“Plans to introduce secret inquiries into controversial deaths from which the public and bereaved families could be banned are to be pushed through the House of Commons by the Government,” reports the Independent.

“Last night ministers suffered a humiliating defeat for the proposals in the House of Lords, but insisted that they were ‘clear’ that ‘harmful material’ must not be made public, and would reintroduce the measures in the Commons.”

Full story at this link…

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“The London Evening Standard’s second day as a free newspaper did not go as smoothly as the first, after its distributors were forced off the streets of Kensington and Chelsea because they did not have correct permits,” reports the Independent. The situation has now been resolved, a spokesperson from the Standard said.

Full story at this link…

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The Independent has launched the second year of the Wyn Harness Prize for Young Journalists – a competition for any aspiring newspaper journalists under the age of 26 (as of December 31 2009).

The winner will receive a cash bursary of £1,000; have their entry published in the Independent; and have a two-week work placement in its London newsroom.

To enter, candidates must write a 500-700 word news report about an aspect of Britain or British society that rarely makes the headlines.

It should be unusual and eye-opening, as well as being accurate, well researched and stylishly written. This must be emailed to features [at] independent.co.uk by midnight on Sunday November 22.

The winner of the prize will be announced on December 14.

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Independent editor, Roger Alton shares five hard lessons he has learnt about newspapers in the current edition of The Word Magazine. Jon Slattery has provided an edited version at this link.

Spell-check is a sat-nav for language, Alton says, and ‘journalists should be involved with everything and everyone around them, but not necessarily sleep with them..’

On celebrity content Alton says: “If you can’t see that Britney shaving her own hair off matters, just as the Budget matters, or Bono, though not necessarily in the same way, you aren’t going to enjoy working in newspapers.”

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The Independent reports how its group, Independent News & Media (INM), supported by other media organisations, is currently challenging private hearings for certain cases.

“The cases involve vulnerable people incapable of managing their own affairs, including brain-damaged soldiers, people with Alzheimer’s disease and others lacking mental capacity.

“In a test case before the High Court in London, this newspaper argued that such matters should not be decided in secret by the newly created Court of Public Protection.”

This latest challenge follows the opening up of the family courts earlier this year.

The case will continue at the High Court today.

Independent story at this link…

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“Embattled newspaper publisher Independent News & Media (IN&M) this afternoon confirmed that it was close to unveiling a financial rescue that would allow the owner of The Independent to pay off an overdue €200 milion bond,” reports TimesOnline.  Full post at this link…

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The Independent profiles Racing Post and outlines its new online payment system launched in July: 3,000 subscribers signed up in the first week, with membership now approaching ‘five figures’.

“In July, Racing Post launched an enhanced online offering for members willing to pay £7.50 a month (equivalent to 25p a day) (…) Some are prepared to pay more. Other packages include a premium tipping service for £9.50 a month, a package that offers live online racing from the satellite subscription channel Racing UK (£7.50) or an all buzzers and bells ‘Ultimate Membership’ for £199.95 a year. More than a quarter of subscribers have chosen this ultimate package.”

Full post at this link…

http://www.racingpost.com/

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Denis O’Brien, the rebel shareholder in Independent News & Media, is demanding a meeting of shareholders ‘to order the immediate sale or closure’ of the group’s UK newspapers – the Independent and Independent on Sunday, reports MediaGuardian.

O’Brien has tabled eight resolutions for the meeting including the above and calls for group chairman Brian Hillery to resign.

Last week it was reported that the group as a whole had fallen into the red.

Full story at this link…

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The newspaper group fell into the red in the first six months of 2009 – a result of a massive drop in advertising revenues, reports MediaGuardian.

The group has reported a pre-tax loss of €48.5 million (approximately £42.7 million) for the six months to the end of June – compare this with last year’s profit of €96.8 million (£85.2 million) – and cited the costs of reducing staff, writing down the value of its newspaper titles and other ‘exceptional items’.

Advertising revenues for the group fell by 25.8 per cent from the last report to €608.8 million (£535.6 million).

Full story and figures at this link…

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Independent.co.uk will now stream radio broadcasts from Bauer in a syndication deal.

A widget on the site will launch a radio player streaming KISS 100 and MAGIC 105.4.

Full release at this link…

Earlier this month the BBC announced a free video-sharing deal with several UK national newspaper websites.

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