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NI chief to hold meeting with Times directors over new editors NI chief to hold meeting with Times directors over new editors
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The chief executive of News International is to talk with the independent directors of the Times after they refused to endorse Rupert Murdoch's choice for editor of the paper and its stablemate, the Sunday Times.The chief executive of News International is to talk with the independent directors of the Times after they refused to endorse Rupert Murdoch's choice for editor of the paper and its stablemate, the Sunday Times.
Mike Darcey has a scheduled meeting next month with the directors but is expected to talk to the de facto chairman of the directors, former deputy Bank of England governor Rupert Pennant-Rea, in the coming days to see if they can establish a way of winning their approval for John Witherow and Martin Ivens, who were announced as "acting editors" of the Times and Sunday Times, respectively late on Friday.Mike Darcey has a scheduled meeting next month with the directors but is expected to talk to the de facto chairman of the directors, former deputy Bank of England governor Rupert Pennant-Rea, in the coming days to see if they can establish a way of winning their approval for John Witherow and Martin Ivens, who were announced as "acting editors" of the Times and Sunday Times, respectively late on Friday.
The six directors met Witherow and Ivens on Thursday and had been expected to rubber stamp the appointments after they were given assurances that they were not going to merge the titles and implement a seven-day operation.The six directors met Witherow and Ivens on Thursday and had been expected to rubber stamp the appointments after they were given assurances that they were not going to merge the titles and implement a seven-day operation.
However, insiders said that late on Friday afternoon Pennant-Rea contacted Darcey to say they were not convinced that a seven-day operation for the Times and Sunday Times was off the table and would not therefore be approving Witherow and Ivens's appointments.However, insiders said that late on Friday afternoon Pennant-Rea contacted Darcey to say they were not convinced that a seven-day operation for the Times and Sunday Times was off the table and would not therefore be approving Witherow and Ivens's appointments.
However, MediaGuardian understands that after this was relayed to Murdoch – chairman and chief executive of News International parent company News Corporation – and legal advice was taken, it was decided to announce Witherow and Ivens were to be installed as "temporary acting editors" with immediate effect.However, MediaGuardian understands that after this was relayed to Murdoch – chairman and chief executive of News International parent company News Corporation – and legal advice was taken, it was decided to announce Witherow and Ivens were to be installed as "temporary acting editors" with immediate effect.
It is believed the six independent directors of Times Newspapers, the News International subsidiary that publishes the two titles, were determined to exercise their powers to halt the appointments following the resignation of the Times editor James Harding under pressure from News Corp in December.It is believed the six independent directors of Times Newspapers, the News International subsidiary that publishes the two titles, were determined to exercise their powers to halt the appointments following the resignation of the Times editor James Harding under pressure from News Corp in December.
They are charged with "protecting the editorial quality and integrity of the Times, the Sunday Times and the Times supplements" in line with the undertakings given by Murdoch to the government as part of his acquisition of the titles in 1981.They are charged with "protecting the editorial quality and integrity of the Times, the Sunday Times and the Times supplements" in line with the undertakings given by Murdoch to the government as part of his acquisition of the titles in 1981.
But they felt this was circumvented by Harding's resignation.But they felt this was circumvented by Harding's resignation.
The second undertaking in the 1981 agreement gives directors the power to object to a sacking but not a resignation.The second undertaking in the 1981 agreement gives directors the power to object to a sacking but not a resignation.
"The editors, to be appointed by the board, may be appointed or removed only by the agreement of a majority of the independent national directors," the undertakings state."The editors, to be appointed by the board, may be appointed or removed only by the agreement of a majority of the independent national directors," the undertakings state.
Harding resigned on 12 December, telling staff on the paper it had been "made clear" to him "that News Corporation would like to appoint a new editor". By the time he contacted the independent directors about the decision, it was a fait accompli.Harding resigned on 12 December, telling staff on the paper it had been "made clear" to him "that News Corporation would like to appoint a new editor". By the time he contacted the independent directors about the decision, it was a fait accompli.
In their submission to the Leveson inquiry, the directors said they saw their presence "as the editorial equivalent of nuclear weapons – a deterrent to possible proprietorial interference" – and they are now using this power.In their submission to the Leveson inquiry, the directors said they saw their presence "as the editorial equivalent of nuclear weapons – a deterrent to possible proprietorial interference" – and they are now using this power.
It is believed the directors were "spooked" by reports last autumn that an informal approach had been made by a News International executive to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to assess what would be required if Murdoch wanted to change the undertakings to allow him to introduce a seven-day operation. This is effectively prohibited by undertaking No 4 which binds Murdoch "to preserve the separate identities of the Times and the Sunday Times".It is believed the directors were "spooked" by reports last autumn that an informal approach had been made by a News International executive to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to assess what would be required if Murdoch wanted to change the undertakings to allow him to introduce a seven-day operation. This is effectively prohibited by undertaking No 4 which binds Murdoch "to preserve the separate identities of the Times and the Sunday Times".
News International has declined to comment, but sources said a restructuring at Wapping is off the table for now as it could trigger a referral to the Office of Fair Trading, which would derail the plans to separate the publishing and entertainment parts of News Corp into two listed companies this summer.News International has declined to comment, but sources said a restructuring at Wapping is off the table for now as it could trigger a referral to the Office of Fair Trading, which would derail the plans to separate the publishing and entertainment parts of News Corp into two listed companies this summer.
Five of the six directors have publishing backgrounds and will be aware of the criticism claimingtheir role is nothing but a fig leaf.Five of the six directors have publishing backgrounds and will be aware of the criticism claimingtheir role is nothing but a fig leaf.
The directors include Veronica Wadley, outspoken former editor of the London Evening Standard and deputy editor of the Daily Mail, while Sarah Bagnall, a director of the PR conglomerate Pelham Bell Pottinger, is a former financial journalist at the Times.The directors include Veronica Wadley, outspoken former editor of the London Evening Standard and deputy editor of the Daily Mail, while Sarah Bagnall, a director of the PR conglomerate Pelham Bell Pottinger, is a former financial journalist at the Times.
Pennant-Rea is also a former editor of the Economist, while Lord Marlesford is a former journalist on the same magazine.Pennant-Rea is also a former editor of the Economist, while Lord Marlesford is a former journalist on the same magazine.
Stephen Grabiner, the venture capitalist, has previously worked in the Daily Telegraph's commercial department, leaving Lady Eccles, director of Opera North, the only director who has never worked directly in the publishing industry.Stephen Grabiner, the venture capitalist, has previously worked in the Daily Telegraph's commercial department, leaving Lady Eccles, director of Opera North, the only director who has never worked directly in the publishing industry.
Witherow addressed staff on the Times on Friday evening telling them his appointment was "the worst kept secret on Fleet Street". He said he was not going to pretend that there were not hard times ahead and that changes would have be made, but tried to give assurances about the future of editorial. He also hinted there may be changes in online editorial strategy, pointing out that as the Times was up against free competition it had to ensure it was offering the best value for money behind the paywall.
One insider said: "I was pleasantly surprised. A lot of people don't like the idea of him coming over, but he made it plain he wasn't coming with a double-sided axe. He told us he had started on the Times and reluctantly went over to the Sunday Times."
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