Yalda Hakim interview | National press ABCs | Prince Harry drops MoS libel battle
And your news diary for the week ahead includes a significant deadline for Ofcom/CMA on the Telegraph deal
Good morning and welcome to your daily helping of news about the world of news from Press Gazette on Monday, 22 January, brought to you today in association with PA Media.
As Sky News today launches a new Monday-Thursday primetime show looking at foreign news, we speak to presenter Yalda Hakim.
The Australian joined Sky just months after being named as one of the lead presenters on the BBC’s revamped News Channel.
She told us how she hopes to make global news relevant, and interesting, for a UK audience which can get exhausted by relentless negative stories from Israel and Ukraine.
We also report on a setback for Prince Harry in his forever war with the UK tabloids. One libel action against the Mail on Sunday has been dropped, but the blockbuster illegal newsgathering claims against Associated Newspapers and News UK are still set to be heard in court.
The UK national newspaper ABC sales figures for December are looking rosier than usual, with several titles up month on month.
Your news diary for the week ahead includes the Oscar nominations, the New Hampshire primaries in the US presidential race and the deadline for Ofcom and the CMA to report to the Government about the Telegraph purchase by Abu Dhabi-backed Redbird IMI.
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New from Press Gazette
Yalda Hakim says Sky News are ‘insurgents’ as she leads primetime hour of foreign coverage
“I have a fire in my belly. And I have found a very natural home for myself here at Sky.”
Prince Harry drops libel action versus Mail On Sunday over bodyguards story
But Harry’s long-running illegal newsgathering claims against the Mail publisher and News UK continue.
National press ABCs: Daily Mail and FT grow sales month on month in December
Press Gazette's monthly analysis of ABC national newspaper circulation figures.
IPSO backs Daily Mail undercover reporting which exposed fake asylum claims
The Mail was shortlisted for a British Journalism Award for the investigation.
Positive News spreads to 3,500 UK advertising boards
“As a small, independent media organisation, we’re excited by this opportunity to have our headlines in the public space at this scale.”
News diary 22-28 January: Telegraph Ofcom/CMA deadline, Oscar noms, Adam Johnson inquest opens
A look ahead at the key events leading the news agenda next week, from the team at Foresight News.
News in brief
Ofcom will get more oversight over the BBC News website to make sure it's in line with its broadcast content, following the Government's mid-term review of the corporation. The BBC was also told to "meaningfully engage" with local papers over its planned changes. (Govt)
The Telegraph has reported that the Barclay family have sold The Spectator's headquarters in Westminster, although the magazine will continue to be based there with a seven-year lease remaining. (The Telegraph)
Spectator editor Fraser Nelson has warned that proposals for Royal Mail to move to a five-day delivery system would “kill any current affairs magazine that depends on Saturday delivery”. (Fraser Nelson on Twitter)
Australian media giants Seven West Media, Nine Entertainment Co, News Corp, ABC and SBS have reportedly had informal discussions about forming an alliance to negotiate with AI companies including OpenAI to Google over compensation for use of their content. (Capital Brief)
Sports Illustrated has made massive layoffs after publisher The Arena Group missed a payment to owner Authentic Brands Group and lost the licence. Authentic said it hoped the brand will live on, however. (Front Office Sports)
The Washington Post has announced its first chief growth officer to oversee its next phase including in subscription strategy, partnerships, licensing, and data and analytics. Karl Wells was most recently chief commercial officer at The Information. (WaPo)
Previously on Press Gazette
Business Insider: From seven to 70-strong London newsroom in a decade
How publishers should respond to a deluge of news industry cyberattacks
Reach boosted by Prince Harry trial result and end of pension deficit says CEO
While New York Times litigates over AI, many media companies will liquidate – US Congress warned