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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/media/media-blog/2017/sep/10/northern-shell-takeover-may-prolong-trinity-mirrors-life-but-its-future-is-uncertain
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| Northern & Shell takeover may prolong Trinity Mirror's life, but its future is uncertain | Northern & Shell takeover may prolong Trinity Mirror's life, but its future is uncertain |
| (21 days later) | |
| Trinity Mirror’s bid for Northern & Shell tells us so much about the sorry state of the national newspaper business. Should it come to fruition, two ailing flagship titles will be forced into a shotgun marriage as commercial necessity displaces proprietorial commitment. | Trinity Mirror’s bid for Northern & Shell tells us so much about the sorry state of the national newspaper business. Should it come to fruition, two ailing flagship titles will be forced into a shotgun marriage as commercial necessity displaces proprietorial commitment. |
| On one side of the aisle, there is the Labour-supporting red-top Daily Mirror. On the other, the allegedly middle market Ukip-supporting Daily Express. Would that the Mirror’s feted editorial panjandrum, Hugh Cudlipp, and the Express’s irascible owner, Lord Beaverbrook, were alive to witness this unprecedented turn of events. | On one side of the aisle, there is the Labour-supporting red-top Daily Mirror. On the other, the allegedly middle market Ukip-supporting Daily Express. Would that the Mirror’s feted editorial panjandrum, Hugh Cudlipp, and the Express’s irascible owner, Lord Beaverbrook, were alive to witness this unprecedented turn of events. |
| Richard Desmond poised to sell Express and Star to Trinity Mirror | |
| For each of them what counted most about running newspapers was the editorial content. They were intensely interested in every aspect of their papers, from the political line to the cartoon strips, from the choice of the main page one story to the selection of the centre page feature. | For each of them what counted most about running newspapers was the editorial content. They were intensely interested in every aspect of their papers, from the political line to the cartoon strips, from the choice of the main page one story to the selection of the centre page feature. |
| To that end, they interfered ceaselessly in the work of the men (yes, always men) they appointed as editors. They had few concerns about money. Profits piled up because advertisers had few other places to go. | To that end, they interfered ceaselessly in the work of the men (yes, always men) they appointed as editors. They had few concerns about money. Profits piled up because advertisers had few other places to go. |
| But the Mirror and Express of today’s digital age are mere shadows of those heady hot-metal circulation-leading days. During their lengthy decline, losing out to the Sun and the Daily Mail, both have deteriorated throughout a series of ownership changes. | But the Mirror and Express of today’s digital age are mere shadows of those heady hot-metal circulation-leading days. During their lengthy decline, losing out to the Sun and the Daily Mail, both have deteriorated throughout a series of ownership changes. |
| None more so than the Express, which was acquired in 2000 by Richard Desmond, who had made his fortune from publishing adult (aka pornographic) magazines. Like Beaverbrook, he expected his papers to reflect his political desires, switching the Express from its brief period as a supporter of Tony Blair’s New Labour before returning to its traditional Conservative stance and finally favouring Ukip because of its anti-EU stance. | None more so than the Express, which was acquired in 2000 by Richard Desmond, who had made his fortune from publishing adult (aka pornographic) magazines. Like Beaverbrook, he expected his papers to reflect his political desires, switching the Express from its brief period as a supporter of Tony Blair’s New Labour before returning to its traditional Conservative stance and finally favouring Ukip because of its anti-EU stance. |
| Mirror makes room in the lifeboats for Express and Star | Peter Preston | |
| The mercurial Desmond was also unashamed about instructing his editors on what they should print. He had an old-fashioned press baron style about him, but no barony. A wary establishment refused to grant him a peerage. | The mercurial Desmond was also unashamed about instructing his editors on what they should print. He had an old-fashioned press baron style about him, but no barony. A wary establishment refused to grant him a peerage. |
| During his time at the helm of the Express titles and their frivolous red-top Star stablemates, he has made millions of pounds from the enterprise. But sales and profits have fallen to a point where he cannot squeeze any more from the lemon. | During his time at the helm of the Express titles and their frivolous red-top Star stablemates, he has made millions of pounds from the enterprise. But sales and profits have fallen to a point where he cannot squeeze any more from the lemon. |
| To add to his woes, his magazines, notably OK!, have become less profitable. Time to move on. Better instead to make money from property. | To add to his woes, his magazines, notably OK!, have become less profitable. Time to move on. Better instead to make money from property. |
| So, more than two years on from rebuffing the advances of Trinity Mirror and insulting its chief executive, Simon Fox, with some colourful jibes, he is talking seriously about selling his private media fiefdom, Northern & Shell. | So, more than two years on from rebuffing the advances of Trinity Mirror and insulting its chief executive, Simon Fox, with some colourful jibes, he is talking seriously about selling his private media fiefdom, Northern & Shell. |
