In 1887 the journalist Alfred Harmsworth formed a new publishing business. Early publications included Answers (1888) and Comic Cuts (1890) and in 1894 went into newspapers when he acquired the Evening News.

The Evening News was nearly bankrupt when purchased by Harmsworth. On 31st August he dramatically changed the paper. Although he retained the traditional seven column layout, advertisements were reduced to a single column on the left. Six columns of news were presented in a crisper style with eye-catching headlines such as Was it Suicide or Apoplexy?, Another Battersea Scandal, Bones in Bishopgate, Hypnotism and Lunacy and Killed by a Grindstone. Alfred Harmsworth also began to use illustrations to break-up the text.

By 16th November the Evening News was able to state that sales had now reached 394,447. Alfred Harmsworth claimed this as a world record for a newspaper and added that sales would be over 500,000 if they owned more printing presses. Ideas developed at the Evening News were later used by Harmsworth when he launched the Daily Mail in 1896.