Media Quotes of the Week: From the new look Indy to are local newspaper editors too bland?

Publisher Evgeny Lebedev on the Independent's latest redesign: "This newspaper has a proud record of innovation. It was the first broadsheet title to go compact, after which many others, including The Times, followed. In the past four years, my family took its sister title, the London Evening Standard, free, returned it to profit, and launched this newspaper’s very successful spin-off, i, which comfortably outsells The Guardian. That tradition of innovation makes me glad to see our masthead made vertical. Together with other changes you can see today, I believe this redesign revives the elegance and sophistication of the paper’s first editions."

MI6 chief Sir John Sawers to MPs on the Edward Snowden security leaks, as reported by the BBC:  "Our adversaries were rubbing their hands with glee...the leaks from Snowden have been very damaging, they've put our operations at risk".

David Leigh ‏@davidleigh3 on Twitter: "The irony of all this slagging-off is that, so far, Snowden & co have witheld key names, locations etc. Let's hope for their patience."

Andrew Norfolk: 'Lucky to work for Times'

Andrew Norfolk, The Times' journalist who investigated the Asian gangs who groom young girls, speaking at City University: "I feel so lucky at a time of staff and budget cuts that  a newspaper gave me three years to work on a story. It was a major commitment by The Times."

The Sunday Times [£] in a leader: "This is a right royal mess. A royal charter is a centuries-old device for granting the royal imprimatur to organisations that seek it, such as Cambridge University. It is not a mechanism for imposing strictures onto the unwilling. So the press will now move to create its own body to govern its behaviour. Meanwhile, the government will proceed to establish an empty quango with a board of grandees who may have nothing to do."

The Observer in a leader: "So one clear imperative, as Ipso takes shape, is to make sure it represents the whole industry. A matching responsibility, though, lies with government. At no stage, through the year since Leveson reported, has there been a proper, inclusive negotiating process: merely a series of bilaterals over pizza and coffee. Of course, constructing a broader conclave is difficult. But the plain fact is that, on point after point, Ipso is not terribly far away from what Sir Brian Leveson intended, and it might not be incapable of ticking all of his important boxes if, at last, the principals can meet face to face."

Culture secretary Maria Miller interviewed on the Andrew Marr Show."Marr: 'If the press's system works the Royal Charter is redundant really because they have got their own system.' Miller nodded her head and said 'subject to them doing it'."

Matthew Norman in the Telegraph: "Devolving the implementation of the Royal Charter on press regulation to the Privy Council was an act of genius. Given the suspicion that what attracts the political class to this folly is the desire to keep matters of public interest private, what better messaging than leaving it to an ancient, anachronistic body that operates, as the name suggests, in the utmost privacy? Initially Downing Street refused even to name the specific counsellors involved." 

Newspaper Society president Adrian Jeakings to Ed Miliband at the Newspaper Conference annual lunch:“The regional and local press - in common with newspapers and magazines across the UK – will not be signing up to the cross-party royal charter. It was devised by politicians and a special interest lobby group and imposed on an unwilling industry."

Grey Cardigan on The Spin Alley on the banning of newspapers by football clubs: "What’s needed, of course, is the solidarity shown in other trades. Ban one of us, and we’ll all ignore you. Imagine the impact of that action across all local and national titles. Sadly, our own selfishness – and that of our bosses – subverts that notion."  

Celia Walden in the Telegraph: "If Twitter were only responsible for trivialising and vulgarising life into a series of bite-sized, meaningless superficialities, I might have come around to it by now. I’m trivial enough to buy handbags on eBay and vulgar enough to live in LA. But it’s the shared moments it has stolen, the way it has bruised my life by taking up so much of my husband [Piers Morgan] and friends’ time and energy, that I really resent. And all to what aim? A relentless pursuit of the eternal moi." 

Local newspaper editor interviewed for new study, as reported by HoldTheFrontPage: “Because of the roles they do, editors are not as active in the community as they used to be… they are probably blander than they used to be and that has also diminished their role and importance in people’s eyes.”

Matthew Norman: 'Better the unlovely British tabloids than the cosy French press'

Matthew Norman in the Independent today sticks up for the 'unloveley' British tabloids in comparison to the cosy relationships between the French press and politicians which has been highlighted by the background emerging about IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Khan, following his arrest on sex charges in New York.

Norman writes: "Whatever the infidelities elsewhere, the one lover with whom the French politician remains forever faithful is the French press. Into this cosy lovefest between twin elites, neither partner would dream of admitting anything so common and insignificant as the electorate.

"It may seem opportunistic to adduce the secretive culture which must have played a part in emboldening M Strauss-Kahn in our fight against the super-injunction. But while British politicians may or may not take liberties over traffic offences, it is unimaginable that any would behave as DSK is alleged to have done, or commit suicide by red top by racing to his defence.

"Our tabloids are unlovely beasts, but by God the terror of them tends to keep the basest instincts in check. If our papers are too easily roused – and the anguish about DSK's possible, if unlikely, IMF successor Gordon Brown lightly shoving an aide does seem a bit silly today – far better to err on the side of hysteria than that of nudge-nudge, wink-wink, rulers-will-be-rulers indulgence.

"The downfall of Dominique Strauss-Kahn may knock the likely end of Chris Huhne's career into a cocked hat when it comes to grandeur, melodrama and tragic epicity. But in the clash of newspaper cultures, the victory is ours and just as clear-cut. We must keep it that way."

Jon Gaunt hits back at Matthew Norman taunts

Shock-jock Jon Gaunt, fired from talkSPORT for calling a councillor "a Nazi", has snapped today and hit back at Independent media columnist Matthew Norman in his Sun column. "Gaunty" describes Norman's media column, which has baited him for weeks, as "pathetic" adding: "He seems to think it's funny to poke fun at my radio sacking rather than supporting me in my right to free speech." And he suggests a motive: "I don't suppose his lack of support is anything to do with the fact that he has been trying out for a gig on TalkSquawk these past few weeks." This feud will run and run.
Meanwhile, Gaunt is still promising a to announce "big news" on his website gaunty.com. He's not joining another radio station is he?