Baby P social worker facing £300k deficit after legal bill exceeds costs limit

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 22 May 2012 at 08:42
Tags: Law, National Newspapers

New rules aimed at curbing the excessive cost of defending libel cases in the UK appear to have resulted in Baby P case social worker Sylvia Henry being left potentially £300,000 out of pocket despite winning substantial libel damages against The Sun.

The shortfall has occurred, Legalfutures reports, because her lawyers departed from an agreed costs limit of £381,305. (more…)

IPI chief: ‘Enough. Enough, enough, enough. When will this slaughter of journalists in Mexico end?’

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 22 May 2012 at 07:19
Tags: International, Journalism, press freedom

A fifth journalist has been murdered in Mexico in the space of less than a month - all apparently because of their work covering crime and the activities of drug cartels.

The International Press Institute reports that  kidnapped Mexican journalist Marco Antonio Ávila García had been found at side of a highway in the northern state of Sonora. He had apparently been tortured and a note signed by a drug cartel had been found at the site.

Alison Bethel McKenzie, IPI Executive Director, said: “Enough. Enough, enough, enough.  When will this slaughter of journalists in Mexico end? Ávila’s violent death adds to what has been an extraordinarily tragic period for the Mexican media. (more…)

Johnston Press annual report: Highfield could receive £480k bonus if he hits all targets in 2012

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 8 May 2012 at 15:53
Tags: Journalism

The Johnston Press annual report for 2011 has just been published.

The remuneration report reveals that outgoing chief executive John Fry received £833,000 in pay and benefits up until his ‘retirement’ on 31 October and it notes that he remained an employee until 7 March and was entitled to benefits as a ‘good leaver’. The size of his pay-off is not revealed but should feature in next year’s report. (more…)

Hopes are high that Defamation Bill will be in Wednesday’s Queen’s Speech

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 8 May 2012 at 07:00
Tags: Law

The Libel Reform Campaign has said it is confident the long-awaited Defamation Bill will be included in the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday.

According to the group, the bill is then expected to be tabled early in the next parliamentary session.

Hopes are high that the bill will tackle libel tourism, provide new defences for responsible journalism, stop the persecution of individuals for discussing matters in the public interest and include action to reduce the huge costs involved in the English libel system

In a press release the Libel Reform Campaign said: (more…)

Survey reveals most specialist publishers believe businesses set to grow

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 1 May 2012 at 07:50
Tags: B2B Magazines, Magazines, Media Business, New Media

Despite news that we are now technically in recession again (did we ever leave it?) – specialist publishers are said to be optimistic about the future.

The organisers of the Specialist Media Show said they polled 178 niche publishers and found 80 per cent expect revenues to grow over the next two years, with 35 per cent expecting them to be up by more than 10 per cent a year. (more…)

Petition call for ban on manipulated magazine images which have potential to kill

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 30 April 2012 at 08:56
Tags: Consumer Magazines, Magazines

A young woman who nearly died of anorexia has launched an e-petition urging the Government to outlaw the manipulation of pictures in glossy magazines.

Rachael Johnston was given 48 hours to live three years ago after her weight dropped to 4 and a half stone – the Daily Mail reports. (more…)

Harold Evans hits back at Rupert Murdoch’s ‘comic and sad…invented scene’

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 25 April 2012 at 14:40
Tags: National Newspapers, Newspapers, People

Sir Harold Evans has hit back at Rupert Murdoch’s attack on him made during evidence to Leveson today.

Murdoch claimed in testimony that 30 years ago, Evans was editor of The Times:

“He came to me, shut the door behind him and said ‘Look, tell me what you want to say, what do you want me to say and it needn’t leave this room, but I will do it’.

“And I said to him ‘Harry, that isn’t my job. All I would say to you, and this is the nearest I have ever come to an instruction, was to please be consistent. Don’t change sides day by day, I am not saying political stories, but on issues’.”

Evans has always claimed that Murdoch sacked him because he refused to toe the proprietorial line, in contravention of undertakings that the independence of The Times would be protected. (more…)

GMG pulls the plug on Channel M - Govt Local TV plans would not deliver ‘quality service’

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 17 April 2012 at 07:41
Tags: Broadcast, Journalism, Media Business, National Newspapers, Television

GMG’s costly experiment at launching a city-wide TV station - Channel M - has been shut down, two years after it was mothballed and maintained with a skeleton staff.

