How to build a $10m news business on Substack | Fraser Nelson takes aim at Abu Dhabi
And yet another UK police payout to a journalist arrested for doing their job.
Welcome to your daily newsletter from Press Gazette on Friday, 16 February.
I bring you good news for the publishing industry (but bad news for rabbits).
Hunting and shooting title Countryman’s Weekly is to merge into Shooting Times, which is increasing its pagination as a result. The title’s closure had previously been announced by publisher Emap.
We have even more encouraging news from Los Angeles, where Substack-based B2B title for the world of showbiz Ankler Media says it is heading towards achieving annual revenue of $10m.
CEO Janice Min told us how they have done it two years after launching on the platform and with just six staff.
And we are also pleased to report that justice has prevailed in the case of news photographer Peter Macdiarmid, one of several journalists to be arrested over zealous police for covering Just Stop Oil protests in 2022. He’s received compensation from Surrey Police in a move which should, hopefully, deter officers from illegally detaining more journalists in future.
Meanwhile the public debate over the future of The Telegraph continues with Spectator editor Fraser Nelson taking aim at his possible new bosses in testimony to the House of Lords.
Like The Telegraph, The Spectator is now effectively in the hands of Abu Dhabi-backed Redbird IMI - the investment vehicle which bailed out the Barclay family’s £1.2bn Lloyds Banking Group debt in December.
Nelson says Chinese or Russian state ownership of the UK media could be next if the government does not block the Telegraph deal.
(For an alternative view on this, check out former Times leader writer Simon Nixon’s comment piece in The Independent. He reckons The Telegraph’s independence would be assured for the first time under Redbird IMI ownership).
Have a great weekend and don’t forget to scroll down for the latest nibs, our podcast and links to stories on Press Gazette from earlier in the week you might have missed.
Jobs of the week:
New from Press Gazette
‘Miraculous’ Substack-based Ankler Media eyes $10m annual revenue next year
“I have to believe that model is at least one of the models that will make it into the next phase of successful media.”
Countryman’s Weekly saved from closure through merger with Shooting Times
In a release, new proprietor Fieldsports Publishing said The Countryman’s Weekly had “garnered a steadfast and loyal readership base and continues to offer unique content to a hard-to-reach audience”.
Photographer receives police payout after Just Stop Oil protest arrest
Peter Macdiarmid was handcuffed at the M25 Clacket Lane Services in August 2022 and detained for hours.
Telegraph: Fraser Nelson warns against allowing foreign states to own UK media
Fraser Nelson also hailed The Spectator’s subscription growth and questioned the BBC’s “massive market share”.
News in brief
Updated: there were layoffs yesterday in the US at The Intercept and social media news publisher NowThis. (Press Gazette)
The Financial Times reports The Independent is in talks to take control of the operations of Buzzfeed and Huffpost in the UK with a licensing deal. (FT)
The Journalism Diversity Fund helps people from under-represented groups to cover the cost of their training. The first deadline for applications is 1 May. Bursaries available for tuition and living expenses. (NCTJ)
The Guardian reports that Google has stopped notifying publishers when links to their stories have been removed from search results under right to be forgotten rules. (The Guardian)
The Committee to Protect Journalists says 99 journalists and media workers were killed in 2023, almost three-quarters of them Palestinians. This is the highest number of journalist deaths since 2015 and a 48% year on year increase. 2022 was itself an almost 50% increase from 2021. (CPJ)
The NUJ is telling members they can show support for Julian Assange at demonstrations in London next Tuesday and Wednesday to coincide with his appeal hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice. (NUJ)
ChatGPT creator OpenAI is trialling Sora, a new product which will create videos from text prompts. (Wired)
North East newsbrands have banded together to urge the Government to back plans for a new film studio in Sunderland, saying it could be "the catalyst for growth" in the region and "we felt it was only right that the regional media unite our voices to demonstrate the depth of… support".
New York police have charged a freelance journalist with resisting arrest after he was detained while recording audio for a podcast at a protest against Israeli military activity in Gaza. (CPJ)
Latest podcast
Podcast 65: Beyond Google? Amazon and Microsoft are future says Ricky Sutton
Former online editor of the News of the World turned tech entrepreneur turned future of news soothsayer Ricky Sutton joins Dominic Ponsford on the podcast sofa.
He explains why Google’s reign as the most important tech partner for news publishers is drawing to a close, but more lucrative partnerships around AI and advertising with Microsoft and Amazon beckon.
Earlier this week on Press Gazette
How Swiss daily Blick gained 16,000+ subscribers in eight months with freemium paywall
Growth in B2B events income offsets consumer media decline at DMGT
Ex-Newcastle Journal editor launches weekly website for North East with six-figure investment