Lebedev and Greig's plans for an optimistic Evening Standard

Posted by Helena Deards on March 2, 2009 at 5:14 PM

In an interview with the Media Guardian, Alexander Lebedev has revealed that he doesn't intend to interfere in the editorial line of the Evening Standard, explaining, "It is not polite for a Russian to interfere in British politics". Nor does he seem to have any strong desire to profit financially from the takeover - after buying the publication for a token £1; he is preparing to invest £30 million into it over the next three years.

He does, however make the suggestion that the Standard could be distributed in Moscow. Lebedev has problems with the current restrictions on the press in Russia and Novoya Gazeta, the newspaper which he part owns, is one of the last remaining anti-government publications in the country. Further extending his hand in the media industry, Lebedev has bought up two FM radio licences, one of which will become an English speaking radio station in Moscow. Although not intending to change or affect the Standard's editorial line, Lebedev seems to intend to use his new acquisition to extend his influence in his home country.

With Lebedev's apparently hands-off attitude to the editorial line of the Standard, all change will be coming from the paper's new editor, Geordie Greig. There had already been signs of a slight shift of allegiance when the publication featured its first interview in seven years with Ken Livingstone, former mayor of London. The Standard staunchly supported Livingstone's Conservative rival and current mayor Boris Johnson during the last electoral race - yet the article published in last Tuesday's edition (coincidentally just two days after Lebedev's official takeover) bore the headline "I'd to love to fight Boris at the next election and get back in City Hall".

Writing on page 2 of yesterday's Standard, Greig outlined his vision of "a newspaper built on idealism and intelligence, aiming to make a real contribution to this city". In his article, he once again stressed that the Alexander and Evgeny Lebedev "have given their absolute assurance that the editorial direction of the Evening Standard shall be entirely in the hands of the editor and his team", and uses their ownership of the pro-democracy Novoya Gazeta to display their dedication to objectivity in journalism. Greig says that under his leadership the Standard will take a "fundamentally optimistic view of life" - an attitude which may come as a welcome breath of fresh air to London City workers surrounded by the doom and gloom of the current financial crisis.

Source: Guardian, Evening Standard