Conrad Black Offers Johnson Editorship

Conrad Black offered Boris Johnson the editorship of _The Spectator_ with the stipulation that Johnson abandon his ambitions for a parliamentary career. Johnson accepted this offer, which marked a pivotal shift in his professional trajectory. Under his leadership, _The Spectator_ maintained its traditional right-wing stance while also embracing contributions from leftist writers and cartoonists, a move that broadened the magazine's appeal. This editorial strategy resulted in a 10% increase in circulation, bringing the total to 62,000, and the magazine achieved profitability during his tenure. However, Johnson's editorship was not without controversy. Critics argued that the magazine under his direction tended to sidestep serious political issues. Additionally, his frequent absences from the office and public events led to frustration among colleagues. Johnson's reputation as a political commentator suffered due to several inaccurate predictions, further complicating his role as editor. Notably, he faced backlash for allowing columnist Taki Theodoracopulos to publish content that included racist and antisemitic language, which drew strong criticism from figures such as his father-in-law, Charles Wheeler.