Joe Media bought out of administration | Ofcom warns TalkTV on offence
Plus Ireland's Business Post expands overseas and the top 50 news sites in the US in March
Welcome to your daily newsletter from Press Gazette on Tuesday 9 April.
Joe Media is the latest digital news publisher to fall victim to the challenging advertising environment and structural changes in online media.
The social media-led newsbrand for 18 to 35-year-olds has been bought out of administration by Irish entrepreneur Michael O'Rourke. Like Buzzfeed, Vice, Huffpost and others, Joe has found the current digital ecosystem a tough place to survive when your main income stream is advertising.
Buzzfeed founder Jonah Peretti sums up the challenge for brands like Joe Media neatly in his annual message to shareholders sent on Monday.
He said: "Despite my best efforts, I haven’t been able to convince the platforms to cultivate a media ecosystem where quality publishers can thrive — when the allure of commoditised content, and zero and low-cost creator labour is impossible for platforms to resist."
But encouragingly, he says programmatic and e-commerce revenues on Buzzfeed's own sites have seen healthy growth and he believes both will be enhanced with the deployment of artificial intelligence technology.
He said: "Our first experiment with a personalised, AI-powered content module in our app boosted pageviews by 24%, thereby increasing both transactions and revenue because we were able to match users with the content (and products) we know they like. This is just one small step in forging a system of personalisation that will make our sites and apps more rewarding, engaging and fun for users."
In other news, TalkTV presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer has had a narrow escape from a regulatory rebuke after an on-air exchange with a Palestinian politician which prompted more than 17,000 complaints.
Ireland-based newspaper Business Post is expanding with the creation of new correspondent roles in London and Brussels.
And in yet another case of police apparently over-reaching their powers and stopping journalists from doing their jobs, charges have been dropped against a press photographer who was arrested whilst covering a fatal road accident in Wales. Dimitris Legakis was due to stand trial today and said the affair had taken a heavy toll on his mental health.
New from Press Gazette
Joe.co.uk homepage on 8 April 2024
Joe Media bought out of administration for second time
Joe was rescued by Irish entrepreneur Michael O’Rourke in a pre-pack deal worth £3.6m.
Ofcom warns TalkTV over ‘potentially offensive’ Julia Hartley-Brewer interview with Palestinian MP
In the 3 January broadcast, Hartley-Brewer accused interviewee Dr Mustafa Barghouti, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, of interrupting her, saying: “Maybe you’re not used to women talking, I don’t know, but I’d like to finish the sentence!”
Business Post at ‘pivotal moment’ with new correspondents outside Ireland
The full-time Brussels and UK correspondents, Sarah Collins and Dominic McGrath, join US correspondent Marion McKeone, who has been writing for the paper from across the Atlantic since 2016.
Top 50 news websites in the US: People, USA Today and New York Times see double-digit annual growth Top 50
Along with USA Today (up 13% year-on-year) and The New York Times (up 10%), People.com was one of three top ten websites by number of visits in March that saw double-digit growth.
News in brief
Update: Charges against a press photographer arrested while covering a police incident in Swansea last year have been dropped one day before a jury trial was due to begin. (Press Gazette)
The Los Angeles Times has named Terry Tang as executive editor after she took on an interim role in January, beginning a newsroom restructure and putting "heavier emphasis on traditional newsgathering". She is the first woman to lead the 142-year-old brand. (LA Times)
Business Insider has named former NYT director of communications Ari Isaacman D'Angelo as chief communications officer as the brand "continues to advance its new strategy and way forward and focus on the core pillars of business, tech, and innovation". In November Business Insider rebranded from Insider and subsequently cut 8% of staff globally as it scaled back in some coverage areas. (Business Insider)
Former Mirror editor-in-chief Alison Phillips, who left the newspaper in January, is joining the Reuters Institute as a visiting fellow working on issues around popular journalism. (Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism)
The Spectator has appointed a chief commercial officer for the first time since September 2022. Stevie Antonioni has joined from The Telegraph where she was director of digital sales and innovation. She will report directly to chairman Andrew Neil. (Campaign)
Previously on Press Gazette
Former Business Insider execs launch personal finance brand on Substack
Increased costs and slow return of events hit Mark Allen Group profits
Kamal Ahmed to leave The News Movement and launch daily news podcast at Telegraph
Scottish local news coverage mapped: All districts have at least one outlet
National World staff set to receive pay rise of up to 6% as pay frozen for top execs
GB News hires first US correspondent in expansion of GBN America
Latest podcast
Podcast 68: How to make news pay on Youtube with TLDR News
Founder of video news network TLDR News Jack Kelly explains how he funds an 11-strong editorial team providing serious news for younger viewers on Youtube.
The profitable publisher is funded mainly through the Youtube ad revenue split and direct-sold sponsorship – but also made a successful foray last year into print publishing.
Press Gazette live
Entries are now OPEN for the Future of Media Awards 2024 (which celebrate the best journalism-based digital products). Check out the full list of categories here. Note: These awards are free to enter.