Digital news subscription prices level | New London paper set to launch
And media appeal a ban on naming judges who oversaw Sara Sharif care proceedings
Good morning and welcome to your daily Press Gazette media briefing on Wednesday 15 January.
News, like freedom, increasingly isn't free.
In the last year CNN, the Daily Mail and The Verge have joined the ranks of publishers charging for online access.
Today we publish our annual state of the nation report on the price of paywalled news. We find that while the price of newspapers spirals upward, online subscriptions have been far more stable. We have all the online subscription prices for consumer news websites in the UK as well as details of introductory offers and year-on-year change.
Today we also exclusively reveal plans for a major new daily title for London.
The move comes as the Evening Standard moved to weekly print distribution and axed half its workforce, City AM cut its print edition to three days a week and the London Live TV channel will close this week.
And finally we have a report from the Court of Appeal where journalists are challenging an order granting secrecy to judges involved in the case of a murdered child.
The prospect of judges operating behind a cloak of secrecy is seen as a major blow to the principle of open justice.
On Press Gazette
Newsflation: Online news subscriptions in UK stay level as print cover prices surge
Of the 21 major news websites included both this year and last year in our research, 11 kept their annual subscription charges the same and two others changed only slightly, possibly due to currency fluctuations.
New digital daily newspaper for London set to launch
Azeez Anasudhin is the executive editor of the title and managing director of LDD News Ltd. He launched the Asian Lite digital newspaper and website in 2007 and has previously worked for titles including The Gulf Today and Indian Express.
Media say ban on naming Sara Sharif care judges ‘cannot be allowed to stand’
Journalists Louise Tickle and Hannah Summers, as well as PA Media and the BBC, are appealing anonymity decision.
News in brief
The UK Government has written to The Guardian and Tortoise asking "procedural" questions about the structure of the Observer deal and who's funding it "just to make sure... there is no need to wade in under the wider Enterprise Act". (Financial Times)
Dotdash Meredith has named Charlotte Triggs as the first joint general manager and editor-in-chief of People. People Group president Leah Wyar said they had rethought the editor-in-chief role as a "business leader to unify our teams and platforms". (Dotdash Meredith)
A student bursary scheme in honour of journalist Nick Sheridan, who died last year aged 32, has been created by BBC Scotland, where he most recently worked, STV, and the University of the West of Scotland where he was a part-time lecturer. (BBC)
MSNBC president Rashida Jones is stepping down as parent company Comcast prepares to spin the broadcaster off into a separate entity. (CNN)
“Someone who held politician institutions to account. He will be missed not only for his journalist skills but also for his love of the city, its people and services.” Former Long-serving Brighton Argus reporter Adam Trimingham has died aged 82. (The Argus)
Women in Journalism has given The Sunday Times' Christina Lamb a lifetime achievement award, and named Beth Rigby, Cathy Newman and Sam Poling as Women of the Year. BBC News' Rianna Croxford and ITV News' Cree-Summer Haughton were each given a Rising Star Award. (Women in Journalism)
The Londoner, newsletter publisher Mill Media's title for the UK capital, has begun selling paid subscriptions, which will normally be charged at £8.95 a month or £89 a year. Press Gazette wrote about the brand's launch in October. (Mill Media)
Also on Press Gazette:
CMA to investigate Google search dominance and impact on news publishers
London Live closes after ten years as broadcasting licence to change hands
Top 50 news websites in the world: December sees traffic dip post US election
Mirror journalists given individual online page-view targets
Top 50 news websites in the US: New York Times extends its lead
Climate change scepticism almost extinct from UK national press
Latest podcast
Podcast 81: AI tipping point in 2025: What publishers need to know
Former digital development director of The Sun Paul Hood has just quit his job to study generative AI full time.
He explained why AI in the media is set to reach a tipping point in 2025 and start to fundamentally change the business. He also reveals some of the practical steps publishers should take to ensure they can capitalise on the opportunities AI presents and avoid some major pitfalls.
If the London Daily is actually based in Fleet Street, they may well be the only journalists actually working there