End GB News boycott says Ryley | Matt Hancock IPSO win
And there are grounds for optimism in Newsquest financial results
Good morning and welcome to your daily media news briefing on Friday, 15 September, brought to you today in association with Reuters News Agency - where the news gets its news. Their latest report, Powering trusted news with AI, is available to download now.
Look away now Prince Harry.
John Ryley, who stepped down after 17 years as the head of Sky News in May, says journalists aren't tough enough on the UK royal family.
He also shared some strong opinions about GB News, the presence of minority party leaders in TV debates and the behaviour of political journalists which many will strongly disagree with. His comments are well worth a read.
We also today have the latest financial results for UK regional press giant Newsquest. Given the current headwinds, the numbers are not as challenging as you might expect. And the growth of digital advertising revenue provides solid grounds for optimism.
There is some rare good news for Matt Hancock in his battles with the Daily Mirror. Press regulator IPSO has told the tabloid to issue a correction. The complaint report includes the transcript of a rather comic text exchange between a Mirror journalist and Hancock's spokesman.
And finally we have an interview with the new CEO of Full Fact. Former BBC correspondent Chris Morris (not the comedian) says fact-checkers need to become "a bit more rock and roll".
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New from Press Gazette:
John Ryley calls time on ‘supine’ royal reporting, Westminster gossip and GB News ads boycott
“It’s time the broadcasters focused on policy issues that mattered to the electorate and not some ‘here today, gone tomorrow ‘ spin doctor.”
Matt Hancock scores complaint victory versus Mirror over ‘Matt’s finished’ story
The Mirror journalist behind the story texted a member of Hancock’s team: “There seems to be a pattern where stuff is claimed to be untrue and then it turns out to be correct.”
Newsquest grows revenues and stays in profit in 2022
“The performance of the business demonstrated considerable resilience in 2022 when it faced the challenges of escalating and newsprint prices, wage inflation and UK economic growth came to a standstill.”
New Full Fact CEO: Fact-checkers may need ‘to be a bit more rock and roll’
“No more election leaflets that look like your local newspaper. No more graphs that completely miss out on the data you don’t like and have the data you do. I mean, it’s bullshit.”
News in brief:
More than 60 Australian politicians have told the US they are "resolutely of the view that the prosecution and incarceration of the Australian citizen Julian Assange must end" as he continues to be held in London's Belmarsh prison. (The Guardian)The BBC's executive complaints unit has dismissed all accuracy, fairness and privacy complaints submitted by people associated with life coaching and mentoring organisation Lighthouse about the A Very British Cult documentary. (BBC)Changes at TalkTV/Talkradio from early October:
- Jeremy Kyle is moving from the 7pm slot to take on the Monday to Thursday breakfast show with Nicola Thorp
- Julia Hartley-Brewer is moving from breakfast after five years to take up the 1pm to 3pm slot
- And Rosanna Lockwood is taking on the 7pm slot. (News UK)Ex-Pink News head of news Ryan Butcher has joined The Big Issue as news and digital editor to build on its growth of the past two years. (Press Gazette)ITV News' health and science editor Emily Morgan, who died in May, has posthumously been named editor of the year at the Medical Journalists' Awards. It was said her winning pieces "show a health editor at the top of her game in British broadcasting". (Medical Journalists' Association)Persephonica has signed with entertainment agency WME to help it push into America following the launch of a US version of The News Agents and is about to launch its first narrative podcast about slavery reparations. (Deadline)Previously on Press Gazette:
Future CEO Jon Steinberg on AI, paywalls and why ‘high-intent’ media is resilient
How DC Thomson turned community + purpose into a winning publishing formula
25 years on, live blogs top most-read lists for BBC, Guardian and Sky
How new technology at Daily Mail and Sun is growing digital revenues
Reach reader revenue trials: Premium apps, paid-for newsletters and ad-free Express
