Derby Telegraph editor responds to hypocrisy claim

Posted by Owen Amos on 16 March 2009 at 16:28
Tags: Journalism

Journalists at the Derby Evening Telegraph have labelled their bosses “hypocrites” for campaigning against jobs moving to nearby Nottingham – while the paper moves sub-editors in the same direction.

The Telegraph ran a successful campaign to stop the Government moving civil service workers out of the city.

But parent company Northcliffe has announced that production on the Telegraph and Leicester Mercury is being centralised at the Nottingham Evening Post.

The Telegraph is also petitioning the Government to ‘Change Track’ over jobs at train-maker Bombardier.

The National Union of Journalists branch passed the following motion: “Derby and Burton branch of the NUJ condemns proposals by Northcliffe Newspapers to centralise its sub-editing organisation for Derby and Leicester into a hub at Nottingham, with a potential loss of jobs for experienced journalists.

“The branch believes that sub-editors on local newspapers with a wealth of local knowledge should be based in the local communities that they serve.

“The branch also feels that the centralisation of sub-editing operations will further undermine the quality of local newspapers, which have already suffered cutbacks in staff.

“The branch notes that the Derby Evening Telegraph successfully campaigned to keep tax personnel jobs in Derby rather than transfer them to Nottingham, and is currently leading a campaign to protect work and jobs at Bombardier.

“The branch feels that it is inconsistent and hypocritical therefore to allow jobs at Derby to be lost to Nottingham, and calls on the management to change track.”

Update 5.50pm: Evening Telegraph editor Steve Hall said in a statement: “It is difficult for the Evening Telegraph to comment in detail on the NUJ’s motion because it is still involved in consultation with its staff. But it is unhelpful and mischievous of the union to use the newspaper’s successful campaigning on behalf of its community as a stick to beat management.

“Hands Off Our Taxmen was run two years ago when the Government wanted to move 400 workers out of the city and close down all of its revenue and customs operations here - a move that did not make sense for the local economy or for the taxpayer who would have had to cover the huge cost of the re-organisation.

“Our proposal to move production of some pages to Nottingham has been formulated at a time of unprecedented financial challenge for our industry and is concerned with safeguarding the long-term future of our newspaper in Derby and the jobs of scores of publishing staff here.

“Whatever happens with the consultation, the Evening Telegraph will remain rooted at the heart of its community - and will never aplogise for campaigning on its behalf.”

PCC investigates Dunblane splash in Sunday Express

Posted by Owen Amos on 16 March 2009 at 11:22
Tags: Journalism

The Press Complaints Commission is investigating a splash that appeared in the Scottish edition of the Sunday Express.

The article, headlined “Anniversary shame of Dunblane: internet boasts of sex, drink and violence as youngsters hit 18″, appeared on March 8.

It claimed a number of those who witnessed the Dunblane massacre had “posted shocking blogs and photographs of themselves on the internet, 13 years after being sheltered from public view in the aftermath of the atrocity”.

(more…)

3,000 reporters arrive for secret Josef Fritzl trial

Posted by Owen Amos on 16 March 2009 at 10:52
Tags: Journalism

More than 3,000 journalists will travel to Sankt Pölten in Austria for Josef Fritzl’s trial – but only 98 will be allowed in the courtroom, and most proceedings will be kept secret.

Fritzl attracted worldwide press coverage when he was accused of imprisoning his daughter for 24 years, raping her 3,000 times, and incestuously fathering seven children, allowing one to die.

The trial has started today, but will be held mostly in the absence of reporters.

The Times reports that, thanks to Austria’s strict privacy laws, the 98 journalists in the court, mostly Austrian, will leave after the indictment.

They will be told an edited version of proceedings at the end of each day. The intention is to stop the trial becoming a “a global voyeuristic spectacle”.

Sport freelance rate back to 1989 levels, says SJA

Posted by Owen Amos on 13 March 2009 at 12:24
Tags: Journalism

Freelance sports reporters are being paid the same now for covering football rugby and matches as they were in 1989, according to the Sports Journalists’ Association.

