Press Gazette magazine: Free sample edition and three issues for £3 offer

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 18 April 2012 at 16:23
Tags: Journalism

The best advert for Press Gazette magazine is..Press Gazette magazine.

So if you are not yet a subscriber please check out this free sample edition to find out if it is for you:

For anyone who is seriously interested in journalism Press Gazette is a must read. And if you depend on journalism for your living, a subscription to Press Gazette is an investment which will pay-off many times over.

In case you need more persuasion you can sign up here at the introductory subscription rate of three issues for £3 (then reverting to £22.5o a quarter):

http://www.buythatmag.com/pressgazette.html

Members of the NUJ can subscribe for £50 per year and can do so by clicking on this link:

https://secure.buythatmag.com/pri.index.php?wpgc=PGAZ-SUBS&rc=PGAZNUJ

The discounted £50 a year rate is also available if you are retired or a student, call our subs  team on:  0845 0739 607.

The standard new subs rate for Press Gazette is £90 a year plus a 2gb USB stick.

Freelance journalists note: your Press Gazette subscription is tax deductable and includes a free listing on our Freelance Directory. To get your free directory listing (as a new subscriber) simply email the words to pged@pressgazette.co.uk along with your subscriber number.

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REMEMBER ALL SUBSCRIBERS TO PRESS GAZETTE GET INSTANT ACCESS TO A SEARCHABLE ARCHIVE OF MORE THAN 200 BACK EDITIONS DATING BACK TO 2005 AVAILABLE VIA EXACT EDITIONS

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From 1965 to today – Press Gazette is the one publication that anyway who is serious about journalism needs to read. The vast majority of magazine content is only ever made available to paying subscribers.

Press Gazette magazine April edition: A new look at a great new price (3 issues for £3)

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 1 April 2012 at 21:40
Tags: Journalism

The April edition of Press Gazette has a fresh new look and an amazing new price.

In the best subscription offer Press Gazette has done since it went monthly we are offering anyone who is seriously interested in journalism  the chance to try three issues for £3 (direct debit only).

Take up Press Gazette’s three issues for £3 offer here – or by calling 0845 0739 607. (more…)

Ordinary journalists, have your say about the lessons from Leveson: 26 March, City Uni, 6.30pm

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 23 March 2012 at 10:10
Tags: Journalism, Journalists

Will the post Leveson settlement for the press be another stitch up between owners, the government and a few very powerful editors?

I fear it might be. That’s why ordinary journalists need to make their views and voices heard and why Press Gazette has organised a debate on Monday, 26 March, in association with City University called: The best of the times or the worst of times? What are the lessons from Leveson and the hacking scandal (sign up here, starts 6.30pm). (more…)

Who should win newspaper of the year at The Press Awards? Cast your vote

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 20 March 2012 at 13:48
Tags: Journalism, Quiz

The scene is set for a fascinating evening tonight at The Press Awards.

Will The Guardian pick up a haul of prizes for its hacking coverage or will the industry ‘shoot the messenger’?

Will Nick Davies pick up reporter of the year for breaking what was undoubtedly the biggest story of the year – or will The Guardian’s failure to attribute the erroneous “false hope” claim over the hacking of Milly Dowler’s emails cost him the prize? (more…)

Best of times or worst of times? Lessons for British journalism from Leveson and the hacking scandal, City Uni – 26 March

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 12 March 2012 at 17:11
Tags: Journalism, Journalists

Debate – with networking drinks afterwards – 26 March, from 6.30pm at City University, London

Five months after Lord Justice Leveson began his inquiry into the culture and practices of the British press it already feels like we are living in a different era.

The tabloid kiss and tell, which had something of a Ryan Giggs-inspired renaissance around a year ago, appears to be a thing of the past.

The Press Complaints Commission has been killed off and currently lies in limbo awaiting regeneration from chairman Lord Hunt. (more…)

News on the move: Enders Analysis graphs comparing smartphone take-up with print decline

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 12 March 2012 at 12:42
Tags: Journalism

For a flavour of the extent to which smartphone are revolutionising the news business – check out slides four and eight of this presentation by Benedict Evans from Enders Analysis. (more…)

ITN’s Miguel Tatay join News on the Move – coverage from 2pm

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 7 March 2012 at 11:12
Tags: Journalism

Registration has now closed for News on the move – Press Gazette’s new conference all about digital journalism on smartphones.

If you are one of the 125 delegates coming today – I look forward to seeing you at Thomson Reuters. Registration starts at 1pm with the conference getting underway from 2pm.

If you haven’t received a confirmation email it must have got stuck in your spam filter – rest assured if you have filled out the online registration form your name will be on the door.

Those unable to attend today can follow the action on www.pressgazette.co.uk and via Twitter on the hashtag #newsmove.

Mark Stone from Sky News and ITN head of digital Miguel Tatay are two late additions to the list of speakers.

UPDATE – Mark Stone can no longer attend because he has been put on a breaking story.

Thanks again to Thomson Reuters for hosting this conference and to commercial partners: Apica, Atex and Bango.

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Standard reports two suicide bids at News International

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 7 March 2012 at 10:37
Tags: Journalism

The Evening Standard yesterday reported the desperately sad news that amid the huge pressure on journalists at News International two individuals have attempted to take their own lives.

