Paul Michael Dacre (born November 14,1948) is a British journalist.

After being a correspondent, bureau chief, and assistant editor in the Associated Newspapers group, Dacre was named Editor of the Evening Standard in 1991. Not satisfied with heading the smallest of Associated's three titles, the next year he threatened to leave the company unless made Editor of the flagship Daily Mail in place of Sir David English , who had held the post for decades.

Vere Harmsworth, 3rd Viscount Rothermere, acceded to Dacre's request and, to cushion the blow to English, yielded to English the chairmanship of Associated Newspapers (though not that of immediate parent Associated Newspapers Holdings or ultimate parent, Daily Mail and General Trust plc). Dacre has been Editor of the Daily Mail since then and, in 1998 on English's death, became Editor-in-Chief of Associated and then a director of Daily Mail & General Trust on Lord Rothermere's death.

Dacre has been criticised by many leading left wingers, principaly London hard left Mayor Ken Livingstone, or "Red Ken", for what he calls a "racist editorial line" taken by his newspaper. Dacre's repeated calls for limits on asylum and immigration have however, risen to the top of the British political agenda.