GB News court win vs Ofcom | £13.6bn claim from publishers vs Google proceeds
And former Independent editor fears newspaper proprietors will be cynical in their use of AI in the newsroom
Good morning and welcome to your daily Press Gazette media briefing on Friday, 28 February.
The prospect of a massive £10bn+ windfall for the UK news industry edged closed on Friday as the Competition Appeal Tribunal allowed a claim brought by Adtech Collective Action to proceed.
The group’s £13.6bn claim (brought on behalf of the UK publishing industry) will go to trial next year, unless Google opts to settle.
The group has serious funding behind it from Fortress Legal Investment, and its argument appears to be a solid one - that Google has abused its monopoly position in advertising technology to disadvantage news publishers.
Google is facing a similar legal action in the US, with a trial there set to start in March.
Given the fact all UK magazine and news publishers combined don't make more than £2bn a year from advertising, the success of this UK legal action could lead to a game-changing injection of cash into the news industry. We have the full details here.
Today we also report on a debate about AI and journalism hosted by the London Press Club. Former Independent editor Chris Blackhurst said he does not buy all the talk about AI in the newsroom freeing up journalists to do more investigations. They will, he fears, just end up creating more "guff".
And GB News has won a battle in its ongoing war with Ofcom over claims it has repeatedly breached impartiality rules. The regulator ruled that Ofcom was wrong to censure GB News for allowing MP Jacob Rees-Mogg to read out breaking news.
Ofcom is now seeking a wider ban preventing serving politicians from presenting news content.
We also have your news diary for the week ahead which includes the scheduled start today of Noel Clarke's libel trial versus The Guardian. The actor is seeking £10m in damages over a series of articles in 2021 and 2022 which accused him of sexual misconduct and effectively brought his career to a halt.
On Press Gazette
GB News wins Ofcom judicial review
Ofcom to consult on updating the Broadcasting Code to make rules on politicians as presenters clearer.
Former Independent editor says AI will free up reporters to create more ‘guff’
Chris Blackhurst said "guff" would fill the void left as journalism's business model collapsed.
£13.6bn publisher adtech claim versus Google takes step forward
Claim Google abused its monopoly position in online advertising could go to trial in 2026.
News in brief
More than 40 people in the Los Angeles Times newsroom have reportedly accepted a voluntary buyout offer. (Press Gazette)
The earliest editions from the 1700s of the Belfast News Letter, the world's oldest continuously published English-language daily newspaper, will be digitised by the UK government under its "Safeguarding the Union" commitments. (News Letter)
NBC Universal News Group chairman Cesar Conde has said the network could launch a premium news subscription service later this year "laser-focused" on premium video both short-form and long-form. (Semafor)
MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee will quiz BBC director-general Tim Davie and chair Samir Shah tomorrow on the work of the BBC, likely to touch on its future funding and its editorial processes and impartiality.
Meanwhile Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has said she wants "assurances that no stone will be left unturned by the fact-finding review now commissioned" by Tim Davie over a Gaza documentary found to have links to a member of the Hamas government. (Broadcast)
Also on Press Gazette:
News agencies boss slams £10 Telegraph picture rate as ‘a new low’
GB News losses since launch top £100m but 2024 revenue more than doubles
Publishers must use AI-powered slingshots to fight big tech Goliath
New York Times sees ‘huge opportunity’ in 100-strong London newsroom
Carole Cadwalladr dropped by Tortoise ahead of Observer takeover
How German-language news publishers are growing online subs (promoted)
Harvard Business Review editors on future of $100m revenue title in AI era
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