Alan Rusbridger on the future of newspapers

Jan 2008

Speakers: Orville Schell, Alan Rusbridger

Alan Rusbridger, editor of the Guardian, talks to Orville Schell about the current state, and future, of journalism in America and Britain. Rusbridger begins by contrasting the brutal, intrusive, and vulgar style of British journalism with the ambition and politeness of American journalism. He describes the British tabloids as the ‘Wild West of journalism’, and suggests that American tabloids are much more high-minded than their British counterparts. Rusbridger also believes that journalists in America are much better at questioning their own role in shaping the opinions of the nation, whereas journalism in Britain is regarded as a ‘grubby old trade’ that should not be analysed too closely.

The conversation then turns to the subject of the future of newspapers. Rusbridger again contrasts the situation in Britain with that across the Atlantic. Whilst American papers are competing to turn over the highest profits – generally around 25% return on capital, as Schell points out – all British papers are losing money. The Guardian group lost £48m in 2007; the Times lost £37-£80mn, and the Financial Times lost £15-£20mn from 2005 to 2007. Schell suggests that this is an untenable situation for the British Media, but Rusbridger is not so sure. He points out that people like owning newspapers, and that any newspaper going up for sale in Britain will produce huge interest. Whether people buy newspapers to obtain power and influence, or for philanthropic ends, Rusbridger is unsure, but in the current climate he thinks British newspapers can survive.