Former world champion racing driver Nigel Mansell criticised journalists for using too much “artistic licence” and said his new magazine would take a more balanced approach to the sport.
Speaking at the launch of his Planet Driving, he told Press Gazette that part of the reason he had moved into publishing was down to the treatment he had received at the hands of the press in the past – particularly being misrepresented in interviews.
Mansell, editor-in-chief of the new title, said: “Seeing the interview written, it never comes across as you’ve said it. It doesn’t matter which way you look at all aspects of sport and reporting, you can always do better.
You can always report things better, you can always write better and there are a lot of lessons to be learnt.
“Some journalists are excellent, there is no question, but some of them use too much artistic licence and are too biased to write what they should be writing.”
Planet Driving aims to capture the whole experience of driving, featuring two wheels, four wheels, power boats and aircraft as well as Formula One. It has a sales target of 50,000.
Mansell suggested the additional involvement of former motorcyling world champion Carl Fogarty as co-editor-in-chief would enable the title to be more “sympathetic” in its treatment of drivers and team owners.
“They are all trying to do a good job but I think some journalists are guilty of trying to be too controversial,” he added.
“There is a great saying ‘don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story’ and the headlines rarely depict what it’s about, it is just sensational sometimes.
“We are not going to go for that, we are going to go for some great writing, super pictures and great layout. We are already being supported by some great commercial companies, which is what it’s all about.
“The main people we have got to convince is the public and I think we are a long way to doing that already.”
By Ruth Addicott
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