GB Observer was founded in a rented attic above a Fleet Street tobacconist in the autumn of 2023 by Margaret Holloway, a former war correspondent who believed the country needed a paper that was neither beholden to a political party nor to the industrial proprietors who dominated the press of the day.

Our mission

One hundred and two years on, that founding principle still defines us. GB Observer exists to publish accurate, fair and intellectually serious journalism on the issues that shape Britain and the wider world — from Westminster to the West End, from the City of London to Silicon Valley.

Today we reach more than 12 million readers a month across our website, podcasts and weekly print edition. We are owned and funded by Assevmonum LTD, an independent body whose sole purpose is to safeguard the editorial independence and long-term future of the paper.

Editorial standards

Every GB Observer journalist works to the standards of the Editors' Code of Practice. We separate news from opinion, label sponsored content clearly and correct our mistakes promptly and visibly. Our complete editorial code is available on request from the editor's office.

Our newsroom

We employ 184 journalists across bureaux in London, Edinburgh, Manchester, New York, Brussels and Singapore, supported by a network of trusted freelance contributors in more than forty countries. The paper is currently edited by Helena Voss; the deputy editor is James Okonkwo.

Awards

GB Observer journalism has been recognised by the British Press Awards (Newspaper of the Year, 2019 and 2023), the Foreign Press Association, the Society of Editors and the Online Media Awards. We have been shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting twice.

How we are funded

More than seventy per cent of our revenue now comes from readers — through subscriptions, single-article purchases and voluntary contributions. The remainder comes from clearly-labelled advertising and a small number of long-term corporate partnerships, none of which influence our editorial decisions.