Russell Brand follow-ups 'upsetting' warns Sunday Times reporter | Mail crime editor on Nicola Bulley case
And Independent CEO Christian Broughton outlines global expansion plans
Good morning and welcome to your daily media news briefing on Monday, 18 September, brought to you today in association with DMEXCO 2023 in Cologne from September 20 to 21 (the Digital Marketing Exposition and Conference).
Russell Brand is the latest high-profile media figure to face serious allegations of sexual misconduct.
The brave, detailed and long-running investigation by The Times/Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches follows allegations in Byline Times aired about the behaviour of GB News presenter Dan Wootton in July. In 2021 The Guardian reported extensive allegations against actor Noel Clarke.
Making such criminal allegations is extremely risky for publishers. This is highlighted by Clarke's current claim for £10m in libel damages from The Guardian (which is, albeit, at a preliminary stage).
But sometimes, public exposure of wrongdoing is the only justice which victims will ever obtain.
We also today have an exclusive interview with new CEO of The Independent Christian Broughton in which he outlines the title's gutsy vision for global expansion.
We also have the latest top 50 US news websites list which reveals CNN and the New York Times neck and neck in first place with the BBC the only UK publisher in the top ten.
Your news diary for the week ahead includes Charles and Camilla's state visit to France and the anniversary of Kwasi Kwarteng's notorious mini-budget.
New from Press Gazette:
Sunday Times journalist warns over ‘very upsetting’ Russell Brand follow-up coverage
“We are obliged to not sensationalise these stories and I am very frustrated that one of our rival papers this morning has put a headline on Alice’s story that is frankly disgusting.”
From editor to CEO: Christian Broughton shares Independent’s global growth plan
“People sometimes describe The Independent as the sleeping giant of media. It can’t be asleep anymore. It’s really got to grow now.”
Mail crime editor tells police trusting journalists could have avoided Nicola Bulley ‘circus of conspiracy theories’
“How long before one of those conspiracy theorists knocks on the door of the deceased’s family or attempts to meddle with a crime scene?”
Top 50 news websites in the US: AP, CBS and Independent saw biggest growth in August
The Washington Post (down 11%) and Google News (down 17%) were the biggest fallers among the top ten sites last month.
News diary 18–24 September: Scottish Govt takes UK to court over Gender Recognition Reform Bill block
A look ahead at the key events leading the news agenda this week, from the team at Foresight News.
News in brief:
IPSO has upheld a complaint against The Sunday Times after it "conflated the numbers of "illegal migrants" who had entered the country with asylum seekers in a misleading way". (IPSO)More than 330 National World journalists are due to strike today. A 4.5% pay rise was given in July but the NUJ said staff were left with "no option than to strike as they defend their calls for a fair pay rise and efforts to address growing pay disparities". (NUJ)Mail Online has agreed to pay Gabby and Kenny Logan "substantial damages" over an article wrongly claiming they received £500,000 to promote tax avoidance schemes. Ex-Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie will also pay damages for a tweet he posted about the story. (The Guardian)Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský has entered the auction process to acquire Telegraph Media Group. The FT reports Křetínský, who owns a 17% stake in Le Monde, "may support other offers and end up with a minority stake" in TMG. (Financial Times)BBC Studios, the corporation's commercial arm, will relaunch the ad-supported international BBC News website ahead of next year's US presidential election. (Financial Times)Previously on Press Gazette:
National press ABCs: Daily Star Sunday and Sunday People record biggest annual declines
John Ryley calls time on ‘supine’ royal reporting, Westminster gossip and GB News ads boycott
Matt Hancock scores complaint victory versus Mirror over ‘Matt’s finished’ story
Big Issue names news and digital editor at ‘vital part in its history’
New Full Fact CEO: Fact-checkers may need ‘to be a bit more rock and roll’