Sam Bee

Before I make my point, can I set some groundrules

This is not a political point, i'm not looking for a debate on the rights and wrongs on their doorstepping of memorial services or slandering dead people, or asking about your politics, that's all your own personal business, we will discuss this if you ever invite me into a lounge - but

There has been a surge in the call for BA to stop offering the Daily Mail in light of recent events - or at the very least offer an alternative on an equivilent scale. Which leads me to ask the following questions:

- I've only been offered the DM recently on my limited BA flights (down back where I belong though - i've seen a couple of dog eared FT's, and apparently The Times got nabbed). What do BA actually offer as an alternative? Do they offer the 'i' as i've seen claimed (but not offered)?

- Does anyone know how many copies of DM that BA take on a Daily Basis (my understanding is that the DM gives away / bulks about 80,000 copies a day - http://www.theguardian.com/media/tab...nal-newspapers) - do BA get these free - or massively negotitated discounts?

- Is it that other newspapers just won't offer such a discount, or that a single main newspaper keeps costs down for BA and BA has identified that the DM fits BA's demograph better than any other newspaper? If so - is there a commercial agreement known that means BA is tied in for a certain length of time to offer the DM?

- Is there any anecdotal evidence that BA management is fed up with the negative coverage they seem to get from the Daily Mail (seemingly more than other newspapers - just google "Daily Mail""British Airways")?

- Finally - high profile criticism of BA (i.e. looking at Baxter Storey, food onboard etc) doesn't necessarily mean that BA will look to take the easy option and sever contracts (where possible)/ change rules - are their any examples of BA making high profile commercial changes based on customer dissatisfaction / campaigns.

There was a popular BA & DM thread that was locked because it got a bit personal and nasty, please don't go down that path, I respect all of your views, even those of you who are a bit odd

KevinTheB

Notwithstanding the content, I find it is always tiring to read because the font is awful!

nux

What are you basing this on? A few posts on FT?

drspear

not for me, I feel its right to have the mail to counterbalance the independent

will avoid the obvious political points, but you can assume that I am subliminally making them with above

Sam Bee

No not FT - I'm not aware of any comment in last month or so regarding the DM. Correct me if i'm wrong.

I'm basing it largely on Social Media - twitter / facebook / blogs - and the surge in such comments in last 24 hours.

It's a sideline of the main call on companies who advertise in the DM - apparently many large corporations (largely supermarkets) have already taken a decision to cut back on advertising until current storm goes past. This is all anecdotal at this stage.

drspear

Social media is a bad thing though where that is concerned, the socialist left tend to be much more passionate on anonymous tools like you mention above, while the conservatives are too busy working to bother with it

So its not balanced.

Hoch

I probably wrote this in the previous thread, but if people want to read it let them. If they want to use it as loo paper let them.

H

sigma421

Although one might argue that since conservatives have a far stronger voice in the mainstream media they don't have to resort to social media campaigns.
So surprised to find I disagree with you on this one drspear

jacobitetraveller

it is not my newspaper of choice but will read it if I get a complimentary copy

on or waiting for a flight its something to read and I have no strong views on what newspapers BA should distribute

drspear

yeh but you are champagne socialist jock

so you are ok then ^

ScruttonStreet

Dont agree with this. I loathe the Mail's coverage and tone but the right to offend is something to be cherished.

Presumably if people stop reading it, BA will stop buying it (they will be paying a derisory small amount for it for the Mail to be able to call it circulation).

noniron

Shoot me down in flames but I quite like the Daily Mail as a pick up and read paper, just accept it for what it is, are you suggesting changing it for another tabloid such as the Sun or the Mirror if so then you will really will fill your head with sensationalist rubbish.

drspear

It has to be said there is a small group of FT posters in my reading, whom are almost the 100% stereotype Daily mail reader, I will be surprised if you get much support on here for getting rid as unfortunately it panders to the shocked and offended brigade, not saying its a bad thing before anyone starts

IAN-UK

The Mail's circulation is greater than the Telegraph, Times and the Express put together. You could even throw in the Guardian for balance, and the Mail is still out in front by a comfortable margin.

OK, newspaper circulation figures could be bolstered by distribution deals such as those with British Airways and Waitrose. But by any measure, the Daily Mail is a popular newspaper. I don't particularly like it, you clearly don't like it at all, but many other people clearly find it a comfortable and entertaining read.

Some of the nitty-gritty questions you ask on the nature of the British Airways' deals with the newspaper and periodical world are interesting, but the attempt to put pressure on the airline to stop giving its passengers the UK's second most popular daily newspaper is, well, odd.

And, yes, I realise I have just outlined a rationale for the Sun being the onboard paper of choice. But as the Sun is quite obviously beyond the pale, I'm comfortable with my position .

You might adopt the cunning strategy I would adopt in your situation. Simply don't pick up the newspaper. Channel Five gives me the heeby-jeebies, no clear idea why, but I avoid unhappiness by sticking to other channels.

Tim1975

I would have thought that the Mail is an odd choice. It is a divisive paper to the extent that many people (myself included) will refuse to take a copy on principle. I'd rather read the vacuous aspiration rubbish in HighLife than the Mail.

If we are not going to have a choice, then lets go for something less polarising. Something that even if it isn't your choice of a paper, you will not be ashamed to pick up and glance at.

BA should avoid the political extremes (that rules out both the Mail and the Guardian/observer and possibly the Telegraph) and go for something more middle of the road.