Trinity Mirror & Express Newspapers merger talks

Martin Phillp · Mon 09 Jan, 2017 23.02

According to The Guardian, merger talks between the two newspaper groups are back on after a failed attempt in 2015.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... newspapers

james2001 · Mon 09 Jan, 2017 23.59

I wonder how well that will get on with the pro-Brexit, pro-UKIP Express the polar opposite of the political spectrum to the pro-Labour anti-Brexit Mirror.

Alexia · Tue 10 Jan, 2017 01.53

Given Corbyn's overtures today, and Stephen Kinnock's a few weeks ago, it won't be long before far left and far right merge in the political world. The chip rags just getting ahead of the game.

Martin Phillp · Tue 10 Jan, 2017 12.56

The only advantage would be Express and Star journalists may finally receive a payrise for the first time in a few years thanks to penny pinching Richard Desmond freezing their pay, while he donates money to UKIP.

JAS84 · Thu 12 Jan, 2017 03.39

I'm not so sure. Daily Star journalists might find themselves out of a job. The Sunday People's sports content is cloned from the Sunday Mirror's almost completely, and some of the news articles turn up in both papers too. The same would almost certainly happen with the Star, if they don't simply close it.

cityprod · Sat 14 Jan, 2017 22.24

I would have no issue with Trinity Mirror taking over Express Newspapers and keeping the Express and the Star as politically right wing.

But I know that if it was the other way around, with Richard Desmond taking over Trinity Mirror, the days of the Mirror being left wing would be numbered.

Whataday · Sun 15 Jan, 2017 00.04

cityprod wrote: Sat 14 Jan, 2017 22.24But I know that if it was the other way around, with Richard Desmond taking over Trinity Mirror, the days of the Mirror being left wing would be numbered.

I don't think that would necessarily be the case. Desmond is a decent business man and I don't think anyone would consider making the Mirror right wing.

cityprod · Sun 15 Jan, 2017 09.44

Whataday wrote: Sun 15 Jan, 2017 00.04
cityprod wrote: Sat 14 Jan, 2017 22.24But I know that if it was the other way around, with Richard Desmond taking over Trinity Mirror, the days of the Mirror being left wing would be numbered.
I don't think that would necessarily be the case. Desmond is a decent business man and I don't think anyone would consider making the Mirror right wing.

The right wing cannot allow any left wing opinion or media to infect the sacred airspace. This is frankly what we are seeing these days. The Mirror would either be closed down or changed to a more conservative tone.

Richard Desmond is a decent businessman? He's a (U)kipper, and there's nothing remotely decent about UKIP.

Whataday · Mon 16 Jan, 2017 02.08

I meant decent as in he knows what he's doing in business.

bilky asko · Mon 16 Jan, 2017 09.32

In a declining industry, Dickie Desmond would hardly decide to cannibalise the audience he'd just gained.

I'm not sure, however, taking over a despicable rag like The Mirror from a declining industry is the best way to exterminate left-wing opinion, as cityprod seems to imagine goes on.

Martin Phillp · Mon 16 Jan, 2017 11.57

From what was being reported last week, apparently Trinity are interested in a 20% share in Express Newspapers with a proposal to merge the back office operations of both organisations. This would be more beneficial for Desmond.