#Tip of the day from Journalism.co.uk – data visualisation resources

Journalists new to the visualisations game might find this post by Mindy Mcadams on her Teaching Online Journalism site to be a useful collection of resources for blog discussions on the topic, great examples of infographics and a handful of tools to experiment with. There are also plenty more resources to be found in this post on the news:rewired site which looks at ways to develop the data story. Tipster: Rachel McAthy.

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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Reuters: FT resisting Apple’s efforts to channel subs through App Store

Reuters reports today that the Financial Times is “resisting Apple’s efforts” to channel subscribers through the App Store.

Last month Apple launched a new subscription service which ruled that publishers will still be allowed to sell app subscriptions through their own websites but will also have to offer subscriptions through Apple from within the app for the same price or less. This will then give Apple an opportunity to take away a 30 per cent cut of the subscription charge.

As part of the new service it is understood that customers purchasing a subscription through the App Store will be given the option of providing the publisher with details such as their name and email address when they subscribe, while publishers can also seek additional information from App Store customers “provided those customers are given a clear choice”, a release said at the time.

But in an interview with Reuters, the FT said it wants to continue to sell subscriptions for its digital news directly, rather than “surrender control of new customers”.

Apple’s hit tablet computer, the iPad, has become a major driver of new subscriptions to FT.com, thanks to its large and crisp display, possibilities for interactive features and affluent customer base.

But the FT values direct relations with its customers which allow it to tailor advertising and products to its audience, and is resisting Apple’s efforts to channel them through the App Store.

News publishers across Europe have raised concerns with the new service, such as the loss of 30 per cent of the subscription revenue, which the International Newsmedia Marketing Association (INMA) said would mean news publishers will not be able to invest in new technology, products and services.

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Twenty-four new media editorial, communications and PR jobs this week on Journalism.co.uk

These are the latest editorial, PR and media job opportunities from this week on Journalism.co.uk’s jobs board

Content journalist (12 month maternity cover)
We need a skilled content journalist who can deliver informative and compelling content to join the team to cover maternity leave.
Salary: £28K-£33K
Comic Relief
London, England
>>more

Layout copy editor
Incisive Media, publisher of ClickZ and Search Engine Watch, and producer of the SES conference series, seeks a savvy layout/copy editor with print and online experience.
Salary: DoE
Incisive Media
New York, USA
>>more

Journalist – Financial Newswire
My client is a financial newswire and they are looking for a talented reporter to work on their financial news service.
Salary: £24K-£28K
Editorial Portfolio Recruitment Limited
London, England
>>more

Online editor
Leading international B2B publisher seeking an online editor, based/to be based in Asia.
Salary: DoE
Leading international B2B publisher
Asia, Rest of World
>>more

European news analyst
An opportunity has arisen to work in one our European bureaus as an analyst to work closely with a reporter & editor to convert analysis of macro- economic trends into in-depth articles that have actionable investing ideas.
Salary: Competitive + bens
Bloomberg
London, England
>>more

Click on the link below to see more.

More »

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• Twenty new media, editorial, communications and PR jobs this week on Journalism.co.uk
• Twenty-one new media, editorial, communications and PR jobs this week on Journalism.co.uk

Guardian: Zac Goldsmith hits out at Ofcom after Channel 4 complaint is rejected

Zac Goldsmith MP has responded angrily to Ofcom’s rejection of his complaint against Channel 4, claiming that the regulator had “entirely missed the point” of his complaint, reports the Guardian.

Goldsmith said: “Despite eight months of deliberation, Ofcom has entirely missed the point of my complaint. Given some of its recent judgments, I assume I am not alone in being puzzled by its workings. What matters is that Channel 4′s allegations about my general election campaign expenditure were dismissed by the Electoral Commission.”

Full story on Guardian.co.uk at this link.

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Independent: Ten years of FT’s metered pay model

The Independent reports on the 10th anniversary of the Financial Times’ metered paywall going up.

For a decade the FT has allowed readers to access a limited number of articles for free before payment is required, a similar paywall model to that adopted by the New York Times last week. The FT has notched up 210,000 digital subscribers, each paying at least £250 for a year’s access.

[Managing director of FT.com Rob] Grimshaw points to the price of an FT digital subscription in the US – at $389 (£241), it is costlier than a subscription to the newspaper – as evidence of the growing value of digital content to the consumer.

Yet the view that online journalism should be free still largely prevails. Grimshaw is mystified: “There seems to be a real nervousness and lack of confidence amongst publishers about the lack of value of their content. The free content evangelism movement has not helped, neither has giving away content for free over a 10-year period.”

But as a couple of the comments on the article point out, the FT is a specialist publication and both companies and individuals are willing to pay for valued digital content.

The Independent’s full article is at this link

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New York Times: Center for Public Integrity to launch investigative journalism site

The Center for Public Integrity is to launch a new site dedicated to investigative journalism this month, New York Times reports on its Media Decoder blog.

