Local columnists strike gold on Substack | Businessweek goes monthly
And we dig into why all the top voices in news on social media are men
Welcome to your daily newsletter from Press Gazette on Wednesday 3 July, 2024.
Today we share a heartwarming story which is good news for journalists, but may be bad news for publishers.
We reveal how a 77-year-old local newspaper columnist already makes more money selling his work on Substack than he did writing for the California-based Davis Enterprise just two months after he was fired.
Bob Dunning told Press Gazette he was perplexed about why he was let go after 54 years at the paper: "I think, honestly, it was a fatal, fatal mistake… It stuns me that they made the decision. It was a bad decision, not just for me personally, but a bad decision for the paper.”
It's a story that proves there is a paying market for local online journalism, even if most publishers themselves have yet to crack it. And it underlines the great opportunity Substack gives to journalists who have a loyal audience and niche media brands.
As Businessweek launched its first monthly edition this week, I talked to editor Brad Stone about why he thinks long-form print journalism has a bright future ahead.
Why do male voices dominate when it comes to news and social media? When the Reuters Institute asked news consumer in the UK and US to name individuals they follow on social media for news, the top ten in both countries were all men.
We asked Sophia Smith Galer, Marverine Cole and Reuters report research Amy Ross Arguedas why this is.
And with just one day of compaigning left, will The Sun give its support to Labour?
It and The Times are the only major UK national newspapers yet to endorse a political party ahead of Thursday's general election. We have a full round-up of election media endorsements here.
New from Press Gazette
The relaunched Businessweek at right, with editor Brad Stone at left. Pictures: Bloomberg
Businessweek editor predicts print comeback as 120-page monthly edition launched
“I’m a believer in the leaned-back, distraction-free luxury of print. And I do think that there’s a place for it and maybe even we’ll see a bit of a comeback.”
Veteran columnists making more money on Substack after local newspaper exits
Bob Dunning, who for 54 years wrote a column at The Davis Enterprise and started on Substack in May, said: “What has actually come directly into my bank account is around $70,000 at this point.”
Why male voices dominate when it comes to news on social media
“Some research shows women are underrepresented in bylines of political news topics, and this could be an extension of more traditional newsroom gender dynamics.”
News in brief
London business daily City AM has called for a change of government, saying the Conservatives are “out of ideas”. The freesheet said it could not endorse Labour, either, but confessed a suspicion that “he understands the role of business and indeed of London and the City”. (Press Gazette)
The former deputy editor of The Daily Telegraph and launch editor of British Grazia, Jane Bruton, is to join Good Housekeeping UK as editor-in-chief later this year. (Press Gazette)
The NUJ and Springer Nature have agreed a two-year settlement that will end their pay dispute. The organisations said in a joint statement that recent events "emphasised the importance of open dialogue, and we are dedicated to ensuring that this continues to be a central aspect of our working relationship".
Labour donor Dale Vince is suing Guido Fawkes owner Paul Staines for libel, accusing the blog of suggesting he supports Hamas. Vince has reportedly secured damages from the Daily Mail and GB News over similar claims. (The Guardian)
Previously on Press Gazette
Lib Dems and Tories defy media critics to continue fake newspaper tactics
Google Sandbox rollout could cost publishers 60% of online advertising revenue
Enemies of the Nigel: BBC joins growing list of Farage media beefs
Who’s suing AI and who’s signing: Publisher deals vs lawsuits with generative AI companies
NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet to step down after 13 years
Sky’s Sam Coates reveals his election formula: 18-hour days, power naps and gallons of Huel
Latest podcast
How Total Politics is making B2B work without a paywall
Press Gazette sat down with Mark Wallace, the chief executive of Total Politics Group, to find out how the company makes free political journalism pay.
Press Gazette asked how the Politics Home, Conservative Home and The House publisher is faring since incorporating in its new form in 2022, and finds out how the business has found a way to hedge against political cycles by selling services to both sides of the aisle.