Media Week: Mellowed Stan Myerson takes control of costs
Sunday, 28 September 2008, 08:56
Maybe this is why the Express web site was so keen to highlight the Media Week profile of their boss: "The group's year-on-year August ABCs were shocking, with the Daily Express down 9.5%, Sunday Express 16.9%, Daily Star 8.9% and Star on Sunday a whacking 24.3%. … The Express modestly bills itself as '10 times better than the Mail and 10p cheaper' and 'The World's Greatest Newspaper'. But while their papers are still extremely 'cash generative', Myerson and Desmond have patently failed to replicate OK!'s win over Hello! in the battle of the Express against deadly rival the Daily Mail. … Express Newspapers prepares to cull 80 more editorial jobs from an already threadbare team. The strategy is classic Desmond and reveals the ruthless attitude that underpins profits at Northern & Shell. Myerson says ad costs and cover price will also be looked at as newsprint, energy and transport costs soar over the next 12 months."