| By contrast, Trinity Mirror is a publicly-traded company. Fox must satisfy investors who are nervous about the ongoing decline of the newspaper industry. Unlike Desmond, he has no interest in headlines. His eye is on the bottom line. | By contrast, Trinity Mirror is a publicly-traded company. Fox must satisfy investors who are nervous about the ongoing decline of the newspaper industry. Unlike Desmond, he has no interest in headlines. His eye is on the bottom line. |
| He is negotiating a marriage of convenience, a loveless union aimed at prolonging the life of a company which, despite its profitability, is staring at a very uncertain future. Its regional arm has been contracting for years, with increasing numbers of title closures and mergers. | He is negotiating a marriage of convenience, a loveless union aimed at prolonging the life of a company which, despite its profitability, is staring at a very uncertain future. Its regional arm has been contracting for years, with increasing numbers of title closures and mergers. |
| As for the national titles, they have been performing badly even by the standards of a declining market. Sales of the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People have been decreasing rapidly, although the Daily Mirror has done better. | As for the national titles, they have been performing badly even by the standards of a declining market. Sales of the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People have been decreasing rapidly, although the Daily Mirror has done better. |
| In the belief that size matters, Fox may believe that yoking the Express and Star to the Mirror will provide Trinity Mirror with extra clout. But it is unlikely that a combined daily circulation of more than 1.4m will attract advertisers. | In the belief that size matters, Fox may believe that yoking the Express and Star to the Mirror will provide Trinity Mirror with extra clout. But it is unlikely that a combined daily circulation of more than 1.4m will attract advertisers. |
| There is no reason to think that new ownership will arrest the circulation falls at each of the titles. Nor is it feasible for the company to have three competing Sunday red-tops. The axe hangs over either the People or the Daily Star Sunday; a merger of the two is the most likely outcome. | There is no reason to think that new ownership will arrest the circulation falls at each of the titles. Nor is it feasible for the company to have three competing Sunday red-tops. The axe hangs over either the People or the Daily Star Sunday; a merger of the two is the most likely outcome. |
| There will, of course, be cost savings as back office functions are combined. And job losses appear inevitable. That will hardly come as a surprise to staff since cuts have been a fact of life at both organisations. | There will, of course, be cost savings as back office functions are combined. And job losses appear inevitable. That will hardly come as a surprise to staff since cuts have been a fact of life at both organisations. |
| Trinity Mirror has pioneered the sharing of editorial content between its regional and national brands. It is hard to imagine an editorial synergy between the Express and Mirror, although “furniture” – TV programme guides, horoscopes and possibly sport – could be shared. I suppose routine news reporting could be pooled, too. | Trinity Mirror has pioneered the sharing of editorial content between its regional and national brands. It is hard to imagine an editorial synergy between the Express and Mirror, although “furniture” – TV programme guides, horoscopes and possibly sport – could be shared. I suppose routine news reporting could be pooled, too. |
| The City may hope that Fox, a member of the Magic Circle, has some other tricks up his sleeve. I doubt it. His strategy is clear enough. Even so, should he reach agreement with Desmond, he still faces two hurdles. | The City may hope that Fox, a member of the Magic Circle, has some other tricks up his sleeve. I doubt it. His strategy is clear enough. Even so, should he reach agreement with Desmond, he still faces two hurdles. |
| He requires approval from his own shareholders and, significantly, from the competition and markets authority, which will come under political pressure over a potential threat to diversity and plurality. After all, the combined group would control almost 30% of the Sunday newspaper market and more than 25% of the daily market. | He requires approval from his own shareholders and, significantly, from the competition and markets authority, which will come under political pressure over a potential threat to diversity and plurality. After all, the combined group would control almost 30% of the Sunday newspaper market and more than 25% of the daily market. |
| Given the state of the industry, the regulator could well nod it through. But let’s be honest, all this takeover would do is delay the fateful day of doom for newsprint papers living largely on memories of their wonderful histories. | Given the state of the industry, the regulator could well nod it through. But let’s be honest, all this takeover would do is delay the fateful day of doom for newsprint papers living largely on memories of their wonderful histories. |
| The Daily Mirror is the most precious of them all because it alone offers a political antidote to an otherwise rightwing tabloid press. If this takeover does nothing less than extend its existence, then it will be worthwhile. | The Daily Mirror is the most precious of them all because it alone offers a political antidote to an otherwise rightwing tabloid press. If this takeover does nothing less than extend its existence, then it will be worthwhile. |
