Nationals prepare for print's last stand | Ladbible buys Betches for $24m
And National World journalists retreat from planned five-day strike
Good morning and welcome to your daily media news briefing on Wednesday 18 October, brought to you today in association with United Robots – the automated editorial content specialists. Recently, they supported Media Voices to write a white paper, Practical AI for Local Media, which is available to download now.
The latest national newspaper ABCs add some context to other developments we are reporting on.
The departures of four senior Mail on Sunday sports journalists last week is connected to the 17% year on year drop in print sales there.
News UK is halting direct deliveries to newsagents within the M25 in a move that will save the publisher many millions a year (and lead to 100 van drivers losing work). The publisher does not share its ABC figures, but assuming they are in line with industry trends, circulation at The Times titles and The Sun is falling by between 10% and 20% per year.
Publishers are circling their wagons as paid-for printed news makes its last stand. If current rates of decline continue, titles like the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror will be pretty much over in print by around 2033.
Print is, of course, only part of the story, and titles like The Independent prove that life after print can be more financially rewarding than what went before.
Still in the world of online-only publishing, UK-based Ladbible Group has announced a major expansion into the US with the purchase of US women's media brand Betches for $24m.
And finally journalists at UK regional newspaper giant National World have called off their planned five-day strike. The move has not been prompted by a change on the 4.5% pay offer, but because NUJ officials have zero expectation that management will improve upon it.
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New from Press Gazette
Ladbible owner acquires US women’s brand Betches for $24m
The price may rise as high as $54m if the company hits certain profitability targets by 2026.
News UK halts direct-to-retail newspaper deliveries within M25
The announcement comes two weeks after a proposal to combine the operations of News UK’s printing business Newsprinters with those of Mail, Metro and i publisher DMG Media.
Five-day strike by National World journalists postponed
“This isn’t waving a white flag. Work to rule has been beneficial for us all and will continue to be… union membership has increased and collectively we are stronger than ever.”
National press ABCs: Queen death uplift makes for bigger decline one year on
Many UK national newspapers reported steeper-than-usual annual print circulation declines in September due to comparisons with the previous year when the death of The Queen appeared to lead to an uptick in sales.
Man of the People Bill Hagerty named Press Club Journalist Laureate
“The award reflects not only his versatility and longevity, but also the tireless work he has done to promote journalism, journalists and freedom of the press, as well as his charitable work with The Journalists’ Charity.”
News in brief
The number of journalists killed in the current Israel-Hamas conflict is now believed to be 17: 13 Palestinians, three Israelis and one Lebanese journalist. (Press Gazette)
The BBC says online traffic to BBC local news stories in England increased by 21% year-on-year to 14.8 million unique browsers in July to September. BBC England has been cutting/merging local radio programmes to invest more in online. News Media Association CEO Owen Meredith said the BBC's stats are "very worrying evidence of the effect of the BBC's wrong-headed strategy of moving into an area already well served by commercial local providers".
Cheng Lei, the Australian journalist recently released after spending three years in prison in China, has revealed she was arrested for breaking the embargo on a government briefing by a few minutes. (Guardian Australia)
Trade bodies Newsworks and the PPA have joined forces to develop a new advertising and audience measurement system across print and online for news brands and magazine publishers. They have asked suppliers for input.
The Daily Wire, the conservative publisher co-founded by Ben Shapiro, has launched a subscription streaming app for children's entertainment named Bentkey. The brand is positioned as an alternative to Disney, which Wire co-CEO Jeremy Boreing said "pushes all the worst excesses of the woke left". (Axios)
Podcast 58: How the Daily Mail become a hit on Tiktok
Mail Online head of social video Phil Harvey, who joined the publisher in March, told Press Gazette how and why their Tiktok strategy has transformed this year and why it is worth the investment.
He also revealed which British politician and their dog has become an unlikely Tiktok star for the Daily Mail.
Previously on Press Gazette
Press Gazette launches new jobs portal in partnership with Amply
86-year-old investigative journalist says arrest and de-arrest at home was ‘terrifying’
How Gaza’s estimated 1,000 journalists are preparing for an onslaught
Steve Bell speaks out after being sacked by email following 40 years at Guardian
Race to buy The Telegraph: Who are the latest runners and riders?
Sky News director of content leaves to lead Ofcom regulation
Top 50 biggest news websites in the world: September slump for ten biggest names
