Loaded is back | Maitlis on reporting Trump
Plus new 'Independent Media' ties up brand with UK Buzzfeed and Huffpost, 5 News on reporting the infected blood scandal, and your news diary for the week ahead
Welcome to your daily newsletter from Press Gazette on Monday, 20 May
All eyes are on Central Hall in Westminster today where Sir Brian Langstaff will present the report of the Infected Blood Inquiry.
As with the Post Office scandal, many will wonder why it has taken so long - 40 years - for thousands of victims to finally secure justice.
In Press Gazette today, 5 News chief correspondent Tessa Chapman writes about covering the story since 2007 and explains how reaction to ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office helped campaigners secure airtime.
As we move into US election mode, have news media learned the lesson of 2016, when many feel they were complicit in amplifying Donald Trump's falsehoods? Emily Maitlis, US tech journalist Kara Swisher, former CNN boss Jeff Zucker and US news anchor Jorge Ramos shared their thoughts on this topic at the Sir Harry Summit on investigative journalism. Maitlis mused that journalists should mention Trump's role in stoking the Capital riots of 6 January 2021 every time they talk about his campaign.
We also report on major developments in the life of two iconic magazine brands. Newly-relaunched music title Q has closed just months after , but original lads' mag Loaded is back nine years after its closure with a website, membership offering and 30th-anniversary print edition.
The Independent has launched a new advertiser-facing brand called Independent Media, which includes its new sister titles Huffpost and Buzzfeed (UK editions). The new network claims extensive reach amongst women and LGBTQ Brits.
And as well as the Infected Blood Inquiry report (due at 12:30pm today) the week's news diary kicks off with a ruling from the High Court on what could be Julian Assange's final appeal against extradition to the US on espionage charges.
The US has agreed not to execute Assange. If his extradition is allowed it will send out a chilling message to any foreign media dealing with US whistleblowers in the future.
New from Press Gazette
Relaunched Q magazine shut down in same week Loaded revival goes live
A team of six full-time journalists in the US and UK were told lat week they were losing their jobs.
Emily Maitlis: Journalists who think they lead conversation around Trump ‘kidding’ themselves
“I sometimes wonder whether you couldn’t justify mentioning January the 6th [when Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol] every time you talk about Donald Trump’s campaign.”
New merged Independent Media brand trumpets female and LGBTQ audience
The newly-branded Independent Media claims it receives 1.5 billion content views across its combined platforms each month, and that it reaches half of the UK’s and half its LGBTQ population.
ITV Post Office drama led to ‘sea change’ in coverage of infected blood scandal
“On 5 News we have covered the Infected Blood Inquiry regularly through all its stages over the last seven years. We reported as the witnesses moved the inquiry room to tears. We watched on as doctors, public health officials and politicians, past and present, put their accounts on the record.”
News diary 20-26 May: Infected blood inquiry report, Assange appeal ruling
A look ahead at the key events leading the news agenda this week, from the team at Foresight News.
News in brief
Andy Burnham's advisor Sacha Lord has threatened to sue The Manchester Mill, which is now asking for help from readers on a "community fact-check" in an attempt to further verify its reporting before a deadline given by lawyers of 4pm tomorrow. (Manchester Mill)
Tony O'Reilly, the Irish businessman and former owner of The Independent, died on Saturday aged 88. (The Independent)
Bauer Media UK has officially opened its new headquarters, The Lantern, in Euston, London for all its radio and magazine brands. Bauer Media Audio UK chief executive Simon Myciunka said the new home is a "transformational moment for Bauer in the UK" and "an investment in innovation".
The Daily Beast is set to earn $3-4m in revenue this year from Apple News, more than through its own subscription platform, according to Semafor. Similarly, Time says Apple News is now "one of our most important partners and delivers seven-figures of revenue". (Semafor)
Last week on Press Gazette
National press ABCs: Circulation of the i above Sunday Express for first time
Future plc returns to growth in Q2 in latest sign publishers are turning corner
Don McCullin says ‘photojournalism is dead’ as he reflects on career
Jeff Zucker: ‘It’s going to be easier to invest in journalism outside UK’
WSJ editor Emma Tucker on how publishers can protect themselves from AI challenge
RAJARs Q1 2024: Hit to BBC local radio continues as LBC’s Nick Ferrari is breakfast winner
New Yorker defies contempt risk to publish Lucy Letby story in UK print edition
Latest podcast
Podcast 71: Daily Mail CEO Rich Caccappolo on keeping journalism free
This episode includes excerpts from an interview between Press Gazette editor-in-chief Dominic Ponsford and Rich Caccappolo, CEO of Daily Mail publisher DMG Media. It also features media consultant Matthew Scott Goldstein. They talk about how to save journalism (and democracy) on the open web by adapting to Google’s plan to switch off cookies on Chrome.
Caccappolo also provides an update on DMG Media’s legal action against Google and reveals how his company is growing overall revenue in a tough market.
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