PCC accepts reform recommendations

Posted by Sam Francis on 20 December 2010 at 08:27
Tags: Agencies, Journalism, Media Business, National Newspapers, National Union of Journalists, Newspapers

The Press Complaints Commission has said it will make nearly all the changes recommended by this year’s Governance Review of the organisation.

The  PCC said that it will follow recommendations to create greater transparency of its dealings, work closer with editors on training in the wake of complaints and ensure apologies are published more prominently.

The PCC said however that it would not follow recommendations to strengthen the powers of the Charter Commissioner – who will soon be renamed ‘Independent Reviewer’.

The review said : “The commission does not believe a role should be created by which the decision of seventeen people could be overturned by one. It believes the purpose of the Independent Reviewer is to ensure that the process by which a complaint has been considered is proper and accountable.”

See here for our analysis of the original Independent Governance Review.

Littlejohn: ‘I would have been just as offensive about an able-bodied protestor’

Posted by Sam Francis on 17 December 2010 at 16:27
Tags: Broadcast, Journalism, Law, National Newspapers, New Media, Online, Radio

Daily Mail columnist Richard Littlejohn today defended his article lampooning disabled student protester Jody McIntyre, saying he is an “equal opportunities abuser.”

Speaking on the “Parry & Graham” show on talkSPORT at 12.15pm Littlejohn said: “What we subsequently discovered [about Jody McIntyre] is that he’s not quite as disabled as everybody thinks. (more…)

AOL beefs up MyDaily editorial by signing Dannii Minogue

Posted by Sam Francis on 16 December 2010 at 12:39
Tags: Consumer Magazines, Journalism, Magazines, Media Business, New Media, Online

AOL has beefed up the editorial offering of its glossy women’s website MyDaily.co.uk by signing X Factor judge Dannii Minogue as a contributing editor.

The year-long deal will see Minogue produce three articles a week throughout 2011 - it will be her first major writing or editorial role.

The deal with Minogue is part of AOL’s ongoing strategy to publish more high-calibre editorial content on its websites. (more…)

Martyn Lewis slams national coverage of voluntary sector

Posted by Sam Francis on 16 December 2010 at 10:57
Tags: BBC, Broadcast, Journalism, Media Business, Newspapers, Radio, Regional Newspapers, Television

Former ITN and BBC broadcaster Martyn Lewis has criticised the UK media for its lack of coverage of the voluntary sector, the Civil Society website reported.

Speaking at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations‘ Parliamentary Dinner on Tuesday, Lewis complained that while regional media outlets were paying attention to the Big Society initiative, it had been largely ignored in the national media. (more…)

Lucky or unlucky? Journalists get the CRAPPs…

Posted by Sam Francis on 15 December 2010 at 15:16
Tags: Journalism, National Newspapers, National Union of Journalists, New Media, Online, PR, People, awards

The winners of the CRAPPs - a series of prizes to celebrate the ”relationship between journalists, bloggers and PRs” - have been announced.

The Communication Relation Awards from PR Professionals - handed out by 10 Yetis PR agency and Daryl Wilcox publishing - may prove to be a mixed blessing for the recipients (and perhaps even for the nominees). (more…)

Iain Dale quits political blog: ‘I hate the character assassination’

Posted by Sam Francis on 14 December 2010 at 16:11
Tags: Journalism, Journalism Jobs, Media Business, New Media, Online, People

Iain Dale, one of the Uk’s leading political bloggers, today revealed he is going to stop writing for his main blog Iain Dale’s Diary.

On his blog today Dale wrote: “The truth is, I no longer enjoy blogging and I think that this has been evident for a few months now to my readers. I hate the backbiting that goes along with it. (more…)

‘The Social Network’ wins top regional press film prize

Posted by Sam Francis on 14 December 2010 at 11:29
Tags: Journalism

The UK’s regional press film critics  have announced their film of the year as The Social Network scooped two awards at this year’s Richard Attenborough Film Awards (RAFA).

The Social Network, the story of the founding of the website Facebook, came top in the film of the year category, whilst the film’s writer Aaron Sorkin was awarded screenwriter of the year. (more…)

Journalists win right to name parents charged over death of child

Posted by Sam Francis on 14 December 2010 at 11:23
Tags: Freedom of Information, Journalism, Law, Newspapers, People, Regional Newspapers, press freedom

Two regional journalists have successfully overturned a court order preventing the naming of parents charged with the death of their child.

Arguing that details of the case were already in the public domain Ed Walker and Julia McWatt, of Trinity Mirror’s Media Wales, overturned a Section 39 court order in Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday. (more…)

Huw Edwards to lead BBC’s Royal Wedding coverage

Posted by Sam Francis on 13 December 2010 at 11:54
Tags: BBC, Broadcast, Journalism, People, Radio, Television

Huw Edwards is to anchor next year’s royal wedding coverage for the BBC.

