An affectionate interview in today's Guardian with Ray Tindle, the 82-year-old publisher of 225 "sacredly local" newspapers across Britain, should be required reading. It contains several anecdotes that reveal the nous and the steel that have led him to build a business that is now among top 10 regional newspaper companies.
Tindle's papers are unashamedly traditional with eternal editorial verities. His company is also debt-free and has made a profit of £7m this year. It may be small but here's a man who runs a private company.
He doesn't have shareholders who believe that 34% profit margins are essential. Nor does he feel the need to follow their lead. Consequently, he hasn't found it necessary to close titles and get rid of journalists at regular intervals.
