes to Google’s search systems affected traffic to its websites.
This explains why modern newspapers are working harder to build direct relationships with readers.
Newsletters, apps, subscriptions and direct visits become more valuable.
Is Reach Using Artificial Intelligence?
Technology and AI are becoming part of Reach’s wider publishing strategy.
Reach has discussed using technology to improve content production, distribution and audience understanding.
Its strategy also focuses on deeper reader engagement rather than relying only on huge numbers of accidental visitors.
That does not mean AI simply replaces journalists.
News publishers still need reporters to interview people, investigate claims, attend events, verify facts and make editorial decisions.
The interesting question for The Mirror is how technology can help distribute journalism while maintaining trust.
That challenge will remain important throughout the industry.
Does The Mirror Have an American Version?
Yes.
Reach launched Mirror U.S. in August 2023.
It was part of the company’s expansion into the American digital-news market.
This does not mean American readers receive the exact same product as British readers.
The U.S. operation can focus on stories that appeal more directly to American audiences.
Reach has continued describing its U.S. brands as part of its international growth plans in 2026.
So The Mirror is becoming more international digitally even while its historical identity remains deeply British.
Does The Mirror Have a Sunday Newspaper?
Yes.
Its sister newspaper is the Sunday Mirror.
The Daily Mirror serves the normal weekday and Saturday newspaper cycle, while the Sunday Mirror is the related Sunday title.
Both belong to the same wider publishing family.
There is also the Irish Mirror.
In Scotland, Reach has the Daily Record and Sunday Mail rather than a separate Scottish Daily Mirror edition.
This is one reason the Reach network can look complicated.
Different newspapers serve different markets while sharing parts of the same corporate structure.
Is The Mirror a Reliable News Source?
The better answer is more careful than simply saying yes or no.
The Mirror is a large established British news organisation with professional journalists, editors, a complaints system and IPSO regulation.
It also has a clear tabloid style.
That means stories can use emotional headlines and strong framing.
It has an openly recognisable political tradition.
It also has serious historical controversies, including unlawful information gathering within its publishing group.
A sensible reader can use The Mirror while still checking important claims against primary documents or additional reputable outlets.
That is good practice with any newspaper.
Is The Mirror Left Wing?
It is usually described as left-leaning or centre-left in British political terms.
Its long relationship with Labour is the clearest evidence.
It endorsed Labour in 2024 and has historically supported the party across many elections.
However, “left wing” can mean different things to different people.
The Mirror is not the same kind of publication as a political theory magazine.
It is a mass-market tabloid.
Its politics sit beside football, royal news, crime, entertainment and consumer stories.
Calling it simply “a Labour-supporting popular newspaper” is often more useful than trying to place every article on one ideological scale.
Is The Mirror Free Online?
Much Mirror content is available online without the kind of full hard paywall used by some other newspapers.
However, publishers can change access models, subscription products and membership systems over time.
Reach said in its 2026 corporate information that it has more than 40,000 digital subscribers across its wider business.
Again, that figure is for Reach’s network rather than only The Mirror.
The wider industry trend is clear.
Publishers want more direct reader revenue because advertising and social-platform traffic have become less predictable.
The Mirror must adapt to that same challenge.
Why Does The Mirror Still Matter?
The Mirror matters because it represents more than a website.
It has documented British public life since 1903.
Millions of historic pages record elections, wars, royal events, sport, popular culture and ordinary daily life. The historical archive contains hundreds of thousands of scanned pages covering much of that period.
That gives the newspaper cultural importance even as its business changes.
The Mirror also remains part of national political debate.
Its front pages can still become news stories themselves.
Its campaigns can still reach policymakers.
Its football and celebrity coverage travels rapidly online.
The form has changed.
The brand has survived.
What Is Changing at The Mirror in 2026?
Three changes stand out.
First, leadership has changed.
Chloe Hubbard is now Editor-in-Chief following Caroline Waterston’s departure.
Second, digital publishing is becoming even more important.
Reach is dealing with declining print revenue and difficult changes in website referral traffic.
Third, the company is trying to build stronger direct relationships with readers while expanding internationally and using new technology.
The challenge is keeping the Mirror identity alive while changing how people receive the journalism.
A red-top front page once did most of that work.
Now the brand must work across websites, phones, videos, social feeds and newsletters.
FAQs About The Mirror
What is The Mirror?
The Mirror is a British national tabloid news brand. Its traditional printed newspaper is the Daily Mirror, and its online operation uses the Mirror name.
When was The Mirror founded?
The Daily Mirror was founded in 1903 by Alfred Harmsworth.
Who owns The Mirror?
The Mirror is published through Mirror Group Newspapers, which is part of Reach plc.
Who is The Mirror editor in 2026?
