Digital Frontier ‘pauses’ output and axes 16-strong team | Ladbible brings Betches to UK
Plus publishers have been warned after cyberattacks target the email accounts of senior journalists
Welcome to your daily Press Gazette media briefing on Tuesday, 29 July.
Sad news today as we report on the closure (at least in its current form) of tech newsbrand Digital Frontier about 18 months after it launched with great optimism.
The bosses are characterising it as a pause and an end to “this chapter” - but either way it is the case that the entire team of 16 people has been made redundant.
It demonstrates how hard it is to build something new in today’s ecosystem. As director Joshua Hewes put it, the work “struck a chord” but momentum never followed. It also sits alongside other cuts hitting technology journalists in recent months such as Techcrunch cutting its team in Europe.
However, we do have good news to share as well: Ladbible Group is creating jobs with the launch of women’s brand Betches into the UK.
Betches was already a profitable women’s brand in the US when Ladbible Group bought it in 2023, and they believe they have the UK market primed and ready for new ways for clients to reach women in a humour-led but authentic approach.
And finally, a warning: Press Gazette is aware of multiple editors at British business publications getting targeted by cyberattackers, and The Washington Post was targeted last month.
Any publisher can suddenly be hit by this, large or small. We’ve got some information about what’s going on and advice for what to do to protect yourselves here.
On Press Gazette
Tech newsbrand Digital Frontier ‘pauses’ publication with 16-strong team made redundant
Digital Frontier aimed to provide "more nuanced and optimistic view" of tech intersection with business and culture.
Ladbible launches Betches in UK to talk ‘with, not to’ millennial and Gen Z women
Ladbible Group acquired Betches in 2023 to give it a foothold in the US market.
Cyberattacks target email accounts of senior journalists
Washington Post also suffered recent attack.
News in brief
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism promotes Franz Wild to CEO and editor-in-chief as its path to becoming 'financially resilient' and 'giving humans what they want' continues. (Press Gazette)
Reach is already advertising for a head of digital subscriptions to "build a sustainable subscription business" in a role that's "pivotal to our growth ambitions". It announced plans to put "serious focus" on subscriptions last week.
The Alden Global Capital-owned Chicago Tribune laid off eight people, or about 10% of the newsroom, on Thursday. (Press Gazette)
BBC News has appointed Anjali Kapoor as AI, innovation and growth director to oversee its adoption of AI and lead its off-platform growth. She was most recently director for media partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region for Meta. (BBC)
Also on Press Gazette
‘Anti-clickbait’ Facebook page relaunches after Ladbible complaints led to takedown
The Times drops free Money Mentor offering in personal finance pivot
News UK COO and ex-Sun editor David Dinsmore to take Govt comms job
Fortune Europe editorial team made redundant but new roles being created
Reach to put ‘serious focus’ on subscriptions but expects to keep most news free
How Which? is building a long-term subscriber base less reliant on quick washing machine decisions
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