Press: Suddenly, Now! Is Never

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Though appalled by Goldsmith's occasional intrusions, Now!'s well-paid (upwards of $54,000 for top writers) 80-journalist staff was crushed by the closure. Editor in Chief Anthony Shrimsley compared Now! to the Concorde: "A marvelous concept, marvelous design, tremendous crew, and everyone who flies it loves it, but you can't get enough passengers to make it a commercial success." As his London employees totted up their severance (perhaps as high as 56.5 million), Goldsmith saw virtue in defeat. Said he:

"When a venture stops being an investment and starts being a subsidy, you have to have the courage to drop it."