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The i newspaper to increase books coverage
The i newspaper is set to increase books coverage under its new ownership, its editor has told The Bookseller.
ESI Media sold the newspaper to Johnston Press on Friday (12th February) subject to Johnston Press shareholder approval, for £25m.
At the same time, ESI Media owner Evgeny Lebedev announced the closure of The Independent and The Independent on Sunday newspapers.
The i’s editor Oly Duff told The Bookseller that the newspaper would be upping its coverage of books under its new ownership.
He said: “The i's books coverage will not only continue but increase. Our readers have been asking for more.”
He added: “Our reviews will be written by some writers in i's new editorial staff of 51, some freelance contributors, and we also have a three-year deal with ESI Media allowing us to use all of their brilliant journalism.”
The arts and culture pages coverage will be overseen by the i arts editor and assistant arts editor, who will be appointed before April, he added.
It is as yet unclear whether The Independent’s literary editor Afria Akbar or Independent on Sunday literary editor Katy Guest will continue to work for either The Independent website or the i newspaper.
Last week, publishers bemoaned the closure of the newspapers as two of the “last, best” places to get books reviewed.
Bethan Jones, head of publicity at Vintage, and chair of the Publishers' Publicity Circle, said: "This is really sad news for all of us - the Independent and Indy on Sunday's books and culture pages were some of the most excellent, varied and thought-provoking. The newspaper was also a brilliant champion of international literature, recommending new voices from around the world to UK readers through its annual Independent Foreign Fiction Prize. I really hope these values will be carried forward in its online incarnation."
Jon Howells, campaigns director at Riot Communications, said: “We are all shocked by the news. Obviously the Independent has plans for online and that is great, but it was one of the biggest print review outlets for books and book news and it will leave a gap. With reviews, there was so much competition for space as it is. The closure of the newspapers is a real shame.”
But he added: “The i is a really dynamic newspaper and we hope that will continue under its new owners.”
The Independent will continue online, hiring 25 new journalists and opening new editorial bureaus in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, with its US operation expanded.
