Reach and Independent go big on video | FT faces US pay revolt
And look who's playing former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger in a new TV drama
Welcome to your daily newsletter from Press Gazette on Friday, 22 March, brought to you in association with MHP Group - hosts of the 30 To Watch: Journalism Awards. The awards, which are in their 13th year, celebrate the best and most influential journalists in the UK aged 30 and younger. Nominate or enter the awards today.
Good morning, today we have two stories which speak to a major publisher trend for 2024 - the growth of video.
And we also have news of Reach creating what must be the biggest audio/visual team of any publisher in the UK (outside the legacy broadcasters).
We have the latest from the High Court and Prince Harry’s forever war with the British press. His lawyer David Sherborne has been throwing shade on News Group Newspapers and CEO Rebekah Brooks over allegations of privacy intrusion dating back up to 30 years.
And this morning please spare a thought for reporter colleagues on the Financial Times in the US, where reporter salary bands start at $71,000 (£56,000). This may sound OK by UK standards, but it does not go far in New York. We’ve spoken to the union representing the FT’s 60 US editorial staff to find out why they are seeking an additional pay rise (beyond that awarded to UK colleagues).
Pssst… If you want a fun bit of gossip exclusive to this newsletter, I hear that a new TV drama about the phone-hacking scandal is now being filmed.
Based on the book by former Guardian reporter Nick Davies, who made all the running on the story, the drama features some interesting casting decisions.
Former Doctor Who star David Tennant is believed to be playing Davies, and his former editor Alan Rusbridger is to be played by….Toby Jones (I am told). The resemblance is not startling!
Jobs of the week
PA Media is recruiting a law reporter
Business Analyst - Times Media
The BBC is recruiting a producer/director for The One Show
New from Press Gazette
‘Profitability is versatility’: CEO says video-led future bright for The Independent
Journalism is the "secret sauce" at the heart of a successful online business says Christian Broughton.
Reach creates 120-strong audio and video content team called Studio
The Studio team is led by director of studio Mark Field, who was previously director of client strategy and head of invention heading up Reach’s branded content team.
FT US journalists in dispute with management over call for extra $4k
The FT US Guild argues current pay rates make the business paper uncompetitive.
News of the World publisher ‘unlawfully obtained’ private information on Harry from age nine, lawyer says
Court hears alleged unlawful activity was "known about, encouraged and concealed by those in positions of responsibility".
Alamy boss Emily Shelley named new PA Media chief executive
Shelley will succeed Clive Marshall, who is retiring after 14 years leading the business.
From our partner
Applications for MHP Group's 30 To Watch: Journalism awards are open.
Returning for their 13th year, the free to enter awards celebrate the best and most influential journalists in the UK aged 30 and younger. Entries are invited across ten categories: City & Business; Culture, Entertainment & Lifestyle; Health; International Affairs; News & Investigations; Personal Finance & Consumer Affairs; Politics; Production; Science, Environment & Technology and Sport (new for 2024).
You can enter or nominate via this short form.
Deadline for entries is 19th April.
News in brief
Sun and Mail publishers’ plan to combine print operations signed off by CMA and set to go live in early June. (Press Gazette)
Google has been fined €250m by the French competition watchdog for "failing to broker agreements with media outlets for publishing links to their content and for plundering press articles to train its AI technology". Google argued the sanction is "disproportionate". (Bloomberg)
Express & Star political editor Pete Madeley has died aged 50 nine months after being diagnosed with cancer. Politicians from Boris Johnson to Keir Starmer have paid tribute. (Express & Star)
The closure of the Centre for Journalism at the University of Kent has been confirmed, with no new students to join, which the department said “defies logic on very many levels”. Professor Ian Reeves wrote last month the centre was being sacrificed to fill the university’s funding gap.
The Mail is reportedly continuing the process of merging its titles so digital is "at the heart of everything". "Inevitably, this will mean changes to the way some reporters and news desk executives work," editor Ted Verity told staff. (The Telegraph)
Matt Hancock has lost a bid to dismiss Andrew Bridgen's libel case against him. Bridgen says Hancock accused him of anti-Semitism in a Twitter post about his views on Covid vaccines. The judge struck out certain parts of Bridgen’s case but not the whole claim. (The Independent)
Conde Nast in the US reportedly threatened more layoffs this week and has filed an unfair labour practice charge against parent union News Guild of New York for "bad-faith" bargaining. (The Hollywood Reporter)
The BBC has launched a new website and app for users outside the UK. As well as an updated design and sections for more content they have new adtech capabilities with "more premium high impact ad units" and more advanced targeting. (BBC)
American newspaper chains Gannett and McClatchy are both drastically cutting back on their use of Associated Press content. (The New York Times)
A panel of industry experts including ex-Sunday Times editor Martin Ivens, ex-ITV chair Sir Peter Bazalgette, ex-Downing Street head of comms Amber de Botton, and Dame Frances Cairncross will provide independent advice on future funding of the BBC to DCMS. (Gov)
The nominees for BAFTA TV Awards news coverage are: Inside Gaza: Israel And Hamas At War - Channel 4 News; Inside Myanmar - The Hidden War - Sky News; Israel-Hamas War - Sky News.
Business Leader magazine has launched a peer-to-peer membership platform for founders and CEOs of UK medium-sized enterprises. Business Leader has also relaunched after its acquisition last year, which we heard about here.
PA Media's lifestyle editorial team has launched a new bi-annual publication Unwrapped: Lifestyle Content Decoded aimed at helping lifestyle creators develop engaging content on various platforms.
Latest podcast
Podcast 67: Magazine ABCs winners and losers with Nada Arnot of The Economist
Press Gazette editor-in-chief Dominic Ponsford discusses the latest UK magazine industry circulation figures with reporter Bron Maher.
They pick out the winners and losers from the latest crop of results and also hear from Economist executive vice president Nada Arnot about how the title’s cut-price daily edition Expresso achieved lift-off in 2023. She also explained why she is bullish about The Economist’s headline (print and digital) circulation figures returning to growth in this election year.
Also on Press Gazette
National World still ‘best qualified’ to own The Telegraph, David Montgomery claims
New Fortune executive editor on major Europe expansion for business brand
Google’s new Sandbox advertising system could be ‘the end for a lot of publishers’
Sun and Mail publishers’ plan to combine print operations signed off by CMA
Low pay and ‘no rights’: Survey reveals ‘Wild West’ for UK freelance journalists
Online publishers hit by declining Facebook and advertising revenue in 2023
Jimmy Lai lawyer reveals daily online threats and frustration with big tech
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.