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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Independent on Sunday editor exits as Lebedev papers go seven-day | Independent on Sunday editor exits as Lebedev papers go seven-day |
| (7 months later) | |
| The Independent on Sunday editor, John Mullin, is leaving the paper as the Lebedev titles move to a seven-day operation also encompassing the Independent, London Evening Standard and the yet-to-launch London Live local TV channel. | The Independent on Sunday editor, John Mullin, is leaving the paper as the Lebedev titles move to a seven-day operation also encompassing the Independent, London Evening Standard and the yet-to-launch London Live local TV channel. |
| Chris Blackhurst will be editor of the seven-day Independent, with up to 20 job losses understood to be expected as a result of the move. | Chris Blackhurst will be editor of the seven-day Independent, with up to 20 job losses understood to be expected as a result of the move. |
| The editorial departments of the Independent and Evening Standard will be wholly or largely located in the same newsroom, with some journalists working across both titles. Sarah Sands will remain editor of the Evening Standard. | The editorial departments of the Independent and Evening Standard will be wholly or largely located in the same newsroom, with some journalists working across both titles. Sarah Sands will remain editor of the Evening Standard. |
| The seven-day move will not affect the Independent's 20p sister title, i, which has proved to be a resounding success since its launch in October 2010. Stefano Hatfield will remain editor of the cut-price daily. | The seven-day move will not affect the Independent's 20p sister title, i, which has proved to be a resounding success since its launch in October 2010. Stefano Hatfield will remain editor of the cut-price daily. |
| Blackhurst told staff about the sweeping changes late on Tuesday morning. | Blackhurst told staff about the sweeping changes late on Tuesday morning. |
| It is understood there will be 20 job losses over the next year as part of the changes. The National Union of Journalists chapel at the Independent was holding a meeting with members at lunchtime on Tuesday. | It is understood there will be 20 job losses over the next year as part of the changes. The National Union of Journalists chapel at the Independent was holding a meeting with members at lunchtime on Tuesday. |
| Multimedia move | Multimedia move |
| The move is part of proprietor Alexander Lebedev's bid to create a truly multimedia group in London, comprising newspapers and a TV channel, while also squeezing costs further on the loss-making independent titles. Alexander's London-based son Evgeny runs the UK media business. | The move is part of proprietor Alexander Lebedev's bid to create a truly multimedia group in London, comprising newspapers and a TV channel, while also squeezing costs further on the loss-making independent titles. Alexander's London-based son Evgeny runs the UK media business. |
| He was granted a licence for the London Live TV channel earlier this month. The channel will have a TV studio in the Independent newsroom in Derry Street, west London. | He was granted a licence for the London Live TV channel earlier this month. The channel will have a TV studio in the Independent newsroom in Derry Street, west London. |
| In a memo to staff announcing the plans, seen by MediaGuardian, the company said it intends to make "radical and transformational" editorial changes to support the introduction of London Live. | In a memo to staff announcing the plans, seen by MediaGuardian, the company said it intends to make "radical and transformational" editorial changes to support the introduction of London Live. |
| "Today, Evening Standard Ltd and Independent Print Ltd are announcing a programme that commences a complete restructuring of the way we intend to create and publish our content. Our goal is to become one of the very first truly integrated multimedia companies, publishing continuously on print, TV and other digital platforms." | "Today, Evening Standard Ltd and Independent Print Ltd are announcing a programme that commences a complete restructuring of the way we intend to create and publish our content. Our goal is to become one of the very first truly integrated multimedia companies, publishing continuously on print, TV and other digital platforms." |
| The memo said the Independent and Evening Standard would remain separate brands, but will be "wholly or largely" based on the same floor at its headquarters in Kensington, west London. | The memo said the Independent and Evening Standard would remain separate brands, but will be "wholly or largely" based on the same floor at its headquarters in Kensington, west London. |
| Andrew Mullins, managing director of Evening Standard Ltd and Independent Print Ltd, said in the memo that he hoped journalists on both titles will want to play a part in London Live and would invite applicants for "presenting, video reporting and video content creation". | Andrew Mullins, managing director of Evening Standard Ltd and Independent Print Ltd, said in the memo that he hoped journalists on both titles will want to play a part in London Live and would invite applicants for "presenting, video reporting and video content creation". |
