William Thomas Stead ( 5 July 1849 -- 15 April 1912 ) was an English newspaper editor who , as a pioneer of investigative journalism , became a controversial figure of the Victorian era .
William Thomas Stead ( 5 July 1849 -- 15 April 1912 ) was a British writer and journalist . He was a pioneer of investigative journalism , and one of the most controversial figures in British journalism during the Victorian era .