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November 10, 2005updated 22 Nov 2022 5:24pm

Back Issues 11.11.05

By Press Gazette

The end of Today Today had folded after a nine-year struggle to
establish itself as a national newspaper against the big battalions of
Fleet Street. The vision of free newspaper maverick Eddy Shah, Today
was firmly in the hands of News International by the time it closed
with the loss of 150 editorial jobs.

Today had promised to shake
up Fleet Street’s old practices by using new technology and being full
colour. By the time it closed, NI had moved to Wapping and Fleet Street
was finished. Launch editor Brian MacArthur told Press Gazette: “Every
single ambition Eddy Shah had when we started has come true – new
technology, colour, satellite printing, distribution by road, smaller
staffing, no unions.” NI chief executive Les Hinton explained the
reasons for the closure: “Scores of millions of pounds have been poured
into the paper for editorial and promotion during the past eight years,
without the necessary result.”

Richard Stott, editor when the
paper folded, reportedly told his staff: “No offence to Les, but if the
management of this company had been like the quality of journalism,
then we wouldn’t be in this situation today.”

Former monk offered
editorship of Express Richard Addis (first left), number three on the
Daily Mail, was believed to have been offered the editorship of the
Daily Express, to replace Sir Nick Lloyd. Addis, 39, had only been a
journalist for 10 years and at one time was a novice at an Anglican
priory. He was thought to have impressed Express Newspapers owner Lord
Stevens with his vision for the paper.

Private eye catches People
spy A newsdesk secretary was branded “a traitor” and left The People in
disgrace after admitting netting around £25,000 in three years by
leaking the Sunday tabloid’s stories to its deadliest rival – the News
of the World. The secretary was confronted with photographic evidence,
obtained by a private detective, of her holding secret meetings with a
NoW executive. A Mirror Group spokesman said: “We loathe and condemn
this despicable behaviour. A person who sneaks and puts at risk the
hard work of colleagues is beyond contempt. We won’t tolerate any
person in our midst who wants to turn traitor.”

Trinity’s TRN buy-up gets DTI all clear Trinity International’s takeover of Thomson Regional Newspapers’

titles
in Belfast, Cardiff, Chester, Newcastle and Teesside would have no
adverse effect on accurate news presentation and free expression of
opinion, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission had decided.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Editor’s
overdose An inquest into the death of former GQ editor Michael
VerMeulen (pictured) revealed he had taken enough cocaine to kill two
people.

Porn mag strips fanzine of title Northern & Shell had
taken legal action against a Manchester City FC fanzine because it had
the same name as one of its porn titles – Electric Blue. The fanzine’s
publisher Noel Bayley said he buckled after lawyers acting for Northern
& Shell accused him of passing off the title, demanded the fanzine
was withdrawn from sale, all back copies, printing plates and artwork
to be delivered up to N&S as well as costs and damages. Bayley
reluctantly agreed to rename his magazine Bert Trautman’s Helmet after
the legendary Man City goalkeeper from the 1950s.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

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