The final closure of the station had been delayed pending further details about the Government’s plans for Local TV. (more…)

FT’s How to Spend It iPad app passes 100,000 downloads

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 12 April 2012 at 09:28
Tags: Journalism, Mobile, National Newspapers, New Media, Newspapers, Online

Seven months after its launch, the FT’s How To Spend It iPad app has passed 100,000 downloads.

The app maybe aimed at the super-rich, but it is free to download and is said to have been profitable since launch.

Here is the press release from the FT: (more…)

BBC Salford workers were offered security escorts - but Shepherd’s Bush is the real crime hotspot

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 12 April 2012 at 07:44
Tags: BBC, Broadcast

News that the BBC beefed up security at Media City in Salford may come as a surprise to staff working in and around Television Centre in west London - which has around five times the amount of crime in its postcode W12 7RJ as that reported in Salford M50 2EQ. (more…)

May edition jobs round up

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 1 April 2012 at 08:52
Tags: Journalism

Business

There is an opportunity for a features editor (£40-50K). You will have excellent commissioning skills.

Job Location: City of London

SNL Financial is seeking an associate editor (£60K plus bonus). You will have at least three years’ experience of reporting or editing and will have a degree.

Job Location: London

There is a vacancy for editor b2b (£48-50K). Ideally, you will have French or German and will have experience covering finance/insurance or risk.

Job Location: London

There is an opportunity for an editor/senior editor. You will have proven experience in a similar role in publishing.

Job Location: Berkshire

There is an opening for financial journalist (£22-28K). Ideally, you will have a track record reporting news on subjects related to corporate finance and investment funds.

Job Location: London

Closing Date: 22 May

Control Risks has a vacancy for an editor.  You will be educated to degree level and will have experience in copy editing and proof reading.

Job Location: London

Agile Media Ltd is looking for an assistant editor (£25K). You will be an experienced journalist and will have excellent communication skills.

Job Location: South East

Online

Progressive Digital Media has a vacancy for an online managing editor (£28-32K). You will have extensive experience in briefing and commissioning content across multiple publications.

Job Location: London

Closing Date: 14 May

Guardian Media Group is looking for an editor. You will be a business-to-business journalist with IT and telecoms news desk experience.

Job Location: London

Misc

StantonPace Limited has an opportunity for video journalist (£20-25K). You will have experience in professional video presenting, with research, writing and journalistic capabilities.

Job Location: London

Closing Date: 15 May

Advertising Producers Association is seeking a journalist (£21K). You will have a journalism degree or NCTJ qualification and will have excellent writing skills.

Job Location: London

Closing Date: 04 May

Archant Specialist is looking for an editor. You will be an experienced writer/journalist.

Job Location: Cheltenham

Land Rover Monthly is seeking an editor. You will be an experienced motoring journalist.

Job Location: Northamptonshire

The List is seeking an editor. You will have excellent editorial skills and will have worked for print and digital publications.

Job Location: Edinburgh

Closing Date: 25 May

Global Blue Media is looking for a fashion and news editor. You will be an experienced fashion and news editor and will have writing and editing skills.

Job Location: Brentford

Closing Date: 18 May

There is an opening for a special projects editor (£35-40K). You must have a life science or medicine degree with experience in a similar role.

Job Location: London

Hotspot Media Ltd is seeking a features writer. You will have relevant experience with an agency or daily/evening regional paper.

Job Location: Birmingham

Closing Date: 17 May

Superbrands UK Ltd is seeking an editor (£30K). You will have three to five years of experience in an editorial role.

Job Location: Oxford Circus

Global Legal Group Ltd is seeking a copyeditor. You will have at least three years’ experience in editing/production.

Job Location: London

Closing Date: 16 May

There is an opportunity for a medical editor (£25-30K). You will have a degree in a biomedical science and will have excellent editing skills.

Job Location: Oxfordshire

There is a vacancy for a technical editor. You will have a degree and will have strong technical writing skills.

Job Location: Multiple Locations

There is an opportunity for a sports content editor (£18,500-19K). You will have a thorough command of English.

Job Location: Harrow

There is a vacancy for a reporter/journalist (£25-35K). You will have journalism experience within the energy, financial or allied markets.

Job Location: London

There is a vacancy for a reporter/editor (£30K). Ideally you will have experience in reporting on commodities.

PaidContent: UK to be ‘phased out’ by new owner GigaOM

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 30 March 2012 at 12:00
Tags: Journalism

ContentNext Media is to phase out its UK-facing website Paidcontent and its Moconews mobile phone content website.

