Garry Linnell: Jaspan’s remarks about SMH and Age merger are ‘complete fiction’

Fairfax Media has responded angrily to former editor-in-chief Andrew Jaspan’s comments that the company is moving downmarket, describing his comments as a “complete fiction”.

This morning, Jaspan told Mumbrella that the shift to a tabloid format would effectively lead to the merging of the historic titles of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. He also claimed the move would see the titles move down to the midmarket.

This afternoon Garry Linnell, Fairfax’s editorial director of Fairfax Metropolitian Media division said in a statement: “It’s complete fiction. The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald are not merging and they are not going downmarket.”

Instead Fairfax argues its strategy will see the paper move upmarket after the transition to the new tabloid, or “compact” format.

Be a member to keep reading

Join Mumbrella Pro to access the Mumbrella archive and read our premium analysis of everything under the media and marketing umbrella.

Become a member

Get the latest media and marketing industry news (and views) direct to your inbox.

Sign up to the free Mumbrella newsletter now.

"*" indicates required fields

 

SUBSCRIBE

Sign up to our free daily update to get the latest in media and marketing.