Former local editor finds success with lifestyle website launches
And the Met Police is continuing an investigation over alleged Terrorism Act offences over messages posted by a journalist on X
Good morning and welcome to your daily Press Gazette media briefing on Monday, 2 June, brought to you in association with with Admiral - the Visitor Relationship Company.
Today Press Gazette reports on one man’s quest to make online news profitable and do it his own way.
Mark Astley tried careers in speedway and pop music before working in local journalism and rising to become editor of Exeter’s daily Express and Echo (before losing his job in the post 2008 collapse in the sector).
After launching website Exeter Daily in 2012 he hoped to set up similar local news titles around the country. This didn’t work out, but there are now signs that his franchise model is taking off when it comes to consumer special interest sites.
Today we also have a significant update on the case of Asa Winstanley, a journalist who successfully argued in court for the return of phones and computers which were seized by the Met Police following messages posted by him on X.
Winstanley is sympathetic to the cause of Palestinans (as the name of the website he writes for, Electronic Intifada) suggests.
The Met Police has told Press Gazette it is continuing to investigate him under suspicion of breaching The Terrorism Act which makes it an offence to publish information supporting a banned organisation. Palistinian armed group and political movement Hamas is proscribed as a terrorist group in the UK.
Scroll down for our news in briefs which include: cutbacks at TechCrunch, ten years as Guardian editor for Katherine Viner and a new political editor at Times Radio.
Tomorrow’s newsletter will include the inside story of what went wrong at Business Insider, which is currently cutting around 150 jobs. If you have any insight to share on this topic, reply to this email as I would love to speak in confidence to you today.
***The Press Gazette Future of Media Awards are now open for entries***
This event celebrates the websites, apps, podcasts, newsletters and commercial strategies which are lighting the way to a profitable future for journalism in the digital age. Find out more here and remember to finalise your entry by 19 June for the chance to shower in glory at the awards dinner in September.
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On Press Gazette
Former editor switches from local news to lifestyle with launch of 14 titles
Mark Astley's Daily model offers his editors a 50/50 revenue share.
Met Police says terror investigation ongoing over journalist’s tweets
“The investigation into the alleged offences remains ongoing.”
Future of Media Awards 2025 are open for entries
The awards celebrate great journalism-based apps, podcasts, websites, newsletters and more.
News in brief
Mail on Sunday deputy political editor Anna Mikhailova has been appointed political editor of Times Radio. (Press Gazette)
TechCrunch editor at large Mike Butcher has been made redundant along with a number of Europe-based colleagues following the title's takeover by Regent LP from Yahoo. (Linkedin)
Past editions of Northern Ireland-based daily The News Letter dating back to 1738 have been made available online thanks to a partnership with The British Library. (The News Letter)
The Guardian's Katharine Viner is celebrating ten years as editor in chief of the title. She said the title was making "big losses" when she took over and now has 1.3m paying readers. (Linkedin)
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Gerry Adams awarded £84,000 in damages after suing BBC for libel
Who’s suing AI and who’s signing: New York Times signs its first AI deal with Amazon
How launching podcasts on Youtube has prompted ‘explosive’ growth for Goalhanger
How BBC History is bringing content about the past to tomorrow’s audiences
Latest podcast: Death of the website, the never-ending pivot to video and why Dom loves Substack
'The death of the website' was the name of one panel session at a recent publishing industry conference. Press Gazette editor in chief Dominic Ponsford and UK editor Charlotte Tobitt discuss why this statement is nonsense, but also the tech and behaviour changes which are prompting people to say it.
They also analyse the latest publisher pivot to video (more a never-ending pirouette) and Dominic explains why he has become an unpaid brand ambassador for Substack.