Final Observations At The Observer?

Dean Nicholas
By Dean Nicholas Last edited 175 months ago
Final Observations At The Observer?

0303_observer.jpg The Observer newspaper could be axed as a cost-cutting measure by owner Guardian News & Media. The world's oldest Sunday paper, founded in the year Michael Faraday was born (look it up), may be chopped down and repackaged as a weekly newsmagazine: a dummy copy of such a publication has recently been doing the rounds and spooking Observer staffers out of their post-prandial slumber. GNM announced pre-tax losses of nearly £90 million last week, and the closing the Observer down would be part of a string of radical measures to stabilise the Guardian and equip the group for the print industry's uncertain future. Not too long ago the sister titles were at loggerheads over the Observer's decision, under ex-editor Roger Alton, to support the Iraq war, but Alton's move to the Independent seemed to still the waters; yet such wounds run deep, and it's probably not just idle paranoia to wonder if a spot of score-settling would be involved were the Sunday paper to fold and the Guardian to end up lording it over the Lord's day of rest.

Last Updated 03 August 2009