Co-founder of the Independent Andreas Whittam Smith dies at 88
Andreas Whittam Smith, a co-founder of the Independent and a prominent figure in British journalism and public life, has died aged 88, as reported by The Guardian.
His career spanned newspapers, film regulation and senior service within the Church of England.
Key Points from The Guardian’s Coverage
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A family spokesperson said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Andreas Whittam Smith, co-founder of the Independent newspaper, on 29 November 2025, aged 88.”
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Whittam Smith launched the Independent in 1986 with Stephen Glover and Matthew Symonds, serving as its first editor until 1994.
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As president of the British Board of Film Classification from 1998, his achievements included allowing “A Clockwork Orange” and “The Exorcist” to be released on home video, and he suggested that film classifications might one day disappear.
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He served as the Church of England’s first church estates commissioner between 2002 and 2017 and was knighted in 2015 “for public service, particularly to the Church of England”.
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BBC journalist Amol Rajan described him as a “radical” and “pioneer”, adding: “Andreas profoundly transformed British journalism for the better, and forever.”
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The Independent’s editor-in-chief, Geordie Greig, said his “zeal for journalism caught the imagination of the whole nation”.
Analysis
Whittam Smith’s death marks the passing of a pivotal figure in the modern British press. His founding vision for the Independent demonstrated that there was room in the market for a national title driven by editorial independence and a refusal to align with entrenched political or commercial interests. That ethos helped shape the newspaper landscape of the late twentieth century and set benchmarks for quality, neutrality and design that influenced competitors for years.
His subsequent career underscored the breadth of his intellectual interests and public service. Moving from financial journalism to national newspaper leadership, then into film classification and finally senior Church of England governance, he embodied a generation of journalists whose authority extended well beyond the newsroom. His liberalising stance at the British Board of Film Classification foreshadowed ongoing debates about the future of content standards in an age of digital distribution and global platforms.
For today’s media leaders, his legacy underlines the continuing importance of editorial conviction at moments of industry transformation. The Independent’s launch in 1986 was itself a response to technological and political shifts; its success showed how insurgent titles could win audiences by challenging orthodoxy. As publishers navigate the current era of platform dependence, revenue volatility and AI-driven change, that lesson feels newly relevant.
Looking ahead, Whittam Smith’s passing prompts reflection on two possible trajectories for the industry. One is a renewed commitment to distinctive editorial identities that stand apart from algorithmic sameness, echoing the Independent’s original ambition. The other is a drift toward further consolidation and homogenisation, where only the largest players maintain influence. Which path prevails will depend on whether today’s publishers are willing to channel the kind of principled risk-taking that defined his career.
