"Vedomosti" without oligarchs

-How did it happen that the two media corporations so fiercely competing in Europe-the British PEARSON, which owns the Financial Times Group, and the American Dow Jones, which owns The Wall Street Journal, create a joint project in Russia-the Vedomosti daily newspaper?

-The fact is that at first both were looking for independently from each other a reliable partner who works on the Russian media market. And if the Americans are newcomers on it, then the Financial Times has already burned, turning the project with Izvestia that was unprofitable for her last year. As a result of long searches, both corporations found that they are moving in the same way and conduct separate negotiations with the same people. And therefore, if two editions were launched, they would be in a difficult situation, competing among themselves for a relatively small Russian advertising market, which, moreover, after August 17 last year, was more than doubled. The fight would be very expensive for both, and therefore it was decided to unite and attract another foreign corporation to cooperation, which has long and successfully working in Russia - Dutch Independent Medi (The Moscow Times, Sosmopolitan magazines, Playboy).

- And your owners and you personally, as the editor -in -chief, does not scare the prospect in a few months to repeat the fate of the “Russian telegraph”?

- We cannot repeat his fate for several reasons. Firstly, the “Russian telegraph” had an unprecedented founder, I mean ONEXIMBAK, which still cannot deal with his debts and whose license is withdrawn. And our founders have no serious debts. These are stable strong companies that will not kill any crisis. And secondly, we are really engaged in commerce, unlike the RT, in which no one tried to work with advertising, to establish properly distribution. They spent all the money uncontrollably, including astronomical salaries, we have every penny in our account.

- They gave you, if I'm not mistaken, 10 million dollars?

- Yes, but this is very little money in comparison with European projects that pull 100 million. In addition, this money is scheduled for four years in advance. Despite the fact that we have a wild market, you can survive if you can count money, and not make an influencing newspaper.

- Who are your readers, what are you assuming the circulation?

- We are talking about a very narrow segment - managers of medium and large companies, both Russian and foreign. The circulation at first is 20 thousand. The newspaper will be two -color - as a result of the fact that the partners have not agreed on the general color - the Financial Times wants to see their pages about the news of companies and markets in pink, Journal - politics, economics, and general news - in white.

- A funny newspaper for business people turns out. And with whom are you going to compete?

- First of all with Kommersant.

- Doesn't such a rivalry scare?

- On the contrary, this is great, because they have for a long time to sour without competitors.

- Is it true that the former head of Kommersant Rafa Shakirov was read to the post of editor -in -chief of Vedomosti?

- You know, when these rumors appeared, I rushed to check them and found out that some negotiations were really conducted with Shakirov back in January, but it was not about an editorial position, but about a commercial, and a very high level. But the parties could not agree on anything, and in the end, our team has been doing this newspaper for six months. I would be sorry if Raf came with his team, because it is impossible to break what was created for the preparatory period.

- In your appointment to the position of editor -in -chief, apparently, the decisive role was played by the fact that you are an Independent Media pet?

- Yes, I have been working here for six years and during my journalistic life I wrote more articles in English than in Russian. In addition, Western owners know that we will not publish various “plums”, we will not begin to wage “information wars” and we will not be sold to anyone.

- Do you really believe that in Russian conditions, and even on the eve of the parliamentary and presidential elections, will you be able to remain non -angared and independent?

- Naturally. If you do not depend on the money that are invested in local political intrigues.

-Whoever, in your opinion, initiates rumors that between the president of the publishing house Independent Media Dercom Sauer and the Head of the IFC Renaissance Boris Jordan, negotiations on the purchase of the last 30 percent of the Vedomosti newspaper CJSC are incurred, that is, the independence of the new publication from Russian capital?

“I don't know that.” I believe that this is printed to discredit us, and such “ducks” will appear in the future. But so far, not a single local oligarch has that kind of money to redeem any package of shares.