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Sunday Times, Perth Now will remain editorially independent: Seven West boss

Friday, 16 Sep 2016 11:50:57 | Briana Shepherd

The ACCC cited the decline of newspapers as a factor in its decision. (ABC News: Scott Holdaway)

The Sunday Times and news website Perth Now would retain editorial independence if a bid by Seven West Media is successful, its West Australian CEO Chris Wharton has said.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) cleared the path for Seven West, which owns the West Australian, to purchase the media platforms from rival News Corp on Thursday.

After an extensive review, the ACCC determined the deal, which would give Seven West complete control of WA's major newspapers, would not significantly impact media diversity — citing the decline of newspapers as a key factor in its decision.

WA Premier Colin Barnett said on Thursday he accepted the decision from the ACCC, but was concerned preserving a Sunday newspaper could come at the expense of more diverse commentary and analysis.

Mr Wharton, in his first interview outside of his own corporation, told ABC Mornings that would not happen.

"It's not the seventh edition of the West Australian, it's The Sunday Times," he said.

"It has a different readership.

"The Sunday Times will have its own editor and I would expect there'll be competitive tension in the newsroom and that the people who work for The Sunday Times will want to do their job and that's break stories."

Details of the proposed sale are not yet known, and Seven West Media said in a statement it was unable to discuss the deal prior to a final agreement.

Mr Wharton said buying the website, and the struggling Sunday tabloid, was a good move business wise.

"If the opportunity is there you should seize it," he said.

"It's not one thing or another, Perth now — that's the digital side — is the thing that seems to be the future."

He also said of the deal, Seven West would pick up the printing of The Australian, and the community newspaper mastheads News Limited currently printed now.

While the ACCC report had flagged low readership of newspapers as a reason not to oppose the deal, Mr Wharton said he did not think newspapers were dying and believed there would always be a need for a print publication.

AustraliaPlus


 

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