View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
July 3, 2003updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Mirror reporter to live, sleep and breathe Beckham

By Press Gazette

By Dominic Ponsford

A single footballer has been given the sort of treatment normally reserved for entire countries with news that the Daily Mirror has appointed a David Beckham correspondent.

Previously, the tabloids have had specialists on subjects like the National Lottery and Big Brother, but this may be the first time an individual has been given such an honour.

Stephen Moyes was told at the end of last week that he was being moved from the showbiz desk and on Saturday morning he flew out to the Spanish capital, Madrid.

Moyes, who is working with photographer Austin Horgrave, said: “I jumped at the chance – David Beckham seems to be making the front pages more than the back pages nowadays. He and Victoria are something people want to read about in the Mirror. I’m a massive football fan so it should be a great opportunity to see some good football – it’s a dream job really.”

Moyes’s first assignments were to cover Beckham signing his contract to play for Real Madrid, his medical and then his official welcome at the Bernabeu Stadium.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Moyes said: “The Spanish news-papers are calling his arrival here an ‘earthquake’. When Ronaldo came there were 200 journalists at his unveiling, but for Beckham the turnout was 550 journalists from 28 countries.”

Mirror editor Piers Morgan said: “His Spanish is non-existent, but this was deliberately done to encourage David to hang out with the only guy he understands.

“They can even learn the language together. Mr Moyes has only one brief – to live, sleep and breathe Beckham.”

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network