Edwards will anchor the BBC’s coverage of the royal wedding at Westminster Abbeyon 29 April after being chosen above David Dimbleby, the voice of state occasions for several decades, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Dimbleby commentated at the funeral of Princess Diana and of the Queen Mother and he also anchored the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. (more…)

Court of Protection opens to journalists for the first time

Posted by Sam Francis on 9 December 2010 at 14:06
Tags: Freedom of Information, Journalism, Law, Magazines, National Newspapers, Newspapers, Online, People, Regional Newspapers, press freedom

The Court of Protection opened its doors to journalists for the first time yesterday, after a successful legal challenge from The Independent.

The court, which overseas cases involving those considered too vulnerable for mainstream courts – such as the mentally vulnerable - had previously conducted all its cases behind close doors. (more…)

News Corporation to ‘disrupt’ educational publishing

Posted by Sam Francis on 9 December 2010 at 13:59
Tags: Agencies, International, Journalism, Media Business, National Newspapers

News Corporation signalled its intention to “disrupt” the education publication market, yesterday, identifying it as a key area for market growth.

According to The Times Chase Carey, News Corp CEO, told the UBS media conference in New York: “Education is stuck in an environment from 40 years ago, with Kids carrying around knapsacks of books that break your back. We think we can create some exciting new business there and we think we can be disruptive.”

These comments come after News Corp hired Joel Klein, who has run New York City schools system since 2002, and acquired a 90 per cent stake in Wireless Generation, an education technology company, for $360m (£228m) - The Times reports.

A move into educational publishing would put News Corp into further competition with Pearson, which owns the Financial Times. News Corp publishes US-based financial daily the Wall Street Journal.

BBC apologises for showing Nazi footage instead of weather

Posted by Sam Francis on 9 December 2010 at 13:56
Tags: BBC, Broadcast, International, New Media, Online

Signature Publishing wins four Independent Publisher Awards

Posted by Sam Francis on 8 December 2010 at 11:13
Tags: B2B Magazines, Consumer Magazines, Customer publishing, Magazines, People, awards

Signature Publishing was the big winner at the PPA’s Independent Publisher Awards 2010 yesterday as it collected prizes in four categories.

The company was named independent publisher of the year with its marketing division collecting the team of the year prize.

Its other awards came as company director Danny Morris won the individual achievement prize and its Horse & Rider publication was named consumer magazine of the year.

The Awards were held at held at Vinopolis on London’s South Bank last night.

Full list of winners for the Independent Publisher Awards 2010:

• Business Magazine of the Year – Sigaria for Procurement Leaders
• Individual Achievement – Danny Morris of Signature Publishing
• Independent Punlishing Compnay of the Year – Signature Publishing
• Team of the Year – Signature Marketing Team
• Consumer Magazine of the Year – Signature Publishing for Horse & Rider
• Customer Magazine of the Year - Stream Publishing for Velocity, the CityJet in-flight magazine
• Editor of the Year - Gwyn Roberts of Pageant Media
• Designer of the Year - Mike Turner of LSC Publishing
• Sales Person of the Year - Rudy Bonura of Sigaria
• Launch/Relaunch/Innovation of the Year- Media 10 for Grand Designs magazine
• Media Brand of the Year- Cravenhill Publishing for Communicate Magazine
• Digital Brand of the Year - Terrapinn Holdings for Total Telecom

Awards shortlist can be found on the PPA website.

Guardian investigations editor critical of Times Wikileaks story

Posted by Sam Francis on 6 December 2010 at 16:39
Tags: Freedom of Information, Journalism, National Newspapers, New Media, Newspapers, Online, press freedom

The Times published a Wikileaks cable story today that The Guardian deemed too sensitive to use, according to the latter paper’s investigations editor.

The story detailed the contents of a diplomatic cable - made public via the Wikileaks whistleblowing website - which included a list of critical infrastructure sites the US wished to protect (Times website paywall may prevent access to this story). (more…)

Hachette launches Red Online website amid sale rumours

Posted by Sam Francis on 6 December 2010 at 12:11
Tags: Consumer Magazines, Journalism, Journalism Technology, Magazines, New Media, Online

Hachette Filipacchi has today launched Red Online - a new companion website to glossy Womens’ fashion magazine, Red.

The launch follows the appointment of Lisa Helmanis in September as editor of the online version of the magazine.

According to the publishers, the red website aims to become an extension of Red’s print brand and “an integral part of our readers’ daily lives”.

Helmanis said: “Red is such a strong brand, and I feel privileged to be launching it online. Red Online is a completely new proposition, building on the Red brand in a unique way to suit the online platform.

“I am passionate about the power of online brands and this is a unique and exciting opportunity for a magazine which has a great success story behind it already.” (more…)