Open justice alarm over IPSO ruling | Mediahuis aims to reach 70% digital revenue by 2030
Plus: how AP is diversifying away from a reliance on content licensing, what publishers can do about election misinformation, and your news diary for the week ahead
Welcome to your daily newsletter from Press Gazette on Monday 10 June, brought to you today in association with the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the global destination for the advertising and communications industry to celebrate the world's best work.
[The Press Gazette Future of Media Awards celebrate the best websites, podcasts, newsletters and commercial innovation in news media. They are FREE to enter and the deadline for submissions is Friday. Start your entry now.]
IPSO is seen by its critics as being a bit of a cosy club (given it is effectively owned and funded by publishers themselves). But this weekend it was the subject of rare public criticism from several of its leading member newsbrands over a ruling they disagreed with.
IPSO ruled against what it saw as excessive detail in reporting of a court case which was judged to have been an "intrusion into grief or shock".
In this case an Aberdeen Live journalist merely reported what was heard in open court as the eyes and ears of the public.
While all editors will exercise judgment over how much detail to include from court reports, the IPSO ruling threatens to open the floodgates for more complaints about unpleasant facts reported at trials and inquests. Publishers have a duty to hold a mirror to these proceedings (within the constraints of legal reporting restrictions) and this ruling does seem to be an overstep from the regulator.
Hard to pronounce European newspaper giant Mediahuis has revealed how it plans to reach 70% digital revenue by 2030.
The £1bn turnover local and national publisher operates some big newsbrands across Europe, including the Belfast Telegraph in Northern Ireland, and has been no slouch when it comes to digital transformation. So it is somewhat intriguing that it still relies on print for 70% of its revenue.
We caught CEO Gert Ysebaert's session at the recent World News Media Congress in Copenhagen where he shared some strategy insights which will be useful for any news publisher.
In another report from Copenhagen, Associated Press chief revenue officer Kristin Heitmann reveals how the news agency is diversifying away from its core business model by embracing advertising, philanthropic funding and AI content licensing.
And with ever more manipulated UK general election videos appearing online, head of editorial video at Immediate Media Paul Doyle has some useful insight for publishers on misinformation.
Our news diary for the week ahead includes at least four parties’ general election manifesto launches and the Euros football tournament kick off.
From our sponsor
One week. Limitless opportunities. Secure your pass for Cannes Lions 2024.
New from Press Gazette
Publishers alarmed over IPSO ruling against report of evidence heard in open court
IPSO ruled against Reach website Aberdeen Live after it included a “detailed description” of a rape victim’s physical reaction to the attack against her, as described by the prosecutor in the case.
Advertising, philanthropy and AI: How the AP is diversifying its revenue streams
“For the AP, while content licensing will always be our core we are facing headwinds in that part of our business as the media sector, which is our primary customer, is being consolidated and disrupted.”
How newspaper giant Mediahuis aims to reach 70% digital revenue by 2030
Mediahuis is calling it the 7-7-7 strategy: “to go from 70/30 to 30/70 in seven years. And if we are there by 2030 then we can say that we are a digitally sustainable company.”
UK general election misinformation: What publishers can do about it
“Within the first week of the UK election campaign, there were many videos, beyond those of parody or satire, making factually incorrect assertions around ‘National Service’ and an unfounded claim about Starmer’s involvement in not prosecuting Jimmy Savile.”
News diary 10 – 16 June: Parties reveal manifestos, Euros kick off
A look ahead at the key events leading the news agenda this week, from the team at Foresight News.
News in brief
NCTJ chairman Kim Fletcher is stepping down after two decades leading the journalism training charity’s board. Trustees have unanimously agreed to appoint Fletcher 'emeritus chairman' in recognition of “the length and success of Kim’s outstanding tenure”. (Press Gazette)
A listener complained a reference on the Today programme to "a lettuce" amounted to "derogatory and demeaning" language for Liz Truss, but the BBC's complaints unit said it only referred to The Daily Star's stunt and was light-hearted and not biased. (BBC)
SNP MP Chris Stephens lost an IPSO complaint against the Scottish Daily Mail over a story reporting he "forgot his phone... so had it couriered to London at taxpayers' expense". He then complained about IPSO's handling of the complaint, but this was also dismissed. (IPSO)
RSF director general of 12 years Christophe Deloire died on Saturday aged 53 after suffering from cancer. He was described as "a tireless defender… of the freedom, independence and pluralism of journalism, in a context of information chaos". (RSF)
Ted Verity says "everyone at the Mail is absolutely devastated" to hear of the death of Dr Michael Mosley. "Michael wasn’t just a unique and unmissable columnist. He was part of the Mail family." He said Mosley "will have extended, and even saved, the lives of countless readers".
The Swindon Advertiser has extended an invitation into its offices for Rishi Sunak after he visited the town on Friday offering "no invitations to the local press. No message for the town’s people. No chance to ask him meaningful questions”. (Swindon Advertiser)
Recently on Press Gazette
Mill Media set to double staff total to 22 as it reveals London expansion
Lindsey Hilsum: Sudan civil war overlooked because of Ukraine and Gaza
Why Telegraph’s Tominey and Ahmed think there is room for another daily podcast
Sky News journalist and psychotherapist shares mental health tips
Germany’s Welt moved focus from volume to value after hitting 200,000 subscribers
Infected blood scandal: How good journalism made a difference
£13.6bn damages claim against Google on behalf of UK publishers to go to trial
Guardian CEO Bateson ready to ‘do a deal’ with AI companies ‘on the right terms’
Latest podcast
Podcast 72: Camilla Tominey and Kamal Ahmed on cracking a busy news podcast market
The Telegraph’s new daily news podcast, The Daily T, is the latest entrant to an increasingly crowded audio market.
But days after the show bagged the first election trail interview with Rishi Sunak, Press Gazette spoke with Daily T hosts Camilla Tominey and Kamal Ahmed about how they’re hoping to stand out from the competition with a right-of-centre viewpoint they feel is missing and by leaning heavily on the Telegraph newsroom.
Press Gazette live
Entries are now OPEN for the Future of Media Awards 2024 (which celebrate the best journalism-based digital products). Check out the full list of categories here. Note: These awards are free to enter.