Writer Paul Haigh blasts Racing Post in resignation letter
The Racing Post's most senior journalist has fired a blistering salvo as he quits the paper after 23 years, claiming it has become little more than a "cheerleading tip sheet" whose agenda is being dictated by bookmakers.
Paul Haigh, who joined the Racing Post prior to launch in 1986, wrote to the chief executive and editor-in-chief, Alan Byrne, earlier this month giving notice of his decision to terminate his freelance contract, saying he had become "ashamed" of writing for the paper, MediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal.
"I've tried very hard to persuade myself I'm wrong, but I've been convinced for a while now that the paper is nothing but a cheerleading tip sheet," he wrote in his resignation letter.
The letter also suggested the Post "might restore some credibility" if it refused occasionally to "acquiesce to your advertisers' wishes". He went on to suggest that "by pointing to 'shit in the system' the paper might even win the respect of new readers and so reverse its decline in circulation".
One of the most experienced racing journalists in the UK, Haigh has been working for the paper as a contracted freelance since 1993, prior to which he was a staff member. He has also contributed to a raft of other national newspapers. He told MediaGuardian.co.uk that suggestions by him for the paper to run a series on racing corruption and whether the fears about it were justified were ignored by management.
"The agenda of Britain's only racing/sports newspaper is now being dictated entirely by its main advertisers," he said.
"Almost all the racing media is now under the effective editorial control of the bookmakers either because bookmaker advertising is essential to their survival, or because other racing correspondents have been made aware of, er, the side on which their bread is buttered."
After Haigh gave notice, he said he had been told that he would not be required to write anything else for the title, even though he had a three-month notice period. He added that he had engaged his solicitor over a management threat to withhold some remaining pay due to him.
Byrne, a former Racing Post editor, teamed up with Irish private equity interests to buy the Racing Post from Trinity Mirror in 2007 for £170m.
At the time Byrne said he was confident of reversing the paper's declining circulation and making more out of its website, but print sales continue to fall.
According to the latest figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations the morning paper averaged sales of 55,054 in February, down from a high of 93,551 in March, 2005.
"Paul's claims are without foundation and he knows it," said the Racing Post editor, Bruce Millington.
"We have had broadly the same editorial policy ever since we started nearly 23 years ago, and as Paul has worked for us throughout that period, it is rather odd that he suddenly feels this way.
"It's disappointing that he has delivered this slur not just on the paper but also on his colleagues.
"The Racing Post has always stood up for the punter and will continue to do so. To suggest our agenda is dictated by bookmakers is absurd and untrue."
- guardian.co.uk, Friday 20 March 2009 08.50 GMT
The Racing Post's most senior journalist has fired a blistering salvo as he quits the paper after 23 years, claiming it has become little more than a "cheerleading tip sheet" whose agenda is being dictated by bookmakers.
Paul Haigh, who joined the Racing Post prior to launch in 1986, wrote to the chief executive and editor-in-chief, Alan Byrne, earlier this month giving notice of his decision to terminate his freelance contract, saying he had become "ashamed" of writing for the paper, MediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal.
"I've tried very hard to persuade myself I'm wrong, but I've been convinced for a while now that the paper is nothing but a cheerleading tip sheet," he wrote in his resignation letter.
The letter also suggested the Post "might restore some credibility" if it refused occasionally to "acquiesce to your advertisers' wishes". He went on to suggest that "by pointing to 'shit in the system' the paper might even win the respect of new readers and so reverse its decline in circulation".
One of the most experienced racing journalists in the UK, Haigh has been working for the paper as a contracted freelance since 1993, prior to which he was a staff member. He has also contributed to a raft of other national newspapers. He told MediaGuardian.co.uk that suggestions by him for the paper to run a series on racing corruption and whether the fears about it were justified were ignored by management.
"The agenda of Britain's only racing/sports newspaper is now being dictated entirely by its main advertisers," he said.
"Almost all the racing media is now under the effective editorial control of the bookmakers either because bookmaker advertising is essential to their survival, or because other racing correspondents have been made aware of, er, the side on which their bread is buttered."
After Haigh gave notice, he said he had been told that he would not be required to write anything else for the title, even though he had a three-month notice period. He added that he had engaged his solicitor over a management threat to withhold some remaining pay due to him.
Byrne, a former Racing Post editor, teamed up with Irish private equity interests to buy the Racing Post from Trinity Mirror in 2007 for £170m.
At the time Byrne said he was confident of reversing the paper's declining circulation and making more out of its website, but print sales continue to fall.
According to the latest figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations the morning paper averaged sales of 55,054 in February, down from a high of 93,551 in March, 2005.
"Paul's claims are without foundation and he knows it," said the Racing Post editor, Bruce Millington.
"We have had broadly the same editorial policy ever since we started nearly 23 years ago, and as Paul has worked for us throughout that period, it is rather odd that he suddenly feels this way.
"It's disappointing that he has delivered this slur not just on the paper but also on his colleagues.
"The Racing Post has always stood up for the punter and will continue to do so. To suggest our agenda is dictated by bookmakers is absurd and untrue."
