No standards investigation into Jewish Chronicle | Wootton accused in court of catfishing
Plus Dow Jones scuppers NUJ talks to recognise a News UK-funded union and The Independent wants readers to download a browser extension to get better music ads
Good morning and welcome to your daily media briefing from Press Gazette on Wednesday 9 April.
Criminal investigations of Dan Wootton may have been dropped but the former GB News presenter is now facing a test in the civil courts over allegations he tricked a former colleague into sending him explicit sexual images and video by pretending to be someone else.
Wootton lost his jobs at GB News and Mail Online in the wake of an investigation into his behaviour by journalists at Byline Times.
He won privacy payouts from The Guardian and Mirror after they reported that he was under police investigation. But his threatened defamation action against Byline Times was never filed (and given the one-year time limit has now passed, we can assume it will not happen).
Wootton now has more than 40,000 followers on Substack, receiving his video and newsletter updates (with "thousands" paying £5 a month for the paid version, according to Substack).
We also report on an update from IPSO on the Jewish Chronicle fabricated story fiasco. The press regulator says it is satisfied that the Jewish Chronicle has put sufficient safeguards in place to avoid a repeat of the Elon Perry case which resulted in all the articles written by the author being deleted.
Press Gazette will be sharing an update later this week on what actions various publishers are taking in the wake of our revelations about apparently fake experts being widely quoted in leading newsbrands.
News Corp, historically no fan of trade unions, has scuppered a bid by the NUJ to officially represent hundreds of newsroom staff at Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal in London.
It has instead recognised the company-backed News Union, a successor body to the old News International Staff Association.
And we find out why The Independent is trying to persuade its readers to download a browser plug-in which will enable them to see more targeted advertising. Could receiving certain ads and offers be seen as a benefit for online readers (rather than an exercise in surveillance capitalism)?
On Press Gazette
Jewish Chronicle website homepage on 8 April 2025
IPSO decides not to launch Jewish Chronicle standards investigation
The Jewish Chronicle blamed what happened, IPSO said, on “unexpected staff absences that led to articles being commissioned and published which had not been through its usual verification process”.
Dan Wootton accused of ‘catfishing’ former colleague, court hears
The claimant, known as YXN, has lodged civil proceedings against him “for damages for personal injuries and losses consequent on the defendant’s intentional infliction of harm, misuse of confidential information, infringement of privacy and deceit”.
Dow Jones spikes NUJ negotiations to recognise News UK-funded ‘News Union’
The NUJ lodged a request for statutory recognition with Dow Jones management in February, kicking off a negotiation process that was due to end by this month – either with a voluntary recognition agreement or referral on to the Central Arbitration Committee for a final, binding decision.
Why The Independent wants readers to download browser extension for personalised music ads
The Independent’s commercial director said that despite audiences staying strong, advertisers in categories like music have increasingly shifted away from news publishers towards social media platforms.
News in brief
A federal judge has ordered the White House to “immediately rescind their viewpoint-based denial” of the Associated Press' access to the president over the organisation’s continued use of the name “the Gulf of Mexico”. (The New York Times)
Meanwhile the Associated Press' charitable organisation created last year announces that more than 50 nonprofit newsrooms are in pilot programme supported by Google News Initiative in which they will get a selection of AP text, video and photo content and access to editorial tools and training. (AP)
Gannett has launched a standalone true crime subscription, Witness, which costs $4.99 and is based on its local titles' crime coverage archives. (Nieman Lab)
The Washington Post's micropayments experiments have involved unlocking week-long access "which helps capture reader dollars during notable news cycles", according to Axios.
The ASA has rapped George Osborne and Ed Balls for reading out a misleading Viagogo ad on their Persephonica podcast. (The Guardian)
Several journalists say Trump administration officials have refused to answer their emails because their sign-offs included their pronouns. (The New York Times)
James Fontanella-Khan has been named US finance editor at the Financial Times, leading a merged corporate finance, banking and asset management team. (FT)
Also this week on Press Gazette
Investigatory Powers Tribunal rejects Government secrecy over Apple encryption case
ITN records lowest profit in a decade as non-news revenue dips
Virtual reality: The widely-quoted media experts who are not what they seem
PR industry alarmed at rise of fake commenters exposed by Press Gazette
Gen Z outlet says it proves young people will pay for news done the right way
Guardian editor Kath Viner: ‘Clear public interest’ in exposing Noel Clarke allegations
Daily Mail and New Scientist sign IP deal with SMG for films and TV shows
Latest podcast: Jim Mullen's legacy at Reach | Value of news to Google | Sun losses, Times profits
Press Gazette's editorial team share their insights into big stories from the world of news. Charlotte Tobitt talks us through the latest News UK accounts, which show losses at The Sun shrank in the year to June 2024 while The Times reported a £60m profit.
We react to news that Jim Mullen, the divisive CEO at Reach, is stepping down. And Bron Maher looks at the arguments and counterarguments being made by publishers and Google over what news is really worth on its platforms.