| It is understood that Mullin was opposed to the introduction of a seven-day operation, arguing that the papers were already run on a shoestring. | It is understood that Mullin was opposed to the introduction of a seven-day operation, arguing that the papers were already run on a shoestring. |
| Mullin has been editor of the Independent on Sunday for five years, replacing Tristan Davies. He has been with the Independent titles for a number of years in roles including executive editor on the daily and then deputy editor on the Sunday paper before he took the top job. | Mullin has been editor of the Independent on Sunday for five years, replacing Tristan Davies. He has been with the Independent titles for a number of years in roles including executive editor on the daily and then deputy editor on the Sunday paper before he took the top job. |
| News of the redundancies, including that of Mullin, soured what some journalists at the titles saw as an "exciting" announcement. | News of the redundancies, including that of Mullin, soured what some journalists at the titles saw as an "exciting" announcement. |
| "There's some things that sound like it's be fun and exciting – like the TV station – but then they announce at least 20 redundancies," said one journalist at the titles. "It's more with less, yet again." | "There's some things that sound like it's be fun and exciting – like the TV station – but then they announce at least 20 redundancies," said one journalist at the titles. "It's more with less, yet again." |
| Several prominent journalists took to Twitter to praise Mullin after news of his redundancy emerged. Jane Merrick, the Independent on Sunday's political editor, described him as a "fantastic editor". | Several prominent journalists took to Twitter to praise Mullin after news of his redundancy emerged. Jane Merrick, the Independent on Sunday's political editor, described him as a "fantastic editor". |
| Tom Newton Dunn, the political editor of the Sun, added: "Sorry to see @johnmullinios depart the SIndy. A rare thing in Fleet St, a genuinely nice bloke." | Tom Newton Dunn, the political editor of the Sun, added: "Sorry to see @johnmullinios depart the SIndy. A rare thing in Fleet St, a genuinely nice bloke." |
| Local TV launch | Local TV launch |
| Lebedev won the Ofcom licence last week to launch a London local TV channel, which is expected to be on air next year and is regarded as the most lucrative new UK TV franchise to be awarded since Channel 5 arrived in 1997. | Lebedev won the Ofcom licence last week to launch a London local TV channel, which is expected to be on air next year and is regarded as the most lucrative new UK TV franchise to be awarded since Channel 5 arrived in 1997. |
| The company said it has budgeted for more than £15m on content creation and acquisition, although it does not say over what time period, to help hit its target viewership. | The company said it has budgeted for more than £15m on content creation and acquisition, although it does not say over what time period, to help hit its target viewership. |
| However, if this does not prove to bring in the required audience levels to make the business profitable London Live said "the option is available via our funding model/sister newspapers to increase expenditure" – suggesting further cost cutting on the print side could become necessary. | However, if this does not prove to bring in the required audience levels to make the business profitable London Live said "the option is available via our funding model/sister newspapers to increase expenditure" – suggesting further cost cutting on the print side could become necessary. |
| The new Evening Standard-backed TV channel – which will initially offer an 18-hour-a-day service covering news, current affairs, entertainment, weather and sport – will have annual marketing support of £5m, and it has been indicated that it could launch early next year. | The new Evening Standard-backed TV channel – which will initially offer an 18-hour-a-day service covering news, current affairs, entertainment, weather and sport – will have annual marketing support of £5m, and it has been indicated that it could launch early next year. |
| London Live will air on channel 8 on Freeview, which will give access to potentially 4m homes. In its submission the Evening Standard said that it will also launch London Live on Sky and Virgin Media to give blanket coverage of the capital, although this will require separate negotiations. | London Live will air on channel 8 on Freeview, which will give access to potentially 4m homes. In its submission the Evening Standard said that it will also launch London Live on Sky and Virgin Media to give blanket coverage of the capital, although this will require separate negotiations. |
| The heart of the service will be news and current affairs, delivered via the Evening Standard's 120 journalists, complete with a new TV studio to be built in its Derry Street newsroom in west London, with a pledge of 28 hours a week. | The heart of the service will be news and current affairs, delivered via the Evening Standard's 120 journalists, complete with a new TV studio to be built in its Derry Street newsroom in west London, with a pledge of 28 hours a week. |
| There will be a minimum of 4 hours of "fresh" news a day, with the rolling news service to be called iNews. London Live is planning to hire four full-time "presenter/producers". | There will be a minimum of 4 hours of "fresh" news a day, with the rolling news service to be called iNews. London Live is planning to hire four full-time "presenter/producers". |
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