He was interviewed on stage by Mediacom MD Claudine Collins at Advertising Week Europe this morning about Brexit, Donald Trump, press ethics, advertising and women in sport.
On the impact of Brexit, Piers said:
“I’m undecided, but my instinct says stay in Europe. I don’t see a compelling reason why we should risk coming out. We should be in it together, strong and united… The only upside would be that David Cameron would have to go immediately – so I’d be pleased.”
“We should all cut through the fear mongering and get to a factual reality.”
Can Donald Trump really become President? Piers said:
“I think he’s got a very good chance of being the nominee. If you’re a Washington or Californian elite, of course you see him as the devil incarnate. But the rest of US think he’s brilliant as he’s not a politician and he’s there for the little man.”
“Hilary Clinton is not as popular as people think, and [Trump] is more popular than people think. In Texas and Florida, people are genuinely terrified by terrorism so he’s playing to a real fear.”
How long has newsprint got left? Piers Morgan said:
“20 years, tops. It makes no sense to cut down trees to make newsprint. None of my kids read them – it’s all online and on phones.”
“Too many journalists think it’s terrible – get over it! It’s the new world – we’re not on penny farthings anymore.”
“The Daily Mail is the biggest English speaking newspaper in the world because they made a decision very early on not to make people pay, and they were right. That’s why they’re so successful – the business model that works is massive traffic and lots of advertising.”
Speaking about the story erupting around Culture Secretary John Whittingdale, Piers said:
“The tale that’s being told about all national newspapers ringing each other up and agreeing that they weren’t going to do the story [about John Wittingdale] is not true – that didn’t happen. These guys are competitors! Post-Leveson enquiry, there was not a chance that the story was ever going to be published.”
“The Leveson enquiry was very good – but I think it has left us with a muted industry… This country, good or bad, has one of the most free presses in the world. But the day you mute it is the day we get our own Vladimir Putin.”
On his lack of university education:
“It’s best to look at the individual and work out if this will enhance their career prospects. I just wanted to get on with it. I don’t feel like I missed out.”
“I was editor of the News of the World aged 28. I was the youngest newspaper editor ever. That wouldn’t have happened if I’d gone to university.”
Referring to comments made at Advertising Week Europe the previous day on women in sport, Piers commented:
“Bernie Ecclestone I find hard to believe. A woman could be just as quick on the track.”
“The issue is money. There is little money available for women in football in the UK. In the US, women’s teams are watched more than men.”
“In a workplace, such as advertising, it is outrageous that women are paid less.”