How China is exporting propaganda via agency video | Call for investigation into Gaza journalist killings
And the Mirror loses an IPSO dispute to a nonprofit which promotes animal testing.
Good morning and welcome to your daily media news briefing on Monday, 11 December.
Jobs of the week:
Northeastern University London is recruiting a news reporter
Dentsu Aegis Network is recruiting a UI design lead based in Edinburgh
AutoDesk is recruiting a territory sales manager, media and entertainment, based in Denver
Browse all the latest media jobs on Press Gazette here, powered by Amply.
Unless something changes, we are heading towards a future where real journalism is enjoyed only by the small minority who are willing to subscribe, or sign in, to a news website.
The rest will get their news from private networks and cheaply produced click-farm websites. The vacuum may even be filled by China. We report today on how state broadcaster CGTN is providing expensive foreign news video packages for free to anyone who wants them via a new agency. The only catch is the clear political agenda driving the coverage.
As the death toll continues to rise in Gaza, the International Federation of Journalists is hopeful that a war crimes investigation could begin to curb state-sponsored killing of media workers.
And the Daily Mirror is in hot water with press regulator IPSO after reporting on the claim that animal testing did not predict human responses to drugs and disease.
Your news diary for the week ahead kicks off with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak taking the stand in the Covid Inquiry. He will face questions on the Eat Out to Help Out scheme which sought to boost the hospitality sector by offering free lunches, but may have increased transmission. He will also be questioned about his own breach of Covid guidelines which led to a fine from the police.
New from Press Gazette
Banned in UK, China state broadcaster now running free video news agency
A spokesperson for CGTN’s video sharing platform AMSP told Press Gazette that “more than 600 media outlets worldwide have joined” the platform, including Reuters and Newsweek, although neither of those publishers have uploaded content to AMSP.
Comment: International Criminal Court holds key to curb killing of journalists in Israel-Hamas war
“For months, it seemed as though 2023 would be a good year [for the IFJ’s list of killed journalists] – perhaps even a record low. Then, on Saturday 7 October, Hamas insurgents murdered four Israeli journalists – as well as over 1,200 other victims – and the world changed beyond recognition.”
Pro-animal testing group wins IPSO complaint against Mirror
Understanding Animal Research complained about a March 2023 article published in the Daily Mirror and headlined online as: “Horrors of puppy factory as beagles kept in faeces-covered cages in a ‘view of hell’.”
News diary 11 – 17 December: Sunak at Covid inquiry, COP28 ends
A look ahead at the key events leading the news agenda this week, from the team at Foresight News.
Podcast 61: Why bad news can be good for business publishers with Dow Jones CEO Almar Latour
Dow Jones chief executive and Wall Street Journal publisher Almar Latour spoke to Press Gazette about how the financial news division of News Corp just managed to achieve its most profitable quarter since 2007.
In this edited version of his interview at the Press Gazette Media Strategy Network event in New York this month, he also spoke about what publishers need to focus on as global uncertainty looks set to continue in 2024.
News in brief
The Prince Harry versus Mail on Sunday libel case will go to court after Harry failed to get the paper’s honest opinion defence thrown out at pre-trial stage. The story at the heart of the suit centres on Harry and his UK security arrangements. Full judgment here.
Reach's cover prices for the Daily and Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and Sunday Mail will go up by 10p from 1 January, as will Daily and Sunday Express but with the Express Saturday edition up by 15p, according to The Federation of Online Retailers which complained of no pro rata terms adjustments.
Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph, former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove has described the proposed Abu Dhabi-backed Redbird IMI acquisition of The Telegraph and Spectator as "completely unacceptable" and called on the government to block the deal. (The Sunday Telegraph)
The son of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has called on Foreign Secretary David Cameron to demand his release. Lai is scheduled to go to trial next week. (The Observer)
The BBC has been ordered to release some 3,200 emails relating to Martin Bashir and Princess Diana after fighting a Freedom of Information request for three years. (Mail on Sunday)
Former Press & Journal editor-in-chief Frank O'Donnell, who left the paper and DC Thomson in March, is joining Edinburgh-based strategic communications consultancy Charlotte Street Partners as a senior partner. He is also a former Scotsman editor.
Previously on Press Gazette
63 journalists killed in as many days: Silence from newsrooms is deafening
BBC warns 6.7% licence fee rise will lead to £90m further cuts
Future pledges £25m investment and 200 hires to reverse revenue decline
100k Club: Exclusive ranking of world’s top paywalled news publishers
New European ‘in profit’ with 33,000 paying readers seven years after Brexit vote