Mediahustler

Launched in 1986, The Independent is one of the youngest UK national daily newspapers but it seems that youth does not promise life as unease and uncertainty are a flurry in the newsroom.

Tension continues to rise after two rounds of redundancies in recent years, the parent company’s Independent News & Media’s inability to secure backing to cover the £179m bond or even confirm sale of the publisher resulting in possible closure of the flagship newspapers.  To add more salt to the wound Roger Alton, editor of The Independent joked to a rally of staff that he was considering disappearing to run and apple farm causing further turmoil to an already worried editorial team.

After Alton’s apparent vote of no confidence in the future of the publication and sister print, the Independent on Sunday journalists have found themselves agreeably speculating about their prospects, already having to write their stories to fit and news editors being asked to take on the role of subeditors as well as rewriting wire copy, the prospect of sharing office space with the Mail – a newspaper that pursues a very different style of journalism to their own – is a an unfortunate position to be in. Not only do they have concerns about their new home, with rumours flying that they are being relegated to a back room with a separate entrance. They have been told that space at their new workstations is limited and each journalist can only take one box of belongings.

There had been talks with the Daily Mail & General Trust but that did not get far. There is also speculation that the London Evening Standard’s new owner, Alexander Lebedev, will buy the Independent, it has so far failed to happen.

Already adhering to a web-first policy, in contrast to many of its national rivals I think this is a sensible option as web hits can far surpass that of print circulations however this option shouldn’t dismiss the former broadsheet distribution as the editorial are a strong team, The Independent is one of mediahustler’s fondest daily reads offering creative and well-structured stories its demise would be very unfortunate, but in the absences of any buyers the future is bleak.

Again, this is a sign of the times, financial woes continue to destroy long-standing institutions and support is few and far as risk takers are too worried to invest on the possibility of growth and progress as the idea of failure is too overpowering. Understandably acceptable in this current market however there are many people, including myself who hope that The Indy and Indy on Sunday prevails.

(Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/may/04/independent-newspaper)