 Bono (Photo: Irish Times) |
Known for his worldwide activism, lead U2 singer Bono is now being given a chance to play news editor.
The leading British paper the Independent will give him the authority to decide which stories will run in the May 16 edition.
The guest-editor stint is part of a campaign to raise money for the singer’s anti-AIDS initiative, called Red. Half of the newspaper’s revenues that day will be donated to the cause.
Simon Kelner, editor-in-chief of the Independent, said Bono “has a unique insight into world affairs, and, as guest editor, will produce a newspaper that, in the best traditions of the Independent, will be challenging, ground-breaking and exciting.”
The paper said Bono already is working on items for many sections of the newspaper, inputting ideas and commissioning articles on the arts, sport, fashion, health, motoring and politics along with a number of special features on Africa.
One of Bono’s staff said: “He is tickled to be let loose on such a great paper. He’s enjoying using the talents of its journalists to explore issues that are vital to him. He’s looking forward to having a lot of fun on the day and hopes the readers will too.”
Bono, 45, whose real name is Paul David Hewson, began campaigning for third-world debt relief and other poverty issues in Africa in 1999.
He took a four-country African tour in 2002 with then-U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill.
Later that year he established his organization, DATA, which stands for Debt, AIDS, Trade in Africa.
Also in 2002, he had a private meeting with President Bush after the White House announced a $5 billion aid for poor countries that respect human rights.
Bono, reared by a Catholic father and Protestant mother, spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast in February, calling on the U.S. government to “tithe” an extra 1 percent of its budget for the poor.
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