Examination of Witnesses (Questions 2620
- 2622)
TUESDAY 20 MAY 2008
Lord Rothermere, Mr Charles Sinclair and Mr Kevin
Beatty
Q2620 Chairman:
Just so we are clear on this: is what you are saying that it would
be desirable if the Competition Commission just did not look at
regional newspapers by themselves, in a square, but they looked
over the whole cross-media area before making decisions on whether
there could be further consolidation in the regional newspaper
area?
Mr Beatty: My Lord Chairman, it is absolutely
crucial that they do that. There was a question about classified
advertising and there have long been debates about the materiality
of the shift of classified advertising from conventional print
to the web, but in order to be able to take a view on the economics
of media locally those things have to be taken into account.
Chairman: We have run out of time, but just
one last question.
Q2621 Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury:
This is probably for Mr Sinclair. When Roy Greenslade gave evidence
to us he said that a Fleet Street pact between Associated Newspapers
and Telegraph Newspapers exists that they will not write about
each other so that they ensure that they, at least, are free from
criticism in either paper. Can you tell us how this "pact"
came about and between whom?
Mr Sinclair: I do not think it ever did.
Q2622 Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury:
Is it not the case that one very rarely sees any kind of criticism
in either paper about each other?
Mr Sinclair: I think it is up to the editors
to carry in their paper what they think is newsworthy. We may
all think, as newspaper executives, that we are newsworthy, but
I am afraid our readerships probably do not.
Chairman: Actually, you would not know,
in any event, would you, because this is all editorial, so it
would not be within your ambit? It has been a very interesting
session. I am extremely grateful for you attending and, obviously,
we will send you the minutes. Thank you very, very much, all three,
for coming today.
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