The Age's Editor in Chief Andrew Jaspan is reportedly unnerved about the lingering and unmistakably hostile presence of "special projects" editor Mark Baker, formerly editor of the Canberra Times.
The OC Investigations Unit reports that The Age newsroom is abuzz with talk that Baker barely disguises his contempt and loathing for Jaspan who is an increasingly hated figure among the proles. Jaspan is aware of Baker's hostility but is not in any position to do anything about it.
BAKER'S LICENCE TO KILL
Normally Baker is considered a shrewd manipulator type of the Machiavellian school but so confident is he of his imminent promotion to Jaspan's job that he is not showing any subtlety at all, insiders say.
This bolshie spirit is winning Baker quite a few new friends among those who've toiled under the randomness and inanity of the Jaspan-Ramadge terrors. Baker must be better they believe.
Ramadge - too oafish and pre-occupied with his cod-piece to sense real danger - is increasingly regarded as a walking corpse, propped up by Jaspan in the Weekend at Bernie's style.
Baker's remarkably unsubtle and contrary approach was believed to have been prompted by Jaspan undermining Baker's bid to become editor of the Sunday Age. Jaspan feared Baker would use this as a springboard to take his job. But the sneaky Pom appears to have miscalculated, by keeping Baker's hands idle in a do-nothing role, he appears to be cooking up quite a storm of his own with the Jaspan's increasingly feral minions.
Game on.
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