IPSO raps Spectator for misgendering | GB News clashes with Muslim Council
Plus former Guardian staff express "horror" at Observer sale, we have the top 50 news sites in the UK in October and Prince Harry could face "extensive" questioning in Sun trial
Welcome to your daily newsletter from Press Gazette on Wednesday 11 December 2024, brought to you today in association with Glide Publishing Platform, who provide a specialist headless CMS and customer data platform for publishers and media organisations.
New Spectator editor Michael Gove yesterday set himself on a collision course with press regulator IPSO after refusing to accept a ruling that his publication was guilty of discrimination.
The code states: "The press must avoid prejudicial or pejorative reference to a person's race, colour, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or to any physical or mental illness or disability."
Writer Juno Dawson began life as legally male but obtained a Gender Recognition Certificate which declared she was legally a woman.
She said the Spectator article which described her as "a man who claims to be a woman" was deliberately offensive, and the press regulator agreed, forcing The Spectator to publish a critical adjudication.
Gove's stance paves the way for future repeated breaches of the Editors' Code on this matter which could see the title investigated and fined by IPSO using as-yet untested powers.
On another front in the culture wars, GB News has accused the Muslim Council of Great Britain of attempting to "silence free speech" after it alleged the channel has pursued an "overwhelmingly negative" anti-Muslim agenda.
Our latest top 50 ranking of UK news sites shows Mail Online, the Mirror and The Sun all falling more than 20% year on year.
The fastest-growing site in our ranking, Reach title Surrey Live, is up 351% year on year to 4.5 million readers per month. Surrey has not had a population explosion. Like many Reach regional sites, Surrey Live extensively covers a particular content niche outside its core local remit - in its case, health and wellbeing - and I am guessing this will have helped it find new readers on Google Discover.
And the war of words over the future of The Observer shows no sign of abating, despite the fact its sale to Tortoise Media appears to be a done deal.
Some 26 leading former Guardian and Observer writers including the likes of Nick Davies, Julian Barnes, Decca Aitkenhead and Hadley Freeman have written an open letter (published exclusively in Press Gazette) expressing horror at the actions of the Scott Trust.
Meanwhile Guardian CEO Anna Bateson has issued answers to some of the pressing questions many staff have about the deal, such us: why the hurry, why give Tortoise £5m and why were alternative bidders not properly considered?
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On Press Gazette
26 leading former Guardian/Observer writers express ‘horror’ at actions of Scott Trust
“It seems clear to us that the Scott Trust has profoundly failed The Guardian community.”
Spectator rebuked for calling Juno Dawson ‘a man who claims to be a woman’
The ruling is a rare finding of a breach by the press of the discrimination section (Clause 12) of the Editors’ Code of Practice. The lack of action using this clause has been a repeated point of criticism against IPSO.
GB News dismisses report accusing it of ‘almost obsessive’ coverage of Muslims
The new report, released by the Muslim Council of Britain’s Centre for Media Monitoring, assessed two years of output from GB News, BBC News and Sky News, finding that the opinion-led station accounted for almost half of all mentions of Muslims among the three.
50 biggest UK news websites in October: Sun falls out of top five
The biggest month-on-month growth in the top ten was at Sky News while Yahoo! saw the highest increase on an annual basis.
Prince Harry could face ‘extensive’ questioning in trial of claim against Sun publisher
The barrister said that Harry will be questioned about whether or not his claim should be dismissed because it was brought too late, adding: “That is going to require an extensive cross-examination of the duke on actual and constructed knowledge.”
News in brief
The BBC has appointed an executive news editor to ‘spearhead digital growth’ with particular focus on strategy for reaching under-25s. (Press Gazette)
Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney has joined those sharing concerns about AI and copyright, saying it would be “a very sad thing indeed” if young composers and writers can't protect their IP. Amendments have been tabled to the Data Bill to bolster copyright in the AI age. (The Guardian)
A bankruptcy judge has rejected The Onion's bid (backed by Sandy Hook families) to buy Infowars in last month's auction, saying the offer and process were flawed. The Onion, found to have acted in good faith, said it will still pursue buying Infowars. (NPR)
DMG Media managing director digital Hannah Buitekant has been promoted to chief commercial digital and strategy officer. She will "optimise the digital revenue streams, foster operational excellence and ensure that commercial strategies are connected to... wider business goals".
Also on Press Gazette:
Rupert Murdoch loses attempt to give Lachlan control in family trust overhaul
RELX-owned B2B title Estates Gazette to close after 166 years
Reach appoints leader for ‘data-led decision making’ in newsrooms
Guardian chair says Tortoise deal will end ‘inevitable decline’ of Observer
Wired UK to go quarterly and merge teams with global editions
Why journalists are cautious about calling current conflicts ‘genocide’
News media job cuts 2024 tracked: Conde Nast and Vox Media latest hit
Latest podcast
Podcast 79: How Bluesky became News-sky, Google Discover, US election lessons
Press Gazette editor-in-chief Dominic Ponsford talks about the benefits of Bluesky for publishers with the zeal of a new convert, reporter Bron Maher explains how publishers are getting new traffic from Google via Discover and Charlotte Tobitt reveals the biggest lessons for the news industry from the US presidential election.
Mr Gove remember when peeing off people you do not have Tory party behind you now
keep shoo and this job