UPDATE: Guardian to cut 100 jobs; GNM running at £100,000-a-day loss

Following news that the Observer is to cut sections and drop monthly supplements, there were reports yesterday of more than 100 job cuts at owners Guardian News & Media.

The cuts will be made to offset losses as GNM is currently running at a loss of £100,000 a day, according to Brand Republic, and were announced following a strategic review of the group’s papers.

A voluntary redundancy scheme has been introduced and cuts will affect staff across commerical and editorial departments.

The Guardian’s print technology supplement, published on a Thursday, will also be cut and moved online-only, as part of the changes.

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Adam Westbrook: What can journalists learn from a videoblogging single mum?

Well, quite a lot actually, according to Adam Westbrook.

Since starting her videoblog on make-up in 2007, Lauren Luke, a 27-year-old single mother from South Shields, has launched her own beauty range, published a book and feature in print, magazine and TV reports.

There’s a lesson here for entrepreneurial journalists, says Westbrook:

“For journalism this produces a host of opportunities. You might not sell your content, but can you sell the platform? Release iPhone apps? Run courses? Sell guides? Don’t just think of making money from your words (because you won’t!).”

Full post at this link…

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Brian Stelter: News sites switching from print to TV look

The New York Times’ Brian Stelter takes a look at the growth of video on newspaper websites and how this trend is affecting consumers and journalists.

“The attention to video mirrors changes in how consumers are experiencing news. Major events – be it the presidential election or the death of Michael Jackson – bring a surge in video stream viewings by new users, and each time some of them stick around,” he writes.

Full article at this link…

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Malcolm Coles: Gordon Brown letter – Sun misjudges readers’ mood

This is a cross-post from Malcolm Coles’ website www.malcolmcoles.co.uk.

Update: There are suggestions on a Guardian story that the Sun moderators haven’t been putting through comments that are critical of the Sun’s position …

Is the Sun censoring pro-Brown comments?

Original post
The Sun is running a campaign against Gordon Brown. But I’ve analysed the comments on its website – and readers disagree with its stance by a ratio of more than 3 to 2.

Gordon Brown letter story in the Sun

The paper has exploited the grief of Jacqui Janes over her son Jamie’s death in Afghanistan to attack the PM – because his handwritten letter of condolence was supposedly disrespectful due to sloppy writing and (disputed) spelling errors.

It’s loathsome journalism that ignores the effect of his disability (the PM is blind in one eye).

And it seems Sun readers are mostly on the Prime Minister’s side.

Of the 100+ comments on the story (don’t worry, I’ve nofollowed those links) when I checked, 111 expressed a view for or against Jacqui Janes or Gordon Brown (the rest commented on other issues or corrected people’s spelling errors). Of these:

• 42 were anti Gordon or pro the Sun’s stance.
• 69 were pro Gordon or anti the Sun’s stance.

So that’s more than 60 per cent who don’t agree with the Sun, and less than 40 per cent who do.

Sample comments from those who agree with the Sun’s stance:

Comments agreeing that Gordon Brown is “discusting”

Some comments from those opposing it:

Comments defending Gordon Brown

Conclusion
The Sun is channeling this woman’s grief into a personal attack on the Prime Minister.

It’s refusing to make allowances for his disability (maybe we could next attack the war wounded for being workshy benefit scroungers?).

And it’s facilitating her breaking data protection laws by releasing a recording of a private phone call.

The whole thing is sickening – let’s hope that observing its readers’ reactions will lead to an end to this (not that this happened in the Jan Moir case) – and preferably prosecution of the Sun over the data protection offence.

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NMA: Times pay wall from next spring?

NMA has more details on News International’s pay wall plans – Times Online is reportedly set to introduce the system in Q1 next year, while dates for The Sun and News of the World are undecided.

The Times website will also have a redesign next year as part of the changes.

“A source close to News International said because users will be charged to access the title, the site won’t focus on generating page impressions. It will be overhauled with a focus on a rich user experience, with content easier to find, and building greater user interaction. It’s also planning to run more live debates across the site, such as a recent discussion about the BNP,” writes NMA.

Full post at this link…

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Observer to drop to four sections staff told

The Observer will be cut to four sections and drop several monthly supplements, staff at the paper were reportedly told yesterday.

According to a National Union of Journalists (NUJ) release, the new Observer will consist of news, sport and a review section, alongside a magazine.

The title’s monthly sport, music and women’s supplements will be closed.

Staff were informed of the changes by owners Guardian News & Media following months of speculation about the title’s future.

No mention of redundancy plans was made in the NUJ’s statement.

But the union’s head of publishing, Barry Fitzpatrick, said the changes would make the paper less competitive in ‘an already exceedingly tough marketplace’.

“It will do nothing to improve circulation and can only result in a lower quality product. We know that Guardian Media Group is looking to save costs, but they need to ensure that any steps don’t result in the running down of its titles,” he said in the release.

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Press Gazette: Ian Smith quits as Reed Elsevier chief

Ian Smith has stepped down after just eight months as chief executive of publisher Reed Elsevier.

Elsevier chief executive Erik Engstrom will replace him.

Full story at this link…

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#FollowJourn: @hrwaldram/online journalist

#FollowJourn: Hannah Waldram

Who? Freelancer, blogger and hyperlocal journalist.

What? Journalist for @westmidsdance and @podnosh, blogs on dance for @birminghampost and @walesonline, editor of hyperlocal site @bournvillenews

Where? Also publishes excellent personal blog ‘How to microblog in high heels’.

Contact? On Twitter @hrwaldram.

Just as we like to supply you with fresh and innovative tips every day, we’re recommending journalists to follow online too. They might be from any sector of the industry: please send suggestions (you can nominate yourself) to judith or laura at journalism.co.uk; or to @journalismnews.

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#Tip of the day from Journalism.co.uk – tips on Google Wave

Trying out Google Wave? It’s worth checking out this unofficial guide at this link with advice on what it can and can’t do. Tipster: Judith Townend.

To submit a tip to Journalism.co.uk, use this link – we will pay a fiver for the best ones published.

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The Inquirer: Google buys mobile advertising firm

According to reports, Google has bought mobile advertising company Admobfirm for £450 million ($750 million).

The deal will help Google capitalise on the growth in mobile search it has recently reported.

“Admob helps firms advertise on mobile web sites, as well as providing the technology for serving said adverts on mobiles. It also works with applications for in-applications advertising,” explains The Inquirer.

Full story at this link…

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