The individuals involved have not been named. (more…)

Have you ever been lied to by a PR?

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 6 March 2012 at 13:25
Tags: PR

The PR industry has got off pretty lightly during the current round of phone-hacking inspired media soul-searching.

But does it deserve more scrutiny? PRs nowadays probably outnumber journalists and their output is increasingly shaping the national debate.

The House of Lords warned last month that PR is “very much an unregulated activity“ and suggested greater control is needed.

No-one is suggesting that PRs are all charlatans, any more than all journalists are hackers, but is greater regulation needed to stamp out excesses perpetrated by a few individuals?

Judging by Number Ten’s response to questions about ‘horsegate’ - it could learn a thing about ethics and media relations. But what about the rest of the industry?

In my experience, the vast majority of PRs are straight dealers. But I can think of a few of examples of sharp-practice.

I recall one individual from News International  (no longer there) who called me a few weeks ahead of the surprise launch of Thelondonpaper in 2006 to let me know that rumours NI was planning a free title in London were wide of the mark.

On another occasion a freelance phoned me up to complain about alleged byline banditry at a national newspaper over the use of one of his stories – I put his allegations to the paper in question only for the source to call me back minutes later begging that I didn’t publish the piece. I can only assume that he had been given a ‘you’ll never work in this town again’ style dressing down by the paper’s PR.

It is routine for national press PR departments to ignore Press Gazette inquiries over stories which might reflect their organisations in a bad light. There is no onus on private companies – even ones involved in very public roles like news organisations – to answer press enquiries. This is unlike the public sector where, thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, public authorities must answer journalists’ questions by law provided the public interest in disclosure outweighs the public interest in secrecy. Perhaps big private organisations performing public functions should play by the same rules?

What do you think? We’d love to hear about any examples you have of PR sharp practice. Or of the opposite, if that has been your experience.

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations is currently reforming its code of conduct. Press Gazette would like to its bit to help.

Please email your thoughts to Press Gazette news editor Andrew Pugh – apugh@pressgazette.co.uk – and we will publish the results and also put them to the CIPR.

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‘Horsegate’ obfuscation strengthens case for better regulation of PR

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 5 March 2012 at 17:15
Tags: Journalism

The Prime Minister’s handling of the ‘Horsegate’ row is further evidence of the need for better regulation of the PR industry.

Dogged questioning from the Telegraph’s senior political correspondent Christopher Hope, in the face of obfuscation from  Number 10,  eventually brought out an admission from  David Cameron that he did ride on the Met police horse loaned to Rebekah Brooks.

Last month Press Gazette revealed how the Lords Communications Committee had condemned the “adverse impact” of public relations on investigative journalism. While journalists are facing the certainty of stricter regulation – the PR industry remains pretty much wholly unregulated.

Judging by Number Ten’s responses to Hope’s inquiries – Number Ten’s PR team in particular might benefit from some guidance on how to answer a straight question with a straight answer.

Here’s how the story unfolded as detailed by the Telegraph on Saturday:

Tuesday, 28 February

Tom Harper on the Evening Standard reveals that Rebekah Brooks was loaned the use of a retired police horse called Raisa between 2008 and 2010.

4pm Lobby briefing: According to the Telegraph, Hope asked the Prime Minister’s official spokesman: “The PM was rumoured to go horse riding with Rebekah Brooks. Did he ever ride the police horse loaned by the Met between 2008 and 2010?”

Response: “That is not something that I keep tabs on, which horse the Prime Minister is riding.”

Wednesday, 29 February

4pm Lobby briefing: Hope asks Prime Minister’s official spokesman whether the PM had ever ridden the ex-police horse.

Response: “The only horses I am interested in are the type you can put a bet on.”

Thursday, 1 March

11am Lobby briefing:  Hope asks: “When did the PM learn of the arrangement which allowed Rebekah Brooks to borrow a horse from the Met Police?”

Spokesman: “I don’t know.”

Hope: “Does the PM approve of the arrangement?”

Spokesman: “I don’t think he has a particular view on it – I can find you an answer.”

12.30pm: Cameron tells Five News: “It’s a matter of record that I have ridden horses with Rebekah Brooks’ husband in my constituency. Since becoming Prime Minister I may have got on a horse once, but not that one.”

2pm: Aide to Cameron tells Hope PM could have ridden the horse: “It is possible. He used a number of Charlie’s horses.” But adds: “He never rode with Rebekah Brooks. He has no recollection of ever going riding with Rebekah Brooks.”

3pm Telegraph websites reveals new line, later aide calls back to say it is “likely he rode on that horse”.

2 March

At a press conference in Brussels, Cameron admits that he did ride Raisa adding: “A confusing picture has emerged over the last few days, I am very sorry about that. I think my staff have had to answer a lot of questions about horses.”

The Mail on Sunday yesterday said: “The stonewalling might have worked had it not been for one dogged newsman who kept interrogating No 10 in the face of derision by colleagues on Left-wing newspapers.”

Hope told Press Gazette: “It may seem quite trivial to some but long term it could prove to be quite symbolic… That’s why it’s important.

“The horse has become symbolic of the coming together of the Met Police, News International executives and the police – rather like the duck house was symbolic of the MPs’ expenses scandal.”

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