Roger Alton at the Independent?

Much excitement in the office after hearing that the respected former Observer editor could be heading to the Independent to take over from Simon Kelner. The Independent is out of tricks and needs some new life and Alton could be the man to bring it.

Nothing is confirmed, but the story broken by MediaGuardian.co.uk sounds like it has the ring of truth. Alton seemed like an editor who was not ready to go and when he left Te Observer there was much talk and rumour of discord with Guardian editor and editor-in-chief, Alan Rusbridger.

They had clashed over stories about health and the Iraq war and Alton was also said to be unhappy about possible lost autonomy as The Observer and The Guardian were more closely integrated in their new home at Kings Cross.

He had concerns about The Observer losing its distinct voice as various departments are merged (sport/business and foreign news). It would be a crying shame if it did. The paper is distinct and it is that distinction that has helped it perform so well (under Guardian Media Group ownership it has to be said).

I love The Guardian as a newspaper and have always found The Independent lacking. Under Kelner (who if Alton does move to Canary Wharf, would become managing director) the paper has done a lot with little budget, but I look at its front pages some days and am not sure why I should pick it up. It lacks bite politically and has drifted to where I am not quite sure, other than being "liberal and worried".

Its front pages graphs and logos often make it look like a magazine and it feels like a trick that has been deployed once too often. I want a newspaper not a viewspaper.

I really hope this news turns out to be true and Alton does arrive and inject some of the newspaper magic he deployed at The Observer — The Independent needs a little abracadabra.

Hopefully we will get less pages like this:

and more that tell us what is happening in the world. It's a big place after all.