Chloe Hubbard is the current Editor-in-Chief. Reach announced her appointment in December 2025 following Caroline Waterston’s departure.
What political party does The Mirror support?
The Mirror has a long history of supporting the Labour Party and backed Labour at the 2024 UK general election.
Is The Mirror left wing?
It is generally described as a Labour-supporting, left-leaning or centre-left popular newspaper.
Is The Mirror owned by Labour?
No. It is owned by Reach plc, not the Labour Party.
Is The Mirror owned by Rupert Murdoch?
No. The Mirror belongs to Reach plc.
Is Daily Mirror the same as The Mirror?
They are parts of the same news brand. Daily Mirror is the traditional print newspaper name, while The Mirror is commonly used for the wider digital brand.
Is there a Sunday Mirror?
Yes. The Sunday Mirror is its Sunday sister publication.
Is there a Mirror US?
Yes. Reach launched Mirror U.S. in August 2023 as part of its American expansion.
Is The Mirror regulated?
Yes. The Daily Mirror is regulated by IPSO, and Reach operates its own editorial complaints procedure.
Does The Mirror still print a newspaper?
Yes. The Daily Mirror continues to be published in print as well as digitally.
How many copies does The Mirror sell?
The current June 2026 ABC circulation certificate is marked private, so the latest exact audited circulation is not publicly displayed on ABC’s standard public page.
Did The Mirror once sell five million newspapers a day?
Yes. At its peak in the mid-1960s, daily circulation exceeded five million.
Was Piers Morgan editor of The Mirror?
Yes. Piers Morgan was editor of the Daily Mirror from 1995 until 2004.
Was The Mirror involved in phone hacking?
Mirror Group Newspapers has faced major litigation over historic phone hacking and unlawful information gathering. A 2023 High Court ruling found widespread historic phone hacking within MGN.
Did Prince Harry win against Mirror Group?
Yes. A High Court judge ruled in his favour on part of his case in December 2023 and awarded him £140,600 at that stage. Further claims were later settled.
What does The Mirror report on?
It covers UK and world news, politics, football, sport, entertainment, celebrities, royal news, television, money and lifestyle.
Is The Mirror still popular online?
The Mirror remains one of Reach’s major national digital brands. Reach says its full portfolio reaches more than 66% of the UK’s online population each month, although that figure covers all Reach brands rather than The Mirror alone.
Final Thoughts
The story of the mirror is really the story of how British newspapers have changed.
It started in 1903 with an unusual idea.
A newspaper made around women’s lives.
That version did not last.
The Mirror changed into a picture-led mass newspaper and eventually found a huge working-class audience.
Decades later, millions of people were buying it every day.
At its peak in the mid-1960s, circulation passed five million copies.
Its political identity became just as clear.
The Mirror built a long relationship with Labour and continued that tradition when it backed the party in the 2024 general election.
But The Mirror’s history has difficult chapters too.
Mirror Group Newspapers became deeply involved in Britain’s phone-hacking scandal.
Courts found that unlawful information gathering had happened over many years, and the publisher has paid compensation and apologised for historic wrongdoing.
That history cannot simply be erased.
But neither should it be used to pretend nothing has changed inside the modern newsroom.
Today, The Mirror operates under IPSO regulation and Reach’s complaints system.
The Mirror also still believes strongly in campaigns.
Its recent work has included the Missed project for missing people and the Dentists for All campaign around NHS dentistry.
Now another big change is happening.
The newspaper industry itself is being rebuilt.
Print sales have fallen dramatically from their historic highs.
Search engines and social networks control much of how readers discover news.
Advertising has changed.
Young readers often find breaking stories on a phone rather than a front page.
Reach’s first-half 2026 results show how difficult that transition remains, with both print and digital revenue lower than a year earlier.
Yet The Mirror has not disappeared.
It has moved.
From the newspaper stand to the website.
From the front page to the phone screen.
From one morning edition to stories updated all day.
It has also moved beyond Britain through Mirror U.S. and Reach’s wider international plans.
And it has new leadership.
Chloe Hubbard has taken over as Editor-in-Chief during what she herself described as a period of major change for the industry.
Her challenge is simple to describe but difficult to solve.
Keep the Mirror recognisable.
Keep its campaigning voice.
Keep readers interested.
But make the brand work in a world where fewer people buy printed newspapers and more people find news through algorithms, apps and social feeds.
More than a century after its first issue, that may be the most interesting thing about The Mirror.
It has already reinvented itself several times.
It began as a newspaper for women.
It became a mass picture paper.
It became one of Britain’s biggest working-class newspapers.
It became a powerful Labour-supporting tabloid.
Then it became a national digital news brand.
Now, in 2026, it is trying to work out what the next version of The Mirror should look like.
For more info, visit novra magazine