The SJA, which is compiling a “rate for the job” database, said News International’s recent freelance rate cuts mean a match report fee was back to the same level as 20 years ago.

Secretary Steven Downes wrote: “At News International titles, for – say – covering a football or rugby match on a Saturday, a reporter can now expect to be paid the same fee that they would have received in 1989.

“Is there any other profession where people are expected to work at rates as if the 1990s had never happened?

“NI is by no means the worst – they still meet a reporter’s travel and other expenses, and they also pay promptly. Some of the horror stories that have come my way recently from long-standing contributors to other papers would be laughable if they did not demonstrate quite how badly our work is being devalued.

“Such as the £20 offer from one national title towards the £60 cost of a return rail ticket to get to a game: ‘What do you want me to do, just go one-third of the way there?’”

This year, Press Gazette has reported freelance rate cuts at The Times and Sunday Times, The Sun, and The Guardian.

So far, the SJA’s rate for the job database includes, among others, £80 for a 200-word contribution to Charles Sale’s sports diary in the Daily Mail, and £150 for a 650-word feature for Reuters.

To contribute to the database, email stevenwdownes@btinternet.com, with “rate for the job” in the subject field.

DMGT Euromoney asks staff to take unpaid leave

Posted by Owen Amos on 13 March 2009 at 11:45
Tags: Journalism

Euromoney, the Daily Mail and General Trust’s business-to-business financial media group, has asked its staff to take a week’s unpaid leave over Christmas.

The move comes a week after Newsquest, the regional newspaper publisher, also asked staff to take a week’s unpaid leave sometime during the year.

(more…)

Indy cannot save Sayed Pervez Kambaksh from jail

Posted by Owen Amos on 12 March 2009 at 16:09
Tags: Journalism

Sayed Pervez Kambaksh, the student journalist sentenced to death in Afghanistan who The Independent launched a campaign to save, has been ordered to spend 20 years in prison.

The Independent first reported on Pervez Kambaksh in January 2008, when he was sentenced to death for blasphemy.

The paper said the 23-year-old had simply read about women’s rights.

The appeal led to international pressure on the Afghan government, including a message of support from former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice.

His death sentence was lifted in October, but a 20-year sentence was imposed, and upheld this week.

His only hope is now a presidential pardon.

The Independent’s leader called Pervez Kambaksh a “victim of the Taliban”.

JDF Jones helped transform the FT, says Guardian obit

Posted by Owen Amos on 12 March 2009 at 15:51
Tags: Journalism

JDF Jones, the former foreign editor, managing editor, and weekend editor of the Financial Times who has died, helped “transform” the paper, according to an obituary in today’s Guardian.

Jones, who was 69, started his career at hometown paper the Merthyr Express, before spells at the Pretoria News in South Africa and Reuters.

He joined the FT in 1964, when the foreign desk had just three journalists.

(more…)

Alexander Lebedev considers Evening Standard plc

Posted by Owen Amos on 12 March 2009 at 14:11
Tags: Journalism

Alexander Lebedev, new owner of London’s Evening Standard, is considering floating the paper on the stock market.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Lebedev – who, since last month, owns 75.1 per cent of the paper – is discussing an “initial public offering”, and that he has “no spare cash”.

The paper also reports he is close to forming an editorial advisory board, possibly including Mikhail Gorbachev - who this morning visited the Evening Standard’s headquarters - and JK Rowling.

Metro increases recycling effort

Posted by Owen Amos on 12 March 2009 at 13:00
Tags: Journalism

Metro, the free newspaper, has launched a campaign to encourage more people to recycle its product.

The group, working with train companies, is installing recycling facilities at stations around the south of England.

It has already introduced recycling points at Ashford and Brighton.

(more…)

Press Association launches magazine course

Posted by Owen Amos on 11 March 2009 at 14:46
Tags: Journalism

The Press Association is launching a ten-week course for aspiring magazine journalists.

The course, which will follow the National Council for the Training of Journalists’ magazine syllabus, will be run from PA’s headquarters in London.

It is not yet accredited by the NCTJ, but PA is “working towards” it.

The course, which costs £2,800, runs from September until November, with a second course starting in February.

