Letter to i readers from the editor: New owners, but still championing independent journalism

Oliver Duff reassures readers and answers your questions

(Independent)

Free from party political bias. Free from proprietorial influence. That commitment to independent, Independent journalism lives on in i.

Friday was an extraordinary day at i Towers. Midday brought confirmation to the Stock Exchange that, subject to shareholder approval, we will have new owners, after Johnston Press agreed to buy i for £24 million. The acquisition makes JP Britain's fourth-largest print publisher. Much more on that below, including answers to readers' initial questions and detail on the deal.

It is worth me adding, right here, for reassurance, that Johnston Press wants to pay £24 million because it loves i as it is. As Editor, my remit from them is to continue giving you exactly what you want.

Very little changes for you. The team who work on i will continue to do so – and this staff will expand under plans for significant recruitment. Your paper will look and feel the same. I will continue to be Editor, and your favourite contributors will continue to write for the paper. Yes, those writers you know and love (and in a few cases can't stand).

Johnston Press will, I believe, be ambitious, passionate and considerate owners of the newspaper. They first approached our current owners precisely because they admire the ethos of i: its brevity, quality and impartiality. They intend to honour this title's commitment to innovation and independent journalism.

The second major announcement in our parent company was that our pioneering stablemates, The Independent and The Independent on Sunday, will publish their last print editions in March before becoming Britain's first national newspaper titles to go digital-only. Staff will transfer to i; to the new Independent Digital operation; or be offered redundancy cheques. Two strong media organisations will be created, as a new chapter begins for independent journalism.

I have worked at the Independent group for 13 years. I met my wife and many of my friends here. Our baby daughter was squawking away in the office yesterday, as she was passed from colleague to colleague. My excitement about the future for i is obviously mixed with sadness about The Indy eventually stopping in print – although its future in digital is, with the massive new recruitment underway, dazzlingly bright.

We thrive on quality journalism that has soul. The courage and heart of The Independent's founders lives on in digital – and in i.

Below, I have tried to answer a few of readers' initial questions. You are bound to pose more. Please drop me a line on i@independent.co.uk – and I'll answer as many as I can in Monday's i.

Will I still get quality journalism from The Independent in i?

Yes. As well as employing lots of Independent journalists in the new, much bigger i editorial team, a “super-syndication” deal has been struck with The Independent, meaning all of its journalism can continue to be published in i for years to come.

Our new offices will be 30 seconds' walk from our current desks.

The Independent is going digital-only?

Yes, the two titles, The Independent and The Independent on Sunday, will publish their final print editions on 26 March and the 20 March respectively. The Independent Digital operation will continue to employ many of the group's top journalists – correspondents, columnists, reporters, editors – and all of these will also continue to be published in i.

Where will i's quality journalism come from?

1. A much bigger core editorial team of 51 (many of them former Independent staffers), who will focus entirely on you, i's readers. All of the current team continue.

2. The Independent's new digital operation, bolstered by ranks of top new recruits from the print team.

3. The Evening Standard, whose fantastic journalists we can now publish in i.

4. Improved coverage from around the UK. Joining the JP empire, which has 900 journalists around the UK, will allow us to improve regional coverage of news, sport and culture.

When does the deal take effect?

Mid-April. Even then, i and The Independent will work closely together as we do now to cook up stories, and co-operate on coverage.

Will i's political stance change?

No. We stay independent. Johnston Press lets its editors edit, and its papers have different political stances: the Sheffield Star is quite distinct from the Yorkshire Post 35 miles up the road, for example.

Who are JP?

One of Britain's leading media groups with over 200 titles including The Scotsman and the Yorkshire Post.

Any digital plans?

A dedicated i website, iNews.co.uk, will be launched that captures the spirit of the “essential daily briefing”.

Is this sale good news for i?

Yes. We have benefited greatly from the generous ownership of the Lebedev family, whose vision and bold decision to launch i defied every critic, and whose championing of independent journalism has shaped British public life ever since they bought the Standard and Indy. i's ownership by Johnston Press will give us extra rocket fuel, propelling i into the next exciting chapter in our history. JP will increase availability, boost commercial, develop digital, invest in editorial and expand staff.

Please do email on i@independent.co.uk – over to you. Thank you again for your support for this plucky upstart of a title. Long may it continue.