What you can expect from the Independent’s final issue
ESI Media has announced plans for the final print edition of The Independent this Saturday (26 March) which will feature a selection of editorial tributes, plus a souvenir pull-out.
The 16-page supplement will include a valedictory article by Andreas Whittam Smith, one of the founders and first editor of the title, a letter by Amol Rajan, editor-at-large of The Independent, a recall of key moments of the first 30 years of The Independent in words and pictures, together with contributions from Helen Fielding, Sebastian Faulks, Andrew Marr, Rosie Boycott, Robert Fisk and Patrick Cockburn.
Alongside the souvenir pull-out the main paper and supplements will feature:
- The publisher’s letter, written by owner of The Independent Evgeny Lebedev
- Simon Kelner, editor at the time of the Iraq war, interviews Alistair Campbell
- Six-page travel special in Traveller with Simon Calder, looking at the next stage for Independent travel coverage
- Chris Blackhurst looking back at 30 years of Independent business coverage
- Paul Newman on how sports journalism has changed over the last 30 years in the sports supplement
- A gallery of past Independent front pages
- A celebration of Independent photography in the Independent Magazine
- A special showbiz montage in Radar, celebrating three decades of culture
Amol Rajan, editor-at-large, The Independent, said: “The Independent has always been known for its pioneering work and world-class journalism and this special edition reflects that. The edition pays tribute to the enormous contribution of the team, both current and past, to this legacy, as we look ahead to the evolution of The Independent newsbrand, growing our digital, global presence.”
Many of the contributions to the edition come from journalists who will continue to write for The Independent as it goes digital-only.
However, of the 160 journalists currently working at the newspaper 100 are expected to lose their jobs when the print business is wound up this weekend.
Journalists at the Independent who manage to stay on-board once the newspaper goes digital-only may see their pay halved, it has been reported.
Earlier this week, it was reported that journalists who are being made redundant are being forced to sign muting agreements forbidding them from saying anything publicly about the newspaper in order to receive redundancy pay.