Course leader will be Phil Swift, former deputy editor of the Daily Mirror. He said: “I am confident this course will become the best entry route for magazine journalists.

“It will cover all the areas any new journalist needs, such as law and shorthand, but will have a strong emphasis on great writing, design and subbing, multimedia skills and a clear eye on the commercial realities of the magazine world.”

Applications should be made through www.magazinejournalist.co.uk.

Rumours begin for next Readers Digest editor

Posted by Owen Amos on 9 March 2009 at 15:25
Tags: Journalism

Two names have been linked with the soon-to-be-vacant editor’s seat at Readers’ Digest.

The Independent on Sunday’s ‘Feral Beast’ media column suggests Emma Soames, editor-at-large of Saga, and Rachel Simhon, once of the Daily Telegraph and now at Abu Dhabi’s The National, are in contention.

Current editor, Sarah Sands, is leaving in August to become deputy editor of London’s Evening Standard.

Channel 4 wasted hundreds of millions, says Sky

Posted by Owen Amos on 9 March 2009 at 10:08
Tags: Journalism

BSkyB has accused Channel 4 of wasting £270m on “unprofitable non-core commercial activities”.

Sky made the claim in a letter to Lord Carter, as part of their input into his Digital Britain report.

Those “unprofitable” activities include Channel 4 radio, launched in January 2007, but scrapped last year.

According to The Guardian, Sky said Channel 4 is in stronger position than many rivals due to its £425m cash reserves.

Sky has also offered to work with Channel 4 to create a “portfolio of paid-for channels”, heavily promoted on the satellite television. But it said those overtures were “rebuffed”.

Channel 4 – which is state-owned, but relies on advertising revenue – is facing a revenue shortfall, and is asking for more government help.

Meanwhile, Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan, and director of programmes Kevin Lygo, have both agreed to take 25 per cent pay cuts, from £650,000 and £750,000 respectively.

Independent protest meeting cancelled

Posted by Owen Amos on 6 March 2009 at 15:53
Tags: Journalism

This evening’s protest meeting at The Independent and Independent on Sunday, planned to disrupt production, has been cancelled.

The National Union of Journalists mandatory chapel meeting was due to be held between 5pm and 7pm this evening – peak production time for the daily title.

But, following talks, the meeting has been suspended and a “working party” of journalists, union officials, and management has been set up.

It will meet for the first time next week.

Last week, the chapel voted 64 per cent in favour of a strike, and 80 per cent in favour of action short of a strike.

The ballot was called due to anger at November’s announcement that Independent News and Media was cutting 90 jobs from its two titles, with 60 in editorial, to save £10m.

Some staff are also upset at the move from Canary Wharf, east London, to Associated Newspapers’ headquarters in Kensington, west London, due to take place in April.

More than 40 journalists have been accepted for voluntary redundancy, but others have been turned down.

BBC talent banned from producing own shows

Posted by Owen Amos on 5 March 2009 at 12:34
Tags: Journalism

The BBC has banned its on-air talent from being executive producers of the shows they appear in – which will affect Jonathan Ross, among others, immediately.

Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, for example, is produced by his own production company, Hotsauce – and Ross is credited as executive producer.

Under the new rules announced today, that is banned, in order to avoid conflicts of interest.  It comes after  the Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross phone calls controversy. Brand’s Radio 2 show was produced by his own indie. (more…)

Richard Deverell appointed BBC North chief operating officer

Posted by Owen Amos on 4 March 2009 at 14:54
Tags: Journalism

The BBC has appointed Richard Deverell, currently children’s controller, as chief operating officer of BBC North.

He will report directly to Peter Salmon, BBC North director. The post will be based in Salford once the Media City development is finished in 2011.

While starting his new role, he will continue to oversee BBC children’s until 2010.

According to the BBC: “Richard will be responsible for developing and implementing the strategic and operational infrastructure for BBC North.

“He will help ensure the right technology, structure, ways of working and talent are in place to deliver the BBC’s ambitions as it seeks to create the most advanced broadcasting centre in the world at Salford Quays.”

