Press Notes
editor, Mr. Sydney -Elliott. For some time there has been a battle for power being waged on the Board of Odhams between Mr. Parrack on the one hand and Mr. Surrey Dane on the other. Mr. Ainsworth is a protégé of Mr. W. H. Parrack, who represented Odhams during the strike negotiations, and his appointment is a severe reverse for Mr. Surrey Dave and his protégé, Mr. Sydney Elliott, who replaced Mr. Percy Cudlipp as editor of the Daily Herald nearly a year ago.
Shortly before assuming his new responsibility over the Daily Herald Mr. Ainsworth contracted to publish in the People a serial story entitled I was THE SPOILS OF WAR, by 'A Woman in Berlin.' True to his consistent policy of bringing to his readers a sense of shame which he evidently does not feel himself, the first article is sub-titled : HER DIARY WILL SHAME EVERY MAN. The first instalment contains three separate cases of rape and there is to be more next week. Mr. Ainsworth of the Press Council promises us for next Sunday DAY BY DAY THE AGONY GOES ON. HER, DIARY RECORDS THE UTMOST IN HUMILIATION THAT A WOMAN CAN ENDURE. This serial ensures that the People will keep well ahead in circulation and reputa- tion of Lord Kemsley's Empire News, which, though still a fairly degraded paper. seems to have taken a slight pull on itself in recent weeks.
* The Weekend Mail has been losing circulation and at 1,700,000 has been lagging far behind Reveille, with 3,400.000, which is controlled by Lord Rothermere's cousin, Mr. Cecil Harmsworth King. The Weekend Mail is an inferior and largely unsuccessful imitation of Reveille. Indeed its circula- tiOn is little more than that of Midweek Reveille. The trouble is that Lord Rothermere has scruples which are not shared by his cousin. An artist who is employed on the Weekend Mail told a friend of mine the other day that 'it was really a very prudish paper. I have to spend half my time painting brassieres on nudes.' In recent months Lord Rothermere has tidied up his Sunday Dispatch. Fleet Street has applauded his exertions in these fields. The Weekend Mail is beyond salvation. The kindest and most sensible thing would be to whack this little horror comic on the head.
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