The great and the good of News International gathered in the vast Wapping canteen yesterday at 4pm to hear a staff presentation by James Murdoch, the chairman and chief executive of News Corporation Europe and Asia. Murdoch is going to carry out several roadshows and talk to about 2,000 News International staff this week. According to those present, Murdoch was gung-ho about how the Sun, News of the World, Times and Sunday Times had improved since the new full-colour presses came into operation last year, and praised the subscription and home delivery initiatives that had seen the Sunday Times increase its circulation. He said that every News International title had improved its market share each month last year. Murdoch talked for about 30 minutes and took a few questions, but apparently made no announcement about the review of editorial operations by the Boston Consulting Group, which is due about now and could see a merger of some departments. Call it the elephant in the canteen.
