Newsquest hits 100,000 digital subscribers | CMA says Google abusing monopoly
Plus the British Journalism Awards are open for entries and your news diary for the week ahead
Welcome to your daily newsletter from Press Gazette on Monday, 9 September, brought to you today in association with Qonqord.
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Congratulations to Newsquest which today marks a major milestone in its bid to persuade readers to pay for online local news.
The publisher of titles including The Herald in Glasgow and The Argus in Brighton has passed 100,000 paid online subscriptions.
It comes as Newsquest appears to lead the way among the three giants which dominate UK local news (along with Reach and National World), having recently reported market-leading performances both in terms of website audience and daily print circulation decline.
Google faces a fresh blow as the UK Competition and Markets Authority has provisionally found that it has unfairly exploited its monopoly status to rig the UK advertising market in its favour. The finding further underlines the need for Google to be designated under the new UK Digital Markets Act and properly regulated.
It follows a US court ruling in August that said Google illegally upheld its search engine monopoly with payments of more than $26bn a year to ensure it was the default option on smartphones and web browsers.
And it comes as a new hearing begins in Virginia, where the US government is challenging Google’s monopoly over online advertising, an issue raised by the Daily Mail’s publisher in 2021.
Finally, journalism is normally a thankless job. Editors are generally quick to point out faults and rare to give praise on a job well done. By its nature our work is the best we can do in the short time available and we seem doomed to be forever dissatisfied.
But the British Journalism Awards is a chance to put your bushel to one side and celebrate great public service journalism. If your work has made a difference over the last year, get your British Journalism Awards entry in now (you have until midnight on 27 September to submit).
As with previous years, if you are from a previously under-represented category (women, the disabled and those in a minority ethnic group) and you do not have an employer willing to support your entry Press Gazette will waive the entry fee.
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New from Press Gazette
British Journalism Awards 2024 open for entries
The awards pit the smallest local newspapers and independent podcasters against the biggest international news organisations. The great leveller is the quality of the story being told.
Newsquest hits 100,000 digital subscribers
“The data further underlines the phenomenal demand for trusted local news and the power of our local platforms which now typically reach more than 75% of local people each month.”
Google ad tech practices harming ‘thousands of UK publishers and advertisers’, watchdog believes
The CMA highlighted that a majority of publishers and advertisers in the UK buy and sell advertising using Google’s ad tech.
Former Telegraph crime reporter John Weeks who spent career in the fast lane
From the Krays to IRA bombings, John Weeks covered it all for The Daily Telegraph.
News diary 9-15 September: Google ad monopoly trial, Harris-Trump debate, Lucy Letby inquiry
A look ahead at the key events leading the news agenda this week, from the team at Foresight News.
News in brief
NUJ members have re-elected Christine Buckley as editor of The Journalist magazine for a fourth term. (NUJ)
A criminal investigation has been launched into who gave the Manchester Evening News CCTV footage from Manchester Airport that showed a police officer appearing to stamp on a man. The MEN denied police requests to answer questions designed to find out the source. (MEN)
Full Fact has won an IPSO complaint against the Daily Express over a comment piece by then-Conservative Party chair Richard Holden repeating as fact the inaccurate claim that Labour's plans would see Britain take in 100,000 extra illegal migrants per year. (Full Fact)
Radio 4 Today sports presenter Garry Richardson presented his last show this morning after 50 years with the BBC and 43 years on Today. (BBC)
Previously on Press Gazette
The Guardian names new correspondents to cover underreported communities
FT journalists in US secure pay deal including $75k minimum salary
Guardian moves into e-commerce amid revenue shortfall for 2023/2024
Former staff voice support for Pink News ‘whistleblower’ account threatened with lawsuit
BBC to cut 115 jobs in Nations and Regions editorial and production
FT CEO John Ridding on ‘three moments’ that changed everything – and what’s next
Press Gazette live
Our flagship event the Future of Media Technology Conference and Awards takes place on 12 September on the Hilton Bankside hotel in London. It provides publishers with a masterclass on the big technology themes impacting our business and is also an unrivalled networking opportunity.
Full agenda and booking details here.