News UK and DMGT to combine print ops | Guardian and Mirror take down Wootton stories
And Extinction Rebellion protestors have been convicted for spray-painting Telegraph headquarters.
Good morning and welcome to your daily media news briefing on Wednesday 4 October, brought to you today in association with Glide Publishing Platform - the CMS for publishers. Glide's guides for publishing, product, and technology teams to make best use of headless CMS are available for download now.
The cost of fighting and losing a privacy or defamation action is so great nowadays that publishers can be easily cowed.
It is no exaggeration to say that true stories on matters of legitimate public interest often remain untold as a result.
On Monday night The Guardian, Mirror and other titles took down a story about GB News presenter Dan Wootton after legal warnings were issued on his behalf. They are warnings which Press Gazette ourselves heeded so I should not be too critical here (and obviously I need to be careful what I say).
As a small publisher Press Gazette has always erred on the side of caution when it comes to legal risk. But I was a little surprised to see bigger publishers roll over as quickly as they did on this one.
In another sign of the Times, DMG Media and News UK are proposing to combine their printing operations, resulting in the closure of two of DMG's current print plants. The new joint venture will still print more than 3m newspapers a night and the cost savings will help ensure that national newspaper print editions remain profitable for many years to come.
**BRITISH JOURNALISM AWARDS DEADLINE EXTENDED**
If your journalism has made a difference over the last year you have until 11.59pm ON THURSDAY to enter your work in the Press Gazette British Journalism Awards 2023.
See the full list of categories here.
Or go directly to the entry portal here.
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New from Press Gazette
Sun and Mail publishers hatch plan to combine print operations
Under the proposals, the DMG Media sites in Thurrock and Dinnington would potentially be closed with the three News UK sites remaining open. All sites will continue operating separately until all the regulatory processes have been completed, but staff were told on Tuesday evening of the proposals.
Guardian and Mirror take down Dan Wootton story after legal warning
Press Gazette understands that a lawyer acting for Wootton has warned publishers about possible legal action.
Extinction Rebellion protesters who spray-painted Telegraph office convicted of criminal damage
The paint needed to be cleaned up three times, cost more than £3,000 to remove and the building in Victoria, London is not in the condition it was in before the protest, the hearing was told.
News in brief
BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell will retire early next year after 47 years at the broadcaster and 25 spent leading its royal coverage. (Press Gazette)
The Scottish Newspaper Society has been renamed Newsbrands Scotland to reflect the "multi-platform reality of the modern newsroom". (Newsbrands Scotland)
The News Movement’s first podcast launches today as it takes its first step of a broader audio strategy alongside Persephonica. Editor-in-chief Kamal Ahmed told Press Gazette about the plan last month.
The Ozone project has announced the launch of Studiozone - an in-house creative studio - to respond to client briefs, create pitches and develop new online ad formats across its network of major newsbrands. (Ozone)
Wall Street Journal editor Emma Tucker says changes she's making at the title are "about making sure the newsroom is fit for this new landscape that we face" after "we’ve done the digital transformation from print to digital and now we’re all about transforming digital". (Semafor)
Podcast 57: What is the Murdoch Factor?
Press Gazette editor in chief Dominic Ponsford discusses The Murdoch Factor with Peter Jukes (author of Fall of the House of Murdoch and co-founder of Byline Times).
What is the key quality which has enabled Murdoch’s success and what does the future of media look like without him?
Previously on Press Gazette
Major news publishers block the bots as ChatGPT starts taking live news
Boss of new global health newsroom: ‘There is no for-profit model for what we’re doing’
Future targets resilient luxury sector with new print title The Blend
Race to buy The Telegraph: Who are the latest runners and riders?
Jeremy Kyle says ‘world has moved on’ since ITV scandal as he joins Nicola Thorp on TalkTV breakfast
