British daily newspaper The Independent is set to cut its popular media section in its new revamped format.

Rather than have its weekly media supplement on a Monday, the paper is reported to be including topics of media, PR and marketing news throughout the week in its all new ”viewspaper” section, which is comprised of analysis and views. In addition, Media Week reports that The Independent will feature a more streamlined 2 page media section on a Thursday.

This cull of the media section has been met with criticism by some industry commentators who believe that with the rise of technology such as the iPad, The Independent’s 5 page media section could have been more important than ever.

The smaller media supplement allows rival The Guardian to be the only real player on the block in terms of a specialist media and PR section.

Since the paper’s takeover by Russian tycoon Alexander Lebedev, it has undergone a series of dramatic changes leading to its relaunch to the British public last week. It remains to be seen whether the streamlining of the media section is a bid to cut costs or to give the newspaper a new edge.

The Indy as it is dubbed, has been promoted heavily in recent weeks as a paper ”free from political ties,” despite its previous reputation as a paper that swung to the left. It is hoped the continued promotion will take the paper back to the giddy heights of 2004, when it was named the National Newspaper of the Year.

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