The Web site, called iWatch News, will be updated daily with 10 to 12 original investigative pieces and aggregated content from other sources. The site will include articles that focus on money and politics, government accountability, health care, the environment and national security.

The Times’ blog post also reports that advertising will be sold on the new site although readers who do not want to see ads will be able to subscribe to an advertising-free digital edition for tablets and smartphones for $50 a year.

See the full report on Media Decoder at this link.

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Press Photographer’s Year Award 2011 opens for entries

The Press Photographer’s Year Award 2011 is now open for entries from photographers working for UK media organisations.

With 14 categories, including a Multimedia category and an overall Photograph of the Year prize open to submissions in all other categories.

The competition closes for entries on 17 April, and an exhibition of the winning images will be held at the National Theatre.

Last year David Bebber of the Times was named Photographer of the Year for his image of Libya’s Colonel Gaddafi standing behind protective glass during a military parade to celebrate his 40 years as head of state.

See all the winning photographs from 2010 at this link.

The award was one of two major photography awards to open for entries at the weekend, with the AOP Photographers Awards also inviting submissions.

All photographs entered must have been taken between 1 January 2010 and 31 March 2011 inclusive, but they do not need to have been published.

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Sky News: Express and Mail owners discuss merger

Sky News is reporting that Richard Desmond has discussed selling the Express to the Daily Mail and General Trust.

Writing on the Sky’s blog, City editor Mark Kleinman claims talks have taken place between the chairman of Northern and Shell and Lord Rothermere, chairman of DMGT.

The two men are now said to get on reasonably well, and I understand both believe that a deal could be in their interests. A merger of the titles would create a newspaper powerhouse commanding weekday sales of more than 3m copies, according to the ABCs (which measure newspaper circulation) for February.

It’s not clear what DMGT would plan to do with the Express if it did buy it. I’m told that it has considered launching a red-top tabloid to compete with the Sun at various points during the last decade, a consideration that would be fulfilled if it acquired the Daily Star and its Sunday sister title, which Desmond also owns.

Kleinman’s blog is not the first to report on the potential sale of the Express. Last month the Evening Standard mentioned a possible offloading of the title when reporting Desmond’s readiness to sell three magazines, including OK!

Roy Greenslade ponders what form a DGMT Express could take.

To reduce national press ownership would be a mighty step at a time when there are increasing concerns about pluralism and diversity of voice.

Of course, the nature of the merger need not result in the disappearance of the Express title. I guess it would be possible for DMGT to publish both papers.

Given their current similarity, there would be no point in producing the Express in its current form. Perhaps it could be transformed into a cheap Mail (on the lines of The Independent‘s kid sister, i).

Then again, maybe Desmond and Rothermere are just having a laugh. I say again: are they really being serious?

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#Tip of the day from Journalism.co.uk – social media filtering

Looking for some tips and tools for filtering updates and data from social media platforms? Check out this post on the news:rewired site which looks at ways of sorting the social media chaos, including interviews with social media editors on the processes used in their newsroom and tips for using curation tools. Tipster: Rachel McAthy.

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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April Fools’ Day part deux: More hoaxes from the headlines

Now that the US has woken up and we’ve seen a few more April Fools’ pranks from both sides of the Atlantic, here’s a second round-up to round off the day. See the first at this link.

First in this list is news that the Huffington Post has put up a paywall – to New York Times journalists.

Fancy a homemade ‘iPad clutch’? No need for sticky back plastic but it does involve common household items. Mashable has written this ‘how to’ guide.

With DIY infused in my DNA, I am programmed to create things that make my life more beautiful and fun. Inspired by all of the bold striped patterns and color blocking styles seen on the runway this season, I thought it fitting to make my own iPad clutch out of common materials.

And staying with the Apple theme there’s a PlayMobil Apple Store, according to this article on I4U News

Closer to home, organisers of the Bath Comedy Festival placed a mock Russian submarine in a river, This is Bath reported.

And the Metro had a second April Fool in addition to the edible newspapers reported earlier, a report of smelly tickets to be issued for the 2012 Olypmics.

Fast Car magazine has invented a pheromone car paint which attracts members of the opposite sex.

Real Business launched a new political party. The E party was inspired by the success of the Tea Party in the US, according to this article.

Worcester News warned of a swarm bees descending on its library in this article.

Security measures are being taken at Worcester’s new library and history centre to protect it from the swarms of bees attracted to the building during the recent warm spring sunshine.

Appropriately called the Hive, the complex off the Butts is proving irresistible to the furry flyers because of its gold roof tiles laid in a honeycomb pattern.

And City Wire Money has this report than bankers have a ‘greedy gene’.

Thanks to everyone who sent their April Fools’ hoaxes to @journalismnews. A special thanks to @hugh_d @AlyMaynard @CongnitianAgency @caroldtravels @Natasha1985 @Real_Business @Sherb13

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