Some advice from Harold Evans on newspaper design

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 21 July 2008 at 09:53
Tags: 15, National Newspapers

Interviewed in The Independent, Harold Evans has some words of advice on the subject of newspaper design:

“I don’t want to be in a position of criticising modern design. I think it’s wonderful. But I do utter these cautions: don’t dismiss the classic news photograph in black and white; don’t exaggerate the use of colour; and do think, as well as the visual appearance, ‘What the hell is it saying?’ Why are newspapers losing circulation?”

Subs bear the brunt of 50 job cuts at WSJ

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 17 July 2008 at 10:33
Tags: 15, Media Business, National Newspapers

Wall Street Journal managing editor Robert Thomson has revealed in a memo to staff that 50 jobs are to go as part off a restructuring under new owner Rupert Murdoch.

The staff cuts mainly seem to be falling in production. Thomson says: “The reformed structure means that it is essential for reporters and bureau chiefs to ensure that copy filed to the news desk is clean, to length and conforms to our style.”

Thomson says in his memo that there are plans for “ambitious expansion” of web and international operations for the Journal and the Newswires side of the business and that 95 journalists are being added “over coming months”.

He says: “There is good reason for optimism at Dow Jones amid the pessimism prevailing in our industry.”

Johnston Press listed in biggest stock market fallers

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 11 June 2008 at 10:45
Tags: 15, Media Business

Johnston Press is listed 13th in a list of the stock market’s biggest ‘victims’ in the Independent today.

The paper looks at the companies which have lost the most value since their peak in the last three years. The regional press giant has lost 84 per cent of its stock market valuation since a peak of 374.6 - and currently stands at 60.

Companies doing even worse than Johnston include Land of Leather (down 94.4 per cent), Barratt Developments (down 92.8 per cent) and Bradford and Bingley (down 86.7 per cent).

Independent News and Media set for AGM showdown

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 11 June 2008 at 10:36
Tags: 15, Media Business

The Independent News and Media board is heading for a showdown with rebel shareholder Denis O’Brien at the company’s annual general meeting today. 

O’Brien, who owns just over 25 per cent, has been seeking to wrest control of the company from its largest shareholder Sir Anthony O’Reilly. But a new study commissioned by O’Reilly will reject O’Brien’s criticisms.

Press remains biggest UK advertising medium

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 10 June 2008 at 09:37
Tags: 15, Advertising, Free Newspapers, Magazines, National Newspapers, Online, Regional Newspapers

Press remains by far the biggest advertising medium in the UK according to a new report. The Advertising Statistics Yearbook states that press took 39.8 per cent of UK advertising expenditure in 2007 - down 1.6 per cent year-on-year. Internet was by the far the fastest growing medium - up 39.5 per cent - and took 15.6 per cent of the overall advertising pie.

Boris Johnson complains over family pictures

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 30 May 2008 at 09:12
Tags: 15, Free Newspapers, Law, National Newspapers

The mayor of London Boris Johnson has complained to the PCC after News International’s Thelondonpaper published photographs of him with  his four children on holiday in Turkey. The PCC said that the “intrusion has caused some distress to one of his daughters”.

Photographs of the children of celebrities are generally considered off limits by the media unless they are on public business. This has been the position since Princess Caroline won a landmark judgment at the European Court of Human Rights. 

Dorset Echo editor steps down

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 29 May 2008 at 15:14
Tags: 15, Regional Newspapers

Editor of the Newsquest-owned Dorset Echo is leaving the paper after 10 years to move into media consultancy work and PR.

David Murdock led the first redesign and relaunch of the paper in 30 years and told Holdthefrontpage: “It has been transformed. Like most other companies we’re producing things we weren’t originally. We have the website and special supplements. We’re doing an awful lot more than ten years ago.”

Glover: could Boris be on even more than £250,000 for Telegraph column?

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 19 May 2008 at 09:21
Tags: 15, Journalism, National Newspapers

Independent press columnist Stephen Glover believes London mayor Boris Johnson may pick up even more than £250,000 year for his Daily Telegraph column.

£21,000 a year minimum for journalists on Liverpool dailies

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 13 May 2008 at 14:29
Tags: 15, Journalism, Regional Newspapers

Journalists on the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo have agreed a three per cent across the board pay rise after negotiations with management. 

Under the NUJ-negotiated deal lower paid members of staff will get up to a 6.9 per cent rise.

Minimum pay for senior journalists on the weekly titles goes up to £17,000 a year, Holdthefrontpage reports, and newly-qualified seniors on the dailies go up to £21,000.

INMA removes ‘newspaper’ from full name

Posted by Martin Stabe on 13 May 2008 at 09:58
Tags: 15, National Newspapers, Online, Regional Newspapers

INMA has removed the word “newspaper” from its name by renaming itself the International Newsmedia Marketing Association.

According to the global body, which announced the decision at its annual world congress in California last week, said the decision followed more than a year of internal discussion to find a name that “fully reflects the breadth of media owned and operated by newspaper companies“.

PCC hosts Bridgend suicide debate

Posted by Dominic Ponsford on 12 May 2008 at 15:18
Tags: 15, Journalism, Law, Regional Newspapers

The Press Complaints Commission is to host a public debate in Bridgend about how the media covered the recent series of suicides in the area.  

A panel – chaired by PCC Chairman Sir Christopher Meyer – will take questions from the public and other interested parties about how the cases were reported.  

The panel will nclude Madeleine Moon MP; Rhodri Williams, Director of Ofcom for Wales; and Spencer Feeney, editor-in-chief of the South Wales Evening Post and member of the Commission. In addition, the PCC will also run an advice session for anyone who has a specific concern they wish to raise privately.  

The event will take place at the Dunraven Suite, Bridgend Recreation Centre, on Friday 16 May.