Deverell joined the BBC in 1992.

Washington Post pulls cartoon on sacked reporter

Posted by Owen Amos on 3 March 2009 at 09:42
Tags: Journalism

The Washington Post has apologised after blocking its own cartoonist depicting the story of a sacked journalist.

Last week, The Post started to run a cartoon by Gary Trudeau, spread over five days, on “Rick Redfern”, a fictional journalist being made redundant after 33 years.

But, on Wednesday, the cartoon stopped, replaced by another.

By Friday, it was back - with missing instalments and an apology.

“Due to that newsroom miscommunication, according to an editor’s note, this week’s ‘Doonesbury’ storyline was interrupted by substitute strips on Wednesday and Thursday,” The Post said.

The American newspaper industry is in crisis, with redundancies and closures common. Last week, the Rocky Mountain News, which had a 210,000 circulation, closed.

Conrad Black in prison: granola, piano, and well-made coffee

Posted by Owen Amos on 3 March 2009 at 09:23
Tags: Journalism

Conrad Black, the former owner of The Daily Telegraph now imprisoned for fraud in the US, has told Canada’s National Post – which he founded – of his life behind bars.

Black, who still reviews books for various media, and has a book out in autumn, said in the email interview “there is no violence” in prison.

His daily routine involves granola for breakfast, “coffee well-made by Colombian fellow residents”, answering emails, playing piano, and tutoring fellow inmates.

On his social life, he said: “My circle hasn’t so much changed as expanded. The people I mainly see here are often not unlike people I might know outside.

“I have also met many interesting people from a variety of backgrounds that were somewhat unfamiliar to me, but are no less interesting for that, and have been quite informative in some ways.

“I have never had any difficulty getting along with people and I have had no unpleasant encounters here with anyone. These are all people looking forward to leaving and have an interest in not complicating or delaying their return to civil society.

“There have been no hard lessons.”

Hello magazine enjoys online growth

Posted by Owen Amos on 2 March 2009 at 14:57
Tags: Journalism

Hello magazine’s website, hellomagazine.com, saw its monthly audience increase 34 per cent in January, according to new Comscore figures.

The total monthly unique users figure was 133,000, up from 99,000 in December.

The report also found 72 per cent of users did not visit a rival – defined as one of handbag.com, cosmopolitan.co.uk, elleuk.com, vogue.co.uk, stylefinder.com, marieclaire.co.uk, ok.co.uk and glamourmagazine.co.uk.

Comscore is a marketing research company that “measures the digital world”.

Newspaper Society cancels 2009 awards

Posted by Owen Amos on 2 March 2009 at 13:16
Tags: Journalism

The Newspaper Society has cancelled its annual awards for 2009, blaming the economic downturn and a desire to change the awards’ format.

The society was due to hold its Circulation, Editorial and Promotions Awards – for circulation and promotion executives and editors - in spring; its Advertising and Digital Media Awards in autumn, and its Weekly Newspaper Awards in winter.

As with most awards, entrants nominate themselves, and pay to enter. They are now on hold, but are expected to return “in some guise” in 2010.

A spokeswoman told Press Gazette: “The awards evolve over time anyway – there is nothing dramatic about this.

“We are looking at the structure of the awards, and, of course, it’s going to be difficult this year.

“We are expecting them to come back, but maybe not in the current guise.”

In January, Press Gazette reported the North East Press Awards – known as the Cordners – were being delayed, partly due to the economic crisis.

James Chapman to become Daily Mail political editor?

Posted by Owen Amos on 2 March 2009 at 12:36
Tags: Journalism

James Chapman, the Daily Mail’s deputy political editor, is being tipped to replace Benedict Brogan, the former political editor who is joining the Daily Telegraph.

The Independent on Sunday said Chapman is “eminently capable”.

“Tory blogger Iain Dale has tipped every vaguely right-wing journalist in Westminster, but the smart money is on Brogan’s number two, James Chapman,” said the media diary.

“Eminently capable, he is, more importantly, close to David Cameron. Since Mail editor Paul Dacre has the ear of Gordon Brown, a hotline to Dave is just what they need.”