Will Lewis in a hole after editorial spiked | Local Democracy Reporters call for reform
And Mill Media finishes its latest expansion with launch of The Londoner
Welcome to your daily newsletter from Press Gazette on Tuesday, 29 October, 2024, brought to you today in association with 'The Cursitor' — one of the industry's longest-standing Christmas lunches.
“It's an occasion where friendships are formed, goodwill abounds, and we all come together with a shared sense of pride in our industry.” Tables are available to book now.
Sir William Lewis was brought in to head up The Washington Post mainly to beef up its flagging subscriptions strategy. So the fact that his handling of the election leader has led to the loss of 200,000 subscriptions (so far) will be particularly galling for him.
The decision to stay neutral on the election came down from proprietor Jeff Bezos and Lewis either had to do his master’s bidding or resign.
In a coin-toss election, remaining neutral has a logic to it. Why set out to annoy half the electorate and why insult the readers’ intelligence by presuming to tell them how to vote?
But given The Washington Post’s liberal opposition to most of the things Trump stands for, refusal to endorse Harris is being seen by many as an abdication of responsibility.
Former Independent editor Chris Blackhurst thinks newsbrands should not tell readers how to vote, but writing for us today he says Sir Will is none the less in a deep hole.
The decision to spike the leader column endorsing Kamala Harris may have been the right one for a billionaire who needs to hedge his bets in order to protect his wider business interests.
But it looks like a terrible one for The Washington Post, which appears to have allowed outside commercial interests to sway a key editorial decision. The reputation of newsbrands are hard won and easily lost.
Today we report on a welcome expansion of London's local news scene as Mill Media attempts to replicate its success in northern cities with the launch of The Londoner, backed by three full-time staff.
And we reveal that the BBC is set to announce a new funding model for Local Democracy Reporters after complaints that some publishers are not paying these staff fairly and asking them to cover stories outside their remit.
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This year's event will take place on Friday, 29th November 2024, at the Grand Connaught Rooms, Holborn. Guests will be welcomed with drinks, followed by a festive four-course lunch, and will also have access to the infamous afterparty. Only a few tables remaining, don't miss out!
William Lewis. Picture: Dow Jones
Comment: Spiked Washington Post election leader leaves CEO Will Lewis in a deep hole
“It’s not true to say it will have lost him the newsroom – he never had it in the first place.”
NUJ voices Local Democracy Reporter concern over pay and working outside their brief
In response to a Press Gazette enquiry the BBC said it will shortly be announcing a new LDR funding model.
Mill Media follows launch of Glasgow title The Bell with ‘The Londoner’
The launch adds another small, paid-for journalism brand to London’s media scene.
News in brief
Washington Post proprietor Jeff Bezos has defended his decision to spike the paper's Kamala Harris endorsement, arguing that endorsements "create a perception of bias" and that the call was not the result of a "quid pro quo" with the Trump camp. (The Washington Post)
Guardian Media Group reports it is ahead of schedule in its plan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 67% between 2019/20 and 2029/30. Print remains by far its largest source of emissions, accounting for 66% of its carbon dioxide equivalents. (GMG)
As part of its #JournalismMatters week the News Media Association is celebrating 13 local news campaigns which have made a difference and asking people to vote for their favourite. View the full shortlist here.
Launch staff at Radio City, Liverpool's first commercial radio station (which was this year renamed Hits Radio Liverpool), met last week to mark 50 years since its first broadcast. Paul Rowley, who started in radio at the station before spending nearly five decades as a political correspondent for IRN and then BBC Local Radio, said Radio City "will long be remembered for the special relationship it had with its listeners". (Picture of the gathering here)
This week on Press Gazette:
British Journalism Awards 2024: Full list of this year’s finalists
Keir Starmer: AI companies should pay publishers for content
Guardian Media Group journalists back strike in indicative vote on Tortoise Observer bid
Secrecy around UK gun police threatens open justice say editors and reporters
Farrah Storr: Why less can be more when selling online content
Reach race to publish more stories does not put audience (or reporters) first
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