British Journalism Awards winners revealed | Observer sale dispute latest
And new charges for government information in the UK have been labelled a tax on journalism
Over the last year two epic injustices were addressed in the UK directly as a result of journalism: the Post Office IT debacle and the infected blood scandal.
Public figures from our own industry and others who have abused their position of trust to inflict abuse on others were stopped in their tracks because they were exposed by publishers who made the call to ‘publish and be damned’.
And civilians unlucky enough to find themselves in the way of indiscriminate military bombardment were at least given a voice because reporters were willing to shed light on some of the darkest corners of our world.
The people who covered these stories and more were recognised at the Press Gazette British Journalism Awards last night.
We have all the winners here. Their work proves that journalism does matter and it can make a difference. And they remind us why news is the most important industry in the world, because it is the one that holds others to account.
As Guardian and Observer journalists take part in a fourth day of strike action today many remain perplexed that their bosses have not seriously engaged with any other bidders (because of an exclusivity contract which has been in place with Tortoise ever since it emerged The Observer was for sale). Guardian bosses contend that there are no other serious bidders for the title.
The deal has not yet been signed and striking journalists believe they can still persuade bosses to think again.
On Press Gazette
British Journalism Awards winners 2024: Channel 4 News named best news provider, Caroline Wheeler is journalist of the year
All the winners of the British Journalism Awards 2024 and links to their winning work.
Observer sale: New email reveals Guardian refusal to talk to potential bidder
Email from Guardian CEO to potential Observer bidder follows Scott Trust saying it would still listen to bids.
Land Registry price rise dubbed ‘tax on proper journalism’
Small newsrooms face hundreds of pounds of extra costs for a single investigation under new registry prices.
News in brief
Forbes has named Sherry Phillips as CEO to succeed Mike Federle. (Press Gazette)
The Telegraph has backed The Spectator's objection to IPSO’s discrimination ruling about the misgendering of author Juno Dawson. The newspaper said the ruling was a "regrettable overstep": "The issue of gender identity is highly contested, and [the writer] should have been entitled to express his view." (The Telegraph)
Australia's government has set out new rules to force tech giants like Google and Meta to continue paying for news content on their platforms. They will require big firms to enter commercial deals with publishers or be hit by higher taxes. (BBC News)
Time has launched an "AI-powered experience" which includes article translations, custom length summaries, the ability to play articles as audio, a voice-activated conversational tool and AI-generated prompts of questions to ask about stories. (Time)
The Hill's parent company is reportedly hoping to make up to 17 editorial layoffs after Christmas. Editor-in-chief Bob Cusack has just announced his own departure after ten years in the role. (The Independent)
The Free Press now has 60 full-time staff and 136,000 paying subscribers, implying annual revenue of at least $10m. The outlet also said a $15m series A round this year valued the company at more than $100m. (Axios)
Essex Police chief constable BJ Harrington has told GB News the force's investigation into Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson over a tweet was done "proportionately, fairly, and I think very, very ethically". (GB News)
Buzzfeed is selling interview show Hot Ones for $82.5m to a consortium of buyers including show host Sean Evans, the founder of First We Feast Chris Schonberger and an affiliate of Soros Fund Management. (NYT)
IPSO ruled that a Mail on Sunday front page headline stating "Police are so cowed by the anti-Semitic mob, they even cover up the Holocaust" was inaccurate because the decision to cover the memorial was taken by Royal Parks, not the Met Police. (IPSO)
The New York Times has reached a tentative contract deal with the union representing its tech workers, who went on strike last month. The three-year deal reportedly includes 8.25% pay rises over the course of the contract and "just cause" firing protection. (NYT)
Some 95% of global sports journalists feel online abuse targeting them and their colleagues is widespread, 75% think there has been an increase in the severity of abuse in the past year, and 85% said it may influence whether they pursue certain stories. (United Against Online Abuse)
The News Media Association and Newsbrands Scotland are merging from 1 January. They will keep their own branding and staff but will "work more closely together to make the case for trusted journalism in Westminster and Holyrood". (NMA)
Ladbible Group has partnered with Reach-founded contextual advertising solution Mantis. The pair say the partnership will allow advertisers "to quickly reach previously inaccessible content restricted by traditional blocklist-based solutions".
Business outlet CNBC is to launch a new unit focused on creating content aimed at particular audience niches, with products based around wealth and women's leadership joining its recent sports business vertical.
CNBC is also reportedly planning to launch a streaming outlet called CNBC+ in the first quarter of 2025. It would feature a global feed for viewers to follow its coverage wherever they are. (Variety)
Also on Press Gazette:
50 biggest UK news websites in October: Sun falls out of top five
Spectator rebuked for calling Juno Dawson ‘a man who claims to be a woman’
Rupert Murdoch loses attempt to give Lachlan control in family trust overhaul
RELX-owned B2B title Estates Gazette to close after 166 years
Guardian chair says Tortoise deal will end ‘inevitable decline’ of Observer
Wired UK to go quarterly and merge teams with global editions
News media job cuts 2024 tracked: Conde Nast and Vox Media latest hit
Latest podcast
Podcast 79: How Bluesky became News-sky, Google Discover, US election lessons
Press Gazette editor-in-chief Dominic Ponsford talks about the benefits of Bluesky for publishers with the zeal of a new convert, reporter Bron Maher explains how publishers are getting new traffic from Google via Discover and Charlotte Tobitt reveals the biggest lessons for the news industry from the US presidential election.