Former Guardian writer Wheen to join Glover's tabloid

by Jules Grant,, Brand Republic 16-Feb-04, 15:45

LONDON - Private Eye contributor and former Guardian columnist Francis Wheen has been revealed as another key member in the launch of a new highbrow tabloid to be edited by former Independent on Sunday editor Stephen Glover.

Wheen, who has written a biography of Karl Marx, is the first named journalist to be linked with the paper. Earlier today, it was reported that a string of other high-profile journalists were in talks to join the paper.

The as-yet-untitled quality tabloid is to be similar in format to the recent compact launches of The Independent and The Times. Glover argues that quality broadsheets like The Daily Telegraph and Times have turned off upmarket readers with too many consumer and celebrity stories.

The paper is to be similar to intellectual French daily Le Monde and is likely to be heavily influenced by international affairs. It will be a forum for intellectual debate, covering the range of the political spectrum. It is also likely to carry fewer pictures than most newspapers.

Vicky Unwin, a former managing director of PR Newswire, is to be chief executive and Emap chairman Adam Broadbent will chair the company. It is understood that a finance director is currently being sought with a "strong newspaper background".

If successful, the paper will be the first major addition to the daily newspaper market since The Independent was launched in 1986.

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