Vivienne Harris (journalist)

She was born Vivienne Hytner in Prestwich, Lancashire, England. Frank Harris, a freelance journalist, had relocated to Manchester from London.[2] She and her husband co-founded the weekly Jewish Telegraph in their dining room in Salford, Greater Manchester, in 1950.[2] Vivienne Harris oversaw much of the newspaper's expansion from its origins as a four-page weekly paper[3] during the next sixty years, until 2011.[2] Under Harris, the Jewish Telegraph expanded to local editions in Leeds, Liverpool and Glasgow, as well as Manchester.[2] Her husband and newspaper co-founder Frank Harris died in 1979. Their son, Paul, became group editor while Vivienne remained financial director and co-owner until her death.[2]

In June 1997, Harris was the recipient of the MBE for her contributions to journalism and to Greater Manchester.[3] Harris was active in numerous charitable organizations, including Save the Children, the Citizens Advice Bureau of Salford, the League of Jewish Women, St Ann's Hospice and the Jewish Day Centre.[3]

She addressed attendees at the Jewish Telegraph's 60th anniversary dinner in December 2010.[3] Dignitaries at the event, which was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Manchester International Airport, included Bury's Lord Mayor and Mayoress, John and Brenda Byrne.[3]

Vivienne Harris died at her home in Broughton Park on 4 March 2011, aged 89.[2] She was survived by her sons, Paul, the Jewish Telegraph's present owner and editor[3][2] and Jonathan.[3]