Ex-Reach audience chief launching ten Northern newsletters | News UK in fresh illegal newsgathering payouts
And the BBC's Rhodri Talfan Davies responds to angry regional press leaders
Good morning and welcome to your daily media news briefing on Wednesday, 6 December, brought to you today in association with Norkon. Their e-book on how publishers have successfully covered elections is available to download now.
A former senior Reach staffer is to head up a ten-newsletter local news launch in the company’s North of England heartland.
Ed Walker is working with The Lead on the project which is backed by six-figure investment.
Today we also report on what looks like a significant privacy payout at News UK over illegal newsgathering dating back some 20 years.
The publisher has opted to make payments, rather than go to trial, with a number of figures including: comedians Catherine Tate and Keith Allen and Spice Girl Melanie C.
The claimants allege broader illegal newsgathering as well as phone-hacking.
Most troubling is the payout to 7 July 2005 London bombing victim Davinia Douglass, targeted not because she had sought fame but because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Journalists should comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, this was the opposite. Hopefully, News UK (News International as was then) is finally turning the page on this shameful period.
Today we also give the BBC right of reply on yesterday’s broadside against the corporation from leading local news leaders who claimed that its actions pose a serious threat to independent journalism.
And scroll down to our NIBs for a link to the latest Reuters Institute Changing Newsrooms survey which has the latest on hybrid working, diversity and AI implementation at publishers around the world.
Promoted report
Three events that will impact the newsroom in 2024
2024 promises to be an eventful year with three major events scheduled to take place that will affect newsrooms in most parts of the world. These are:
1. European Parliament Elections
2. Summer Olympics in Paris
3. US Presidential Elections
Why should you care?
“What we are seeing is these big news cycles – especially around our politics coverage – drives significant uptake in our subscriptions. I think this is something that the US publishers saw with Donald Trump as well. It’s good news that people are prepared to pay for quality journalism.” - The Telegraph
Norkon released an e-book for publishers to gain insights into how newspapers have successfully covered elections and get practical takeaways to implement right away.
New from Press Gazette
Former Reach audience chief heads up ten-newsletter North of England launch
“We’re not merely appointing a correspondent or allocating a budget for stories about the North: we are setting up a parallel, autonomous newsroom in the North that’ll work in equal partnership with the London team.”
Sun publisher pays out to celebs over claims of hacking, blagging and deception
Among the claimants are Spice Girl Melanie C, comedians Catherine Tate and Keith Allen and radio presenter Chris Moyles. Allen said he wished NGN “a Merry Christmas”.
BBC Nations news chief says local news expansion won’t harm existing media outlets
In response to a joint public statement issued by senior editors at the UK’s five biggest local commercial news businesses, the director of BBC Nations, Rhodri Talfan Davies, has insisted that the corporation is a “good neighbour” to regional outlets.
Podcast 61: Why bad news can be good for business publishers with Dow Jones CEO Almar Latour
Dow Jones chief executive and Wall Street Journal publisher Almar Latour spoke to Press Gazette about how the financial news division of News Corp just managed to achieve its most profitable quarter since 2007.
In this edited version of his interview at the Press Gazette Media Strategy Network event in New York this month, he also spoke about what publishers need to focus on as global uncertainty looks set to continue in 2024.
News in brief
Former London Weekend Television editor and BBC non-executive director Samir Shah is set to be appointed the new chair of the corporation, the Financial Times reports. (FT)
Tortoise Media has failed in its High Court bid to force the Conservative Party to provide more information about the process to elect its leader. Tortoise argued this was "state-held information". Tortoise must pay the Tories £30,000 in costs. (judiciary.uk)
The latest Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism survey of 135 media leaders globally has found:
65% think hybrid working is here to stay
74% say generative AI is helpful in the newsroom but not a game-changer
57% say recruitment challenges are the biggest block to improving diversity.
Publishers are cautious on investing energy in Meta’s X rival Threads, reports Digiday. X gets 100 times more traffic worldwide than Facebook's Threads and has 11 times more active monthly users of its mobile apps in the US. (Digiday)
The Russian government has rejected a proposal to trade imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US marine Paul Whelan for Russian nationals detained on spying charges, according to CNN.
Previously on Press Gazette
Why BBC is ‘the neighbour from hell’ for leading regional newsbrand editors
Barclays take back control of Telegraph and Specator, for now
Unhappy Guardian complainant launches new watchdog for unregulated media
As many people think BBC is pro-Israel as think it is pro-Palestine, poll finds
Police chief sacked for lying sues Northern Echo over phone-monitoring claim
News UK appoints new CTO as Simon Farnsworth leaves for ITV
