PR alarm at fake experts | IPT rejects Govt secrecy bid on Apple encryption case
And ITN's 2024 accounts show its lowest profit in past decade
Good morning and welcome to your daily media briefing from Press Gazette on Tuesday 8 April.
Press Gazette's investigation into fake commenters exploiting journalist-request services has prompted a huge reaction from the PR industry.
From the news industry... let's just say the jury is still out.
As I found out, proving someone is not real is an impossible thing to do. So the revelation that numerous stories in your archive contain apparently faked responses is a lot to take in and investigate.
At time of writing only the BBC has taken any articles down in response to our revelations. I understand other news organisations are actively reviewing content. And one or two (I fear) may simply shrug their shoulders and not let the facts get in the way of a story which is attracting online clicks.
We'll be returning to this story later in the week to find out what actions publishers and PR services companies have taken to weed out the fake experts who have become so prevalent in many of our leading newsbrands.
I suspect the commenters Press Gazette identified yesterday are the tip of the iceberg on this issue.
Today we also have the latest accounts for ITN which show profit and revenue down for the broadcast news provider.
And, in a victory for press freedom, the government has lost a bid to keep secret an Investigatory Powers Tribunal hearing which will decide whether it can gain backdoor access to encrypted data on Apple devices.
On Press Gazette
Mystery person at laptop. Picture: Shutterstock
PR industry alarmed at rise of fake commenters exposed by Press Gazette
One national publisher has called all its freelance contributors alerting them to the dangers raised by the Press Gazette piece.
Investigatory Powers Tribunal rejects Government secrecy over Apple encryption case
The IPT also raised the prospect that future hearings around the case may be held in public.
ITN records lowest profit in a decade as non-news revenue dips
ITN said the drop in profit was “driven largely by the impact of reduced news syndication contracts and non-recurring corporate costs partially offset by stronger newsroom contributions and overhead savings”.
News in brief
The BBC has complained to the Competition and Markets Authority that its branding is being downplayed in Apple and Google's news aggregation services, which the corporation says must provide greater prominence for their sources. (Apple Insider)
G/O Media has sold Quartz, meaning the site is on its fourth owner since 2018. In the takeover by software company Redbrick, which has also bought consumer deals site The Inventory, all Quartz editorial staff have been let go except its editor-in-chief and executive editor. (The Wrap)
Mitali Mukherjee has been named the new director of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Mukherjee told the Society of Editors last month that news publishers had "lost our way, as an industry, with our audience". (RISJ)
Sir Philip Green has failed in a bid to argue that the use of parliamentary privilege to reveal sexual misconduct allegations against him violated his privacy under the European Convention on Human Rights. (Financial Times)
An airstrike on a media tent in Gaza has reportedly killed two journalists and injured seven more, as well as dozens of non-journalists. The IDF said it was targeting a photographer who had been with Hamas on October 7. (Committee to Protect Journalists)
Intense market activity around Donald Trump’s tariffs on Thursday drove CNBC to its highest-rated day for total viewers, and most page views, since January 2022, the network has told CNN.
Meta's fact-checking programme in the US officially ended yesterday afternoon, according to its chief global affairs officer.
Also this week on Press Gazette
Virtual reality: The widely-quoted media experts who are not what they seem
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
The Economist 1843’s remit for life after print: ‘Do stuff that will win prizes’
Guardian journalist on Noel Clarke investigation: ‘I felt that it was a story to be made public’
Print is still top-three revenue driver for US publishers says AAM chief
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.