Rosie Boycott

Rosel Marie Boycott (born 13 May 1951), better known as Rosie Boycott, is a British journalist and feminist.

Journalism career

Daughter of Betty Boycott nee Le Sueur, Rosel Boycott was born in St Helier, Jersey and was educated at the independent Cheltenham Ladies' College and read mathematics at the University of Kent. After working briefly for the radical magazine "Friends" in 1971,ibiblio: [http://www.ibiblio.org/mal/MO/philm/friends/rosie.html Friends magazine: Rosie Boycott] ] she co-founded the feminist magazine "Spare Rib" in 1971 with Marsha Rowe. Two years later she and Rowe co-founded Virago Press, a publishing concern committed to women's writing, with Carmen Callil, who had had the idea the previous year.

From 1992-96, she was editor of the men's magazine "Esquire". Boycott was the first female editor of two national broadsheets, heading "The Independent" and its sister publication the "Independent on Sunday" (1996-98). While editing the "Independent on Sunday" in 1997, she campaigned for the decriminalisation of cannabis use by individuals,News briefs: [http://www.ndsn.org/sepoct97/british.html British Newspaper, the Independent on Sunday, Calls for Marijuana Decriminalization] ] , earning her the nickname "Rizla Rosie".BBC News: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1136677.stm Boycott's climb to the top] ] She addressed the "Decriminalise Cannabis" rally in London's Trafalgar Square on 28 March, 1998. [http://www.ccguide.org.uk/rb_traf.php Rosie Boycott's speech in Trafalgar Square, 28 March 1998] ] Later, she edited the "Daily Express" (May 1998 - January 2001), leaving soon after the newspaper was bought by Richard Desmond, who replaced her with Chris Williams.

Outside journalism

Boycott has made several appearances on "Newsnight Review" and other cultural and current affairs programmes, where the fact that she is a recovering alcoholic has been discussed. She started drinking heavily again after losing her job at the "Express". [Josh Lacey [http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/biography/0,,2088206,00.html Here be monsters] , "The Guardian", 26 May 2007, accessed 6 January 2008] She was banned from driving for three years in September 2003 after crashing on the A303, injuring another driver. She was cut free from the wreckage. A court was told she had also been caught drunk driving the day before. [Steve Bird [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1155203.ece Alcoholic ex-editor gets driving ban] , "The Times", 4 September 2003, accessed 6 January 2008]

Boycott has presented the BBC Radio 4 programme "A Good Read". She has sat on judging panels for literary contests, notably chairing the panel judging the 2001 "Orange Prize for Fiction". She is also a media advisor for the Council of Europe. [http://www.newstatesman.co.uk/nma2002judges.htm New Statesman - Full list of judges ] ] In September 2007, Boycott appeared in the third series of "Hell's Kitchen", and was the first contestant to be voted off.

In March 2002, she denounced the New Labour government as "more reminiscent of a dictatorship than a free healthy democratic system"BBC News: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1877598.stm Mowlam turns up heat on Blair] ] , and announced her support for the Liberal Democrats. She is rumoured to be considering becoming a Parliamentary candidate.

Since her accident, Boycott has been running a farm in Somerset. [Mark Townsend [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2083493,00.html My rebirth as a latterday land girl] , "The Observer"20 May 2007, accessed 6 January 2008]

On the 5th August 2008 she was appointed as Chair of London Food as part of Conservative Mayor Boris Johnson's attempt to help improve Londoners’ access to healthy, locally produced and affordable food.

Publications

*"Batty Bloomers and Boycott: A Little Etymology of Eponymous Words", Peter Bedrick Books, 1983, ISBN 0-911745-12-2
*"All For Love", Fontana Press, 1989, ISBN 0-00-617698-4
*"A Nice Girl Like Me: A Story of the Seventies", 1988, ISBN 0-330-30103-9
*"The fastest diet", London: Sphere, 1984. ISBN 0-7221-1960-7
*"Our Farm: A Year in the Life of a Smallholding", London: Bloomsbury, 2007

References

External links

* [http://www.knightayton.co.uk/frameset.html?http://www.knightayton.co.uk/rosie_boycott.html Knight Ayton Management page]
* [http://www.opendemocracy.net/xml/xhtml/articles/401.html "Sisterhood Revisited"] , "Open Democracy" public meeting at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, March 7 2002
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,765397,00.html Rosie Outlook] (Media Guardian)
* [http://www.itv.com/Entertainment/reality/hellskitchen/thecelebrities/RosieBoycott/default.html Rosie's Hell's Kitchen profile]

Notes