How B'ham Live became top local news site | Less than half journos use gen AI
And the New Yorker has blocked an article in the UK investigating Lucy Letby case
Welcome to your daily newsletter from Press Gazette on Tuesday, 14 May, brought to you today in association with Desk-Net, the tool for planning content in fast-paced newsrooms. Track progress, allocate assignments, and integrate with your tech stack. Discover how.
Today we have an exclusive interview with the editor of the UK’s most popular regional media newsroom.
With a 30-strong team, Birmingham Live is the 14th biggest news website in the UK overall - beating many nationally focused brands.
Ipsos iris estimates the title reaches 11m people a month in the UK, or around one in five of the online adult population.
Editor-in-chief Graeme Brown said Birmingham Live has achieved its success by focusing on the interests of its diverse local audience. The site's ad-funded model is working, he says. Although, it should be noted that in 2008 some 300 journalists worked across the Birmingham Mail, Birmingham Post, Sunday Mercury and Coventry Telegraph (the teams which were merged into the current Reach Birmingham newsroom).
We also have the findings of a major survey looking at the use of generative AI in the newsroom. So far, it seems, most journalists are not using generative AI at all in the course of their work - reflecting caution around the well-known propensity of current large language models to make things up.
Meanwhile, the New Yorker has published an investigation into the case of Lucy Letby which has been blocked from its website in the UK because proceedings in the case are again active and reporting restrictions are in place. We’ve shared what we are able to report here.
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New from Press Gazette
How Birmingham Live became the biggest online local newsbrand in Britain
Birmingham Live editor in chief Graeme Brown says the site's ad-funded model is working.
Read more
Update: New Yorker latest to be faced with ‘incredibly complex’ task of reporting Lucy Letby case
Letby’s initial trial ended in August last year, when she was also sentenced, but a retrial on one count of attempted murder is expected to begin in June.
Less than half of journalists using generative AI for work, survey
Just 5% of journalists are using tools like ChatGPT and Bard "often", according to major survey.
News in brief
This Morning has paid tribute to its "wonderful" Hollywood reporter Sam Rubin, who has died aged 64. Cat Deeley said his "signature style not only made him an industry titan but a favourite with celebrities on the red carpet who all thought of him fondly". (Wales Online)
Kasia Madera, one of 4 female journalists to have launched legal action against the BBC over a chief presenter job application process, returned to the BBC News Channel on Sunday. Martine Croxall said she and Karin Giannone will not be "far behind". (Evening Standard)
Newsquest was apparently hit by a cyber attack at the weekend that meant a "limited amount of unauthorised content was posted to Newsquest sites". (Daily Telegraph)
This week on Press Gazette
An interview with a Congressman trying to save US local news
How BBC World Service’s 310 exiled journalists fight censorship and harassment
Daily Mail publisher ‘denies under oath’ Prince Harry hacking claim
Tips from Snapchat on how publishers can connect with young voters
Ian Hislop on journalism, ‘privilege’ of editing and why he is committed to print
Cash for questions Tory MP has IPSO complaint against The Times rejected
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CEO Nicholas Thompson joined Press Gazette to discuss the subscription strategy behind The Atlantic’s recent success, how advertising fits in, the search for an elusive third revenue stream, and what goals he might set for the business next.
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