Geordie Greig brings feelgood factor to London Evening Standard

The new London Evening Standard editor, Geordie Greig, has marked his first day in charge by penning a piece to readers outlining how the paper's aspiration under new its owner Alexander Lebedev was to take a "fundamentally optimistic view of life" and become the "voice of London".

Lebedev, the Russian billionaire and former KGB agent, officially took control of the paper on Friday, 27 February, after buying 75.1% of the loss-making title, for a reported £1, from former owner Daily Mail & General Trust.

Accompanying a picture of the new owner addressing staff for the first time last week, today's page 2 article from Greig set out the stall of the new regime, saying the paper had a glorious future, owned by a company that would be "independent, open-minded and free-spirited".

"Independent is the key word. Alexander and Evgeny Lebedev come to London as owners of Novaya Gazeta, the pro-democracy newspaper that has built a reputation in Russia for journalistic objectivity, decency and bravery," wrote Greig, who quit as editor of Tatler to join the Evening Standard. "They have given their absolute assurance that the editorial direction of the Evening Standard shall be entirely in the hands of the editor and his team."

The piece seemed to put clear water between the new owners and the old Evening Standard regime, under which the paper was a stablemate of DMGT subsidiary Associated Newspapers' Daily Mail.

"We shall be a life-affirming, aspirational newspaper that aims to be different and bold, our style embodied in punch, zest and humour," Greig wrote. "From today this newspaper takes a fundamentally optimistic view of life, of London and Londoners."

Last week the Evening Standard gave a first hint of a possible editorial change of tack, bringing to an end the title's running feud with former London mayor Ken Livingstone by interviewing him for the first time in seven years. The paper campaigned vigorously in support of Livingstone's successor, Boris Johnson, during last year's London mayoral elections.

Greig was confirmed as Veronica Wadley's replacement as Evening Standard editor last month. He used his first direct address to readers today to say the Standard would become a cheerleader and champion for London.

"We shall be a newspaper built on idealism and intelligence, aiming to make a real contribution to this city and to play a welcome role in the lives of Londoners, whoever they are, whatever their background, wherever they were born," he wrote. "The Evening Standard, the voice of London."