FT CEO explains title's winning strategy | UK journalist arrested under terror law
And Guardian deletes byline page of award-winning foreign reporter after his departure
Welcome to your daily newsletter from Press Gazette on Wednesday, 4 September. Press Gazette’s Future of Media Technology Conference, the UK’s biggest and best event in the UK for media leaders, is on 12 September in London. Secure your place at the conference here (tickets for the Future of Media Awards the same day are now SOLD OUT).
The crime he was suspected of committing was “expressing an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation”.
Medhurst has been particularly active reporting on Hamas and the war in Israel for his Youtube channel and this may be what has brought him to the attention of the authorities
He has emphasised that he condemns terrorism utterly and insists he has merely been doing his duty as a journalist to report on a matter of huge public interest.
The NUJ has drawn attention to the case and raised concerns about use of legislation which gives law enforcement officials wide-ranging powers to seize legitimate journalistic materials and arrest reporters for doing their job.
We also report on comments made by Financial Times chief executive John Ridding yesterday about how the title went from loss-making and shrinking revenue to growth and profitability. He also shares the new strategies which are helping it secure its long-term future.
And a high-profile journalist has left The Guardian and had their byline page deleted from the website’s index for good measure. We can’t say too much because we have not been able to independently verify allegations which appear to have prompted Martin Chulov’s departure from the title.
Future of Media Technology Conference
Press Gazette’s Future of Media Technology Conference on 12 September in London. Other media conferences are available but this really has become the biggest and best event in the UK for media leaders.
Our speakers include:
DMG Media CEO Rich Caccappolo
Guardian chief supporter officer Liz Wynn
Politico deputy editor in chief Kate Day
News UK chief operating officer David Dinsmore
Harmsworth Media chair Nina Wright
Reach plc’s Live network editorial director Paul Rowland
Global head of SEO Steve Wilson-Beales
Former head of news partnerships at Google Madhav Chinnappa
Head of technology at Haymarket Media Group Payal Sharma Sood
Times head of digital Edward Roussel
Mail Digital Publishing product director Simon Regan-Edwards
Telegraph chief commercial officer Karen Eccles
New from Press Gazette
FT CEO John Ridding on ‘three moments’ that changed everything – and what’s next
“I didn’t do much management training, but the one thing I learned from a mentor was never write an email when you’re angry. So I walked around the room 20, 30 times and wrote ‘hey X, let’s see’.”
UK journalist’s detention for nearly 24 hours under terror law condemned
Medhurst says the whole process was designed to intimidate and humiliate him.
Martin Chulov byline page deleted by Guardian after exit from title
Martin Chulov denies allegations against him.
News in brief
Dow Jones launches new B2B training venture: The Dow Jones Leadership Institute, headed by former Fortune Media CEO Alan Murray. Promises "peer-to-peer learning and information, real-time data and analysis, thought leadership, education and coaching".(Dow Jones)
Brian Stelter is returning to CNN as chief media analyst and author of the Reliable Sources media newsletter from 9 September two years after he left the channel. He replaces Oliver Darcy who now runs his own media news email business. (Hollywood Reporter)
Reach has launched a 'Represent the 24%' survey across its sites to find out what people think of disability representation in the media, coinciding with the Paralympics. (Reach on Linkedin)
Australian PM Anthony Albanese declined a meeting with Nick Clegg at Meta after the company said it would end its deals with media companies in the country. News Corp Australia boss Michael Miller backed him, suggesting it would be a waste of time. (Capital Brief)
The Economist has made its short-form daily news app Espresso free for high school and university students aged 16+ globally. Economist president Luke Bradley-Jones said this signals "a commitment to the next generation of Economist readers". (The Economist)
The FT and Google News Initiative have renewed their partnership which started in 2020 to deliver consulting programmes for journalists and news publishers via the publishers B2B consultancy division FT Strategies. They say they will help journalists at 1,000 news organisation by the end of 2027. (Financial Times)
Previously on Press Gazette
PR and betting companies have articles indexed in Google Top Stories
Video now ‘focus of everything’ at The Sun as weekly political show returns
Google AI Overviews rollout hits news publisher search visibility
Top 50 news websites in the US: All but two sites see growth in bumper July for news
Top 50 news websites in the world: Readers flock to top US newsbrands in July
Press Gazette live
Our flagship event the Future of Media Technology Conference and Awards takes place on 12 September on the Hilton Bankside hotel in London. It provides publishers with a masterclass on the big technology themes impacting our business and is also an unrivalled networking opportunity.
Full agenda and booking details here.