| Beware calls for constraints on reporting terrorism | Beware calls for constraints on reporting terrorism |
| A new study on the reporting of terrorism has concluded that it generates copycat attacks. It implies that journalism kills people. | A new study on the reporting of terrorism has concluded that it generates copycat attacks. It implies that journalism kills people. |
| The research by Michael Jetter, an economics lecturer at the University of Western Australia, centres on the coverage in the New York Times of 61,000 acts of terrorism in 200 countries in the years from 1970 to 2012. | The research by Michael Jetter, an economics lecturer at the University of Western Australia, centres on the coverage in the New York Times of 61,000 acts of terrorism in 200 countries in the years from 1970 to 2012. |
| Journalists are damned if they do and damned if they don’t | Journalists are damned if they do and damned if they don’t |
| According to his report, titled The effect of media coverage on terrorism, there is a correlation between the number of attacks and the intensity of the media coverage. He argues that every news report about an attack increases the number of attacks in the following week by 1.4 times. | According to his report, titled The effect of media coverage on terrorism, there is a correlation between the number of attacks and the intensity of the media coverage. He argues that every news report about an attack increases the number of attacks in the following week by 1.4 times. |
| It is likely that some people will see a similar pattern in the reporting of Islamic State attacks across Europe over the past year and, inevitably, intensify calls for news outlets to mute their coverage. As desirable as that might seem, is it really feasible or responsible? | It is likely that some people will see a similar pattern in the reporting of Islamic State attacks across Europe over the past year and, inevitably, intensify calls for news outlets to mute their coverage. As desirable as that might seem, is it really feasible or responsible? |
| This is yet another case where journalists are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Our job is disclosure. Yes, we should try to avoid sensationalism, but how else do we report sensational acts? | This is yet another case where journalists are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Our job is disclosure. Yes, we should try to avoid sensationalism, but how else do we report sensational acts? |
| There is far greater long-term danger for society if news outlets constrain their reporting by taking account of how an infinitesimally small minority of crazed individuals might react to a headline. | There is far greater long-term danger for society if news outlets constrain their reporting by taking account of how an infinitesimally small minority of crazed individuals might react to a headline. |
| Support Turkey’s beleaguered journalists | Support Turkey’s beleaguered journalists |
| Spare a thought today for the 17 journalists who are appearing in court in Turkey on trumped-up charges that carry potential prison sentences of 43 years. | Spare a thought today for the 17 journalists who are appearing in court in Turkey on trumped-up charges that carry potential prison sentences of 43 years. |
| They are accused of being accomplices to terrorism solely because their newspaper, Cumhuriyet, was critical of the government headed by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. | They are accused of being accomplices to terrorism solely because their newspaper, Cumhuriyet, was critical of the government headed by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. |
| The hearing, at the vast prison complex of Silivri 60 miles from Istanbul, takes place amid a severe clampdown on press freedom in Turkey following a failed coup in July 2016. | The hearing, at the vast prison complex of Silivri 60 miles from Istanbul, takes place amid a severe clampdown on press freedom in Turkey following a failed coup in July 2016. |
| Since then, Turkey has become the world’s biggest jailer of journalists with more than 100 currently behind bars. Almost 150 media outlets have been shut down; more than 775 press cards have been rescinded; dozens of journalists’ passports have been cancelled; and 54 journalists have had their assets seized even though they have not yet been convicted of any offence. | Since then, Turkey has become the world’s biggest jailer of journalists with more than 100 currently behind bars. Almost 150 media outlets have been shut down; more than 775 press cards have been rescinded; dozens of journalists’ passports have been cancelled; and 54 journalists have had their assets seized even though they have not yet been convicted of any offence. |
| The inevitable result has been an absence of critical journalism at a time when it is most necessary. Is it any wonder that Turkey is ranked 155th out of 180 countries in the 2017 world press freedom index compiled by Reporters Without Borders? | The inevitable result has been an absence of critical journalism at a time when it is most necessary. Is it any wonder that Turkey is ranked 155th out of 180 countries in the 2017 world press freedom index compiled by Reporters Without Borders? |
| Reach (formerly Trinity Mirror) | Reach (formerly Trinity Mirror) |
| Media blog | Media blog |
| Northern & Shell | Northern & Shell |
| Daily Mirror | Daily Mirror |
| Daily Express | Daily Express |
| The Sun | The Sun |
| Daily Mail | Daily Mail |
| Richard Desmond | Richard Desmond |
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