Conflict escalates Telegraph departing editor – Financieele Dagblad (Registration)

The conflict between the management and the editor of De Telegraaf is put on edge by the immediate departure of chief Sjuul Paradise. This is the daily newspaper, the flagship of the Telegraaf Media Group (TMG), the risk for a longer period of control to float around.

The departure of Paradise does not come unexpectedly. TMG’s summit had already set out to reduce the power base of Paradise by De Telegraaf splitting in part with editorial responsibilities, such as Private, Telesport and Autovisie. The editorial content can be exploited as better across multiple platforms, and not just by De Telegraaf, so is the thought. This, according to CEO Geert-Jan van der Snoek also need to stop a further decline in revenue.

The editors turned last month strongly opposed the plans. This was also seen by many as an endorsement for Paradise. But according to people who know Paradise, he saw no good in a further confrontation. This would, according to him too much harm Telegraph.

OrphanedPages

The editor of the largest newspaper in the Netherlands remains now orphaned. Monday was reacted with incomprehension when management wanted to give no further explanation for the departure. At an emotional meeting with the editorial Paradise did get a standing ovation. “As editors we are shocked by the departure of Sjuul,” said deputy editor Jan Kees Emmer in a comment. “He is an inspirational leader, a great talent and one of the best journalists in the Netherlands. Too bad we have to go on without him. “

According to a former director TMG can return the peace if there is clarity about the course of the media company. “It is said a lot, but it is not clear what should be changed. You should now appoint an editor with a ten-point plan. And with the announcement, so we’re going to do it

Authority

Paradise (52) had been working since 1986 for TMG. In 2009 he attended Eef Bos as editor of De Telegraaf. Inside the newspaper he enjoyed much authority outside the newspaper he was also active as a commentator on current events. Under his leadership, the emphasis was placed more on campaign journalism. He also brought, as last national newspaper De Telegraaf on the compact tabloid format. That did not prevent the newspaper lost readers. Under the reign of Paradise paid circulation declined by 160,000 to over 450,000 copies.

Printers

The staff of the TMG printers also responded disgruntled at departure. Before the summer, the company will make a decision about their future. This may result in an overall combination of printing of the major Dutch newspaper publishers. The TMG printers want to stay connected with their group and saw an ally in Paradise. “If De Telegraaf is externally pressed, the editorial nothing more than a glorified ANP and betrayed the faith in the printed word,” the graphic in a letter to the editorial board. In it they also underlined their willingness to take action.

Cees van Steijn, until last year CEO of TMG, it showed Monday that the media group in his tenure has already deployed additional revenue models with the sub-brands, such as private and Telesport. “This subject to editorial independence,” he added. “I regret that it is so.”

Editorial Charter

Een part of the conflict between editorial and management is the so called editorial statute of the newspaper. Therein both parties agreed on the powers of the chief editor. The Board believes, after the advice provided by lawyers from Allen & amp; Overy, that the scope of the main editorial authority is limited. The editorial cites written commitments from previous TMG departments, which recognize a wide scope.

At the fair in Amsterdam made skirmishes Monday no impression. The share TMG finished 1 cent higher at € 5.94.