FT US journalists in the pink with $75k minimum wage | BBC cuts 115 staff
Tickets for the Future of Media Awards next week are sold out but there is still space available at the Future of Media Technology conference on 12 September
Welcome to your daily newsletter from Press Gazette on Friday, 6 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).
Good news for journalists on the FT in the US who have secured a $75,000 (£57,000) minimum salary.
Those with three years or more service will be paid at least $85,000 (£64,500).
By UK standards, the rates sound generous and the story underlines a widening pay gap between what you can earn as a journalist on either side of the Atlantic.
According to Glassdoor, journalists in the UK typically earn between £25,000 and £43,000. The BBC journalist average (based on over 200 users of the site who have submitted salaries) is around £40,000.
The fact the deal also includes a new clause that US staff can't be fired without "just cause" underlines the fact that employees have considerably fewer rights in America than they do in the UK.
Earlier this week FT chief executive John Ridding (paid £1.7m in 2022) spoke about the key decisions which have turned the title into a £500m revenue business for owners Nikkei. That’s around two and half times the turnover of Guardian News and Media, for example.
Meanwhile, the BBC has announced plans to cut 115 production and editorial jobs in Nations and Regions whilst maintaining growth in the online local news provision which is irking local newspaper publishers.
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 journalists in US secure pay deal including $75k minimum salary
Staff earning up to $115,000 secure pay increase of at least $2,000.
BBC to cut 115 jobs in Nations and Regions editorial and production
NUJ says proposed cuts will "further hollow out local news provision".
The Guardian names new correspondents to cover underreported communities
The Guardian has appointed a Manchester-based community affairs correspondent, a role first announced in July 2023.
Ex-Evening Standard CEO Charles Yardley joins Khaleej Times
Yardley is moving to Dubai for the new role.
News in brief
Some 74 people are being laid off in Massachusetts as a result of Gannett's closure of product reviews site Reviewed. The company blamed Google algorithm changes. (Press Gazette)
The Guardian has appointed Sara Badler as chief advertising officer, North America. She joined from Morning Brew where she was chief commercial officer and will aim to make the most of the "significant room to grow" The Guardian has in the US. (The Guardian)
Ofcom could let Royal Mail end second class delivery on Saturdays. The PPA says this would impact "weekly time-sensitive magazines" like The Week and Radio Times as subscribers "expect reliable delivery, and delays compromise the value of these products".
National World has done two ad sales deals: Reach Solutions will represent its print brands for display and public notice advertising while Axiom Media Holdings will market its digital assets to advertisers via a joint venture. (Hold The Front Page)
The two candidates to replace Michelle Stansitreet as NUJ general secretary are: Laura Davison, currently broadcasting organiser at the union, and Natasha Hirst, the current union president. Ballot papers will be sent out on 16 September and the result will be given on 8 October. (NUJ)
Tim Walker's Mandrake column is ending after more than 20 years which started at The Telegraph and moved to The New European. Walker, who is "dipping a toe" into Substack, says: "All that mattered was that the stories got people talking and were accurate." (The New European)
Tortoise's hit podcast Sweet Bobby is being made into a Netflix series by the same producer as The Tinder Swindler. Press Gazette first reported Tortoise had sold the rights to a “global major streaming platform” two years ago.
Previously on Press Gazette
Former staff voice support for Pink News ‘whistleblower’ account threatened with lawsuit
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
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.