British Journalism Awards shortlist revealed
Actor Noel Clarke kicks off his £10m libel action against The Guardian and Matt Hancock loses another IPSO battle with the Mirror
Good morning and welcome to your daily media news briefing on Wednesday 27 October.
We've taken care to include links to all the shortlisted work in this story so it is well worth your time to give it a browse. It's a fantastic snapshot of a year's worth of stonking public interest journalism.
There are a few divisive figures on the list. I never thought I would see the day when Nigel Farage was up for a Press Gazette journalism award. But a scoop is a scoop, and his subject access request as revealed on GB News, did surface a heck of a story.
The vast majority of finalists aren’t cigar-chomping demagogues but hard-working journalists like you and I. Most of them do not earn much. And many risked their lives and livelihoods to provide a voice for people who would otherwise have been ignored.
Armchair critics on social media spend a lot of time disparaging the mainstream media and thus encouraging a growing minority to instead get their news from wacko conspiracy theorists and private messaging echo chambers.
These shortlists are a great rebuttal to those who seek to disparage journalism at every turn.
This is a great industry and we should all be really proud to be playing our part in it.
Happy Friday!
New from Press Gazette
British Journalism Awards shortlist 2023: Best public interest reporting of last year revealed
“There are a smattering of star names on these lists whose work underlines why they command big salaries. But there are also many journalists recognised today who work incredibly hard for little pay often showing great courage to stand up against legal (and even physical) threats to provide a voice for those who would otherwise be ignored.”
Daily Mirror goes 2-1 up against Matt Hancock with IPSO complaint win
Mirror OK to describe Hancock home as a "love nest".
Martin Clunes wins IPSO complaint versus Mail after reporter failed to take notes
IPSO decided that "on the balance of probabilities" the journalist had got a key quote wrong.
Actor Noel Clarke faced ‘trial by media’ after Guardian reports of misconduct, High Court told
“This trial by media, conducted by the most-read newspaper for people in the film and entertainment industry, led, unsurprisingly, to Mr Clarke being immediately ‘cancelled’ in various ways.”
News in brief
Pulse mag stops beating
GP mag Pulse will publish its final monthly print edition in January and go digital-only after 64 years. Editor Jaimie Kaffash said it will be "bittersweet" but they "will continue to produce all the news, views and investigations that we have always done". (Pulse)
Moore mistaken
IPSO ruling: A Charles Moore Telegraph column breached the Editors' Code by stating a court had confirmed the "Scottish government was exceeding its constitutional powers" when the case had not yet been heard. The Telegraph blamed "human error". (IPSO)
IPSO: Echo facto wrongo
IPSO has also found the Bournemouth Echo breached the code with a headline saying a police officer had been sacked for "sharing racist WhatsApp messages"when the press release on which it was based said only they were "inappropriate and offensive". (IPSO)
Forbes chatbot launch
Forbes has launched an in-house generative AI news search tool, which it said will give visitors "AI-driven personalised recommendations and insights from Forbes’ trusted journalism". Readers can explore content from the past year and get deeper insights. (Forbes)
SLAPP down
The UK's first anti-SLAPP provision in law received royal assent today. But the Anti-SLAPP Coalition says it falls short of "universal protection". "While this is undoubtedly a landmark moment, it is limited to those speaking out on economic crime." (Antislapp.uk)
Jess job move
BBC executive news editor and former Huffpost UK editor Jess Brammar is moving to the the post of editorial executive, in which role she will work with BBC chief content officer Charlotte Moore. (Broadcast)
Vox stop
Vox publisher Melissa Bell is stepping down, and will be replaced by editor-in-chief Swati Sharma taking on an expanded dual role. (Vox)
Gaza massacre
The wife, children and grandson of Al Jazeera's Gaza bureau chief Wael Al-Daudouh have been killed in an Israeli airstrike. He reacted on-air, and an Al Jazeera anchor cried as he delivered the news to viewers. (Al Jazeera)
Podcast 59: From subscriptions to membership at Elle UK
Elle UK editor Kenya Hunt talks to Press Gazette about why she hopes readers will pay £150 a year to become fashion industry insiders as members of Elle Collective.
She also talks about the future of magazines, diversity and why magazine editors have a duty to present images of female beauty responsibly.
Previously on Press Gazette
Elle UK’s move from subscriptions to membership shares access to editors’ ‘daily joys’
How the FT’s online visual storytelling playbook gives readers ‘lightbulb’ moments
Biggest news publishers on Youtube: GB News and Piers Morgan Uncensored pass 1m subscribers
Race to buy The Telegraph: Who are the latest runners and riders?
Half of top newsbrands see fall in search visibility after latest Google core update