So John Kampfner has resigned as editor of the New Statesman. Guardian Online has the story HERE. Reading between the lines it seems perfectly clear that he has had a big fallout with the NS owner, Geoffrey Robinson MP. It's a real shame as the magazine under Kampfner's editorship has experienced something of a revival. The redesign has been popular and circulation has increased. Robinson reckons he should have got more 'bang for his buck' though. Or there is another explanation. Kampfner has been notably lukewarm in his opinion of Robinson's hero Gordon Brown (who he funded to a lavish extent when in opposition). Did Robinson tell him to be more efusive in his praise for the Dear Leader? If so, it looks like Kampfner told him what he could with his 'praise'.I suspect this is a resignation Geoffrey Robinson will come to regret.
7 comments:
Kampfner always did come over to me as a man with some modest degree of integrity. I see my instincts are still quite sharp.
However; if the pathetic publication can survive only selling 25 grand a week. It can survive selling half as many, which is very bad news for honest journalism but just as well for the spectators employees.
Atlas shrugged
Robinson recently lost millions when my beloved Coventry City FC changed hands to Ray Ranson. When the cameras went away on that great day Robinson looked like he was going to throw up. His empire is crumbling and this is further evidence.
I just find it so sad that a publication of this quality finds itself in this position.
If it goes, then the quality broadsheets will start to find an exit strategy.
The loser will be freedom of circulation and information, as not everyone is happy with the internet.
We go about China and Tibet but stand by and voyuer the impending demise of mass communication.
Not so, say some of you. If we have blogs and IT, then it becomes broader by the minute.
To me, that is like having a heart transplant from your donor sister to save your childs life.
Gary
From a purely commercial point of view could there be a worse time to try to increase sales of anything by waving the New Labour flag, and the GB flag in particular? Good luck Geoffrey, lucky you can afford it...
This is (genuinely) not a political comment, it's a journalistic one. The major problem the NS has is that it cannot help taking itself desperately seriously - no humour to speak of at all. The Speccie, whatever its faults, recognises that its readers can laugh at themselves and, consequently, it can too. Content is king, of course, but deep in their sould even hardcore lefties know they'd rather be stuck in a lift with Boris than Polly Toynbee, and that's the difference...
Shome mistake surely? New Statesman Sales Plummet
So is John Kampfner going back to the BBC now Guto Harri's created a vacancy.
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