Chris Mitchell eyes exit from The Australian with it ‘close to being profitable again’
The Australian editor-in-chief Chris Mitchell has said the newspaper is “close to being profitable again” as he confirmed speculation he was planning to step down from the role when a successor is in place.
Last year Mitchell admitted the newspaper had not been profitable since 2008, later telling the Mumbrella360 conference he would hand over the reins only when the business was “in a good state”.
“We’ve got the highest number of full-paying digital subscribers of any paper in the country,” he told Mumbrella today. “Our circulation has probably fallen less in print then any other paper as a percentage.”
According to last Friday’s Audit Bureau of Circulation figures, which cover the July to September period, The Australian had 73,118 digital subscriptions, with its print product sitting on a 101,040 circulation for the same period.
Hmmmmmm
Fancy Chris Mitchell leaving at a time when The Australian , the conservative paper of Mr Murdoch that backed the last ex conservative leader has no longer a campaign or agenda to promote and all of a sudden has become irrelevant as have the conservatives.
Pardon my cynicism but I see a cliff coming
He’ll only hand the business over “when I feel ready” – or what about when Rupert decides to kick his arse out the door? But then again, all Rup’s editors know the drill and that means keeping their master happy by cozying up to the big end of town while keeping the working plebs in their place, even as the Oz continues to drown in red ink. You have to laugh when newspaper suits start throwing around circulation figures – all it proves is that you can do anything with numbers.
Mitchell is a giant of journalism. A man who set the standard for integrity bravery and stern independence in the face of enormous pressure from his publisher. A man of wit and substance. A generous defender of the weak. A magnificent example of humility. An author of the finest prose. In every way a man who made his mark in the most constructive of ways.
Then again maybe not.