The move follows ContentNext’s acquisition by GigaOM from Guardian Media Group last month. ContentNext was bought by Guardian Media group for £4m in 2008. (more…)

Comedian David Walliams to edit The Independent…for a day

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 19 March 2012 at 14:08
Tags: Journalism, National Newspapers, Newspapers

Independent journalists may well be hoping that next Thursday is a slow news day - because comedian and long-distance swimmer David Williams is going to take over the editor’s chair for a day. Walliams will be overseeing both The Independent and i with proceeds from the edition of Friday, 23 March, going to Sport Relief. Here’s the press release: (more…)

Irish Post signs partnership deal with London Irish rugby club

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 19 March 2012 at 13:50
Tags: National Newspapers, Newspapers

The Irish Post has signed a partnership deal with London Irish rugby club.

Under the deal the Post, which is a weekly newspaper aimed mainly at Irish people living in England,  will give extensive coverage to the club and in exchange will get branding at the club’s home games in Reading. Some 10,000 copies of a special edition of the paper are to be handed out at this weekend’s game.

Here’s the full press release for the Irish Post:

(more…)

Farmers Weekly reshoots Gladiator in a cattle market in Kent

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 8 March 2012 at 09:26
Tags: Journalism

Farmers Weekly has come up with a novel way of encouraging its readers to embrace multimedia - by reshooting the Hollywood epic Gladiator in a cattle market in Kent.

Its Welcome to Wellywood campaign offers a prize package of £600 for the reader who comes up with the best home-made spoof of a Hollywood film.

Game for a laugh staffers Tim Relf and James Andrew have got the ball rolling with their take on Gladiator – Cultivator. (more…)

Thurlbeck: Why isn’t Mirror investigated over admission that police and hospital staff were paid for stories?

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 5 March 2012 at 09:31
Tags: Journalism

Former News of the World chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck asks today on his blog why the Daily Mirror hasn’t faced investigation from police over revelations that it has paid public employees for stories.

He quotes from evidence in Mirror editor Richard Wallace’s witness statement to the Leveson Inquiry. In it Wallace said: (more…)

Cosmopolitan at 40: The 1972 TV ad which announced Cosmo’s arrival in the UK

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 1 March 2012 at 11:24
Tags: Journalism

With coverlines such as: “Michael Parkinson talks about his vasectomy – the most beautiful thing a man can do for a woman,” it’s no wonder the first UK edition of Cosmopolitan sold out in a day in 1972.

This month, as Cosmopolitan UK celebrates its 40^th birthday – life is a bit tougher for editor Louise Court (as the recent magazine ABC figures show).

But then again, nowadays Cosmo is much more than a just a monthly magazine. The website reaches a claimed readership of one million a month and there is a quarterly free edition for students: Cosmo on Campus, which launched in 2009.

There’s an interview with editor Louise Court in the March edition of Press Gazette magazine.

Here’s the TV ad which Cosmo used to announced its arrival on the UK magazine scene in 1972:
“Cosmopolitan, the sensational new magazine for women who are interested in men, love, passion, food, men, travel, films, beauty, themselves…and men.”

All that for 20p.

Also in this month’s edition of Press Gazette Lori Miles finds out whether Cosmo at 40 still does it all for the woman who wants it all.

While she concludes that “there’s life in the old dog yet” she does worry that the content reads “like feminism never happened.”

Tweet

The Sun claims ‘Kick Out Qatada’ is ‘fastest-growing newspaper petition in modern history’

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 17 February 2012 at 09:31
Tags: National Newspapers, Newspapers

The Sun claimed today that its ‘Must Try Harder to kick out Qatada’ campaign has been the fastest-growing newspaper petition in modern history. (more…)

Tom Watson turns tables on Fleet Street tormentors with blog alleging bullying at The Sun

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 10 February 2012 at 14:45
Tags: Journalism, National Newspapers

Tom Watson MP has turned reporter today to report claims about bullying at The Sun which he said had been made by a “Wapping-based journalist” speaking on condition of anonymity.

He says a “number of credible sources” have verified one story of a complaint being made by a journalist. He adds that News International have declined to comment to him. (more…)

Time to make the case for Defamation Bill being in the Queen’s Speech

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 10 February 2012 at 10:15
Tags: Journalism, Law, National Newspapers, Newspapers

Time is running out to make the case for libel reform - with the deadline looming for legislation to be included in the Queen’s Speech.

The Libel Reform Campaign is urging those who have yet to do so to write to their MPs urging them to back the case for libel reform. (more…)