Fear and Loathing at Open Democracy | Profit found in positive environmental news
And Hugh Grant takes "enormous sum" to settle phone-hacking claim against The Sun
Welcome to your daily newsletter from Press Gazette on Friday 19 April.
First up, a reminder that today is the deadline for entries to the MHP Group 30 To Watch Awards for young journalists. These awards are free to enter and Press Gazette is proud to be a commercial partner for the event. Full details here.
Good news can seem hard to find these days so take heart from the success of The Cool Down, a US website that looks on the bright side of global warming.
We’ve spoken to the founders of a site that has become one of the fastest growing newsbrands in the US by offering a solutions-based approach to covering the environment. They say they are making $5m a year from programmatic advertising and are just getting started on their commercial journey.
Today we also have a piece which could be titled Fear and Loathing at Open Democracy. The award-winning investigative journalism site was going from strength to strength in recent years until the wheels fell off in March and it sacked one third of the editorial workforce. Bron Maher’s investigation explains what went wrong at the non-profit newsbrand.
Actor Hugh Grant says he has been given an “enormous sum of money” from News Group Newspapers to avoid a trial over claims of phone-hacking and illegal newsgathering made against The Sun. The deal suggests that surely Prince Harry will also settle with News Corp rather than risk paying £10m in legal fees even if he wins his case and is awarded damages less than those previously on offer.
Jobs of the week:
Adobe is recruiting an enterprise account executive based in London
Dentsu Aegis Network is recruiting a creative based in Edinburgh
Carrot Pharma Recruitment is looking for a principal medical writer
For the latest media roles check out Press Gazette’s job board.
New from Press Gazette
Open Democracy could have been ‘insolvent by June’ without 40% cost reductions
Turmoil at the top of Open Democracy has led to legal letters being sent.
The US website making ad-funded journalism about the environment work
The Cool Down is the fastest growing top 50 news website in the US.
National press ABCs: Mail on Sunday falls below 600,000 mark in March
Press Gazette's monthly analysis of ABC national newspaper circulation figures.
Hugh Grant settles claim against Sun publisher due to risk of £10m legal costs
The actor said his settlement money would go towards press reform via groups like Hacked Off.
Free journalism awards for journalists under 30: Deadline today (promoted)
BBC Breakfast Editor Richard Frediani has joined the judging panel for the MHP Group 30 To Watch: Journalism Awards 2024.
News in brief
Nuala McGovern will succeed Emma Barnett on Woman’s Hour – and Anita Rani is expanding her own presenting role. (Press Gazette)
Two motorsport journalists leave News UK for Autosport, which announced one as its new editor-in-chief. (Press Gazette)
BBC News Channel presenter Martine Croxall has reportedly begun legal action against the broadcaster after being one of several women kept off air for more than a year. (Deadline)
Sundial Media Group, which owns Essence magazine, is buying women's lifestyle business Refinery 29 from Vice Media and has named former Vice news and entertainment COO Cory Haik as Refinery 29's CEO. (Axios)
The Mail has announced it topped one billion Tiktok views across its pages in a single month for the first time in March (reaching 1,302,321,466). Read more about the Mail's Tiktok strategy here.
The Guardian has launched a paid recipe app (on Apple, with Android to come later) costing £2.99 per month. (The Guardian)
NPR senior business editor Uri Berliner has resigned, citing the CEO's response, which he said "disparaged" him, to his unauthorised essay criticising the network. (NPR)
The deadline to fill in the NCTJ's Journalists at Work research is on Monday (22 April) - if as many people as possible fill it in, the idea is it will provide a picture of the reality of being a journalist in 2024. You can find the survey here.
Weekly newspaper the Holderness and East Riding Gazette has new owners after a buyout by its editor and sales director. (Hold The Front Page)
Previously on Press Gazette
Survey: Autism and ADHD widespread in media, but so is neurodiversity ignorance
More women in top roles as media industry gender pay gap slowly narrows
Top 50 biggest news websites in the world: Newsweek doubles visits year-on-year in March
Ex-Reach editor-in-chief joins board of Westminster PR agency
ADHD and autism in media: How to help neurodivergent colleagues thrive
Latest podcast
Podcast 69: How different minds can thrive in news media
Press Gazette editor Dominic Ponsford talks about exclusive new research on the prevalence of neurodiversity in news media. He also speaks to Times Radio journalist Darryl Morris and freelance journalist Lydia Wilkins about the benefits and challenges ADHD and autistic thinkers can bring to jobs in journalism.
Press Gazette live
Entries are now OPEN for the Future of Media Awards 2024 (which celebrate the best journalism-based digital products). Check out the full list of categories here. Note: These awards are free to enter.