Tag Archives: online

How to respond to consultation on website operators clause of draft defamation bill

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Image by alancleaver_2000 on Flickr. Some rights reserved.

An informal consultation on the section of the draft defamation bill that covers “operators of websites” has been launched to gather feedback.

According to The International Forum for Responsible Media Blog, the consultation relates to clause 5 of the bill which intends to “provide a new defence for website operators in circumstances where the claimant can pursue his claim for defamation against the person who posted the statement”.

The consultation, being run by the Ministry of Justice, will close on Thursday 31 January (the deadline has been extended).

Those who wish to respond can do so by emailing defamation@justice.gsi.gov.uk for more information.

ABC News iPad app offering video books

LostRemote reports that ABC News has rolled out a new iPad app which offers users video books “that combine text, photos and video from the network’s archives”.

The ABC Video Bookstore app (iTunes), which is free, launched with two $7.99 books for sale: A Modern Fairy Tale (previewing the royal wedding) and The Amanda Knox Story.

The app which launched last week can be found here.

Ministers confirm UK adoption of cookie rules

In a release today the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced ministers have confirmed the UK will adopt an amended framework on electronic communications “exactly as set out by the EU”, which will include the need for website owners to get the user’s permission before a cookie – a text file used to store information such as user preferences – can be used.

Today’s announcement follows a consultation where concerns were raised about the impact of changes to the use of cookies.

To address these concerns, the Government has said it will work with browser manufacturers to see if browser setting can be enhanced to meet the requirements of the revised directive.

The updated directives must be implemented by 25 May, the release added, and the Information Commissioner’s Office will publish further guidance on the use of cookies.

Last month Information Commissioner Christopher Graham said the new law will be a challenge but “will have positive benefits” by offering more choice and control over what information businesses and other organisations can store on and access from consumers’ own computers.

But he added that the limited time remaining until the directive becomes European law was causing concern.

Editor & Publisher partners with MediaSpan to improve website

Newspaper industry journal Editor & Publisher is to partner with digital content management organisation MediaSpan to help improve navigation of its online content.

According to a report by E&P this week the agreement, which was finalised last week, will enable the site to focus more on new content production than daily site upkeep.

Soon, visitors will be able to easily browse E&P’s deep archive database of more than 51,000 articles dating back to 1993.

In addition, the Newspeople section, which details the comings and goings of news, advertising, and circulation professionals, will be expanded and will include obituaries.

Earlier this month E&P removed its website paywall to “build more traffic and make exclusive content available to visitors”, it claimed.

E&P: AP to move hosted video to NDN platform

The Associated Press is to move its hosted online video operation onto a platform provided by the News Distribution Network (NDN).

According to a report by Editor & Publisher NDN will be providing the 1,500 affiliates of AP’s Online Video Network with the newswire’s coverage as well as video content from news brands across more than a dozen categories.

By the time the upgrade is completed in the first quarter of 2011, affiliates that opt in will have the broadest offering of video news available anywhere.

US newspaper ad revenue decline slows

Advertising revenues for US newspapers declined by more than five per cent in the second quarter of this year – the sixteenth consecutive quarterly decline – but the rate of decline has slowed according to a report by AFP.

Figures published by the Newspaper Association of America this week reportedly show that revenues for online and print newspapers dropped to $6.44 billion from $6.82 billion year-on-year.

Online advertising revenues actually increased by 13.9 per cent, while print print advertising fell 7.62 percent, the AFP report added.

The overall decline was reported as an “improvement” compared to a 9.7 per cent drop in the first quarter of this year and a 23.7 per cent fall in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Hatip: Shaping the Future of the Newspaper blog

Independent.co.uk: Racing Post’s online payment model

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/

Future: Digital ads going from strength-to-strength

Specialist magazine publisher Future has reported a resilient and ‘healthy balance sheet’ in the face of recession with a 15 per cent increase in online advertising revenue in the nine months to June 30.

The company released an interim management statement today, which suggested that although print advertising revenues were down 8 per cent, this was offset by the growth in online advertising – resulting in a total fall of only 4 per cent.

Online ads represented 22 per cent, nearly a quarter, of total advertising revenue – up 19 per cent year-on-year – over the same period.

In the company’s interim report, CEO Stevie Spring said: “While it is premature to talk about a market recovery, there has been no deterioration in trading conditions since the half year.”

A third of the group’s revenue comes from its US operation and it capitalised on a favourable US exchange rate against the sterling with a 24 per cent stronger US dollar in the reported period.

As a result, the publisher had come out relatively unscathed through what it called ‘exceptionally challenging market conditions’, with an overall revenue decline of just 2 per cent, or 9 per cent calculated on a constant currency basis.

Publishing revenues

In the UK, which generates the remaining two thirds of the company’s income, publishing revenue, based on constant currency, was down 6 per cent. The fall in revenue was mainly due to a decline in PC gaming, personal computing and automotive titles, the report suggested.

In the same period, publishing revenues for the US operation fell 13 per cent, on a constant currency basis. The publisher blamed ‘greater exposure to generic advertising market volatility’ in the territory, particularly with regard to its digital business.

Future’s future

Future produces more than 80 newsstand magazines, 62 websites and 25 annual live events on special-interest topics, such as computer games, film, music and sport.

Spring, who according to paidContent:UK, ‘never talks down the health of the magazine industry’, was bullish about the future of the publisher:

“I am confident that when recovery comes, Future is well-positioned to benefit. We’ve continued to invest in both new products and new people and, more broadly, our strategy remains firmly on track. We are in the best shape we can be in for the mid-term,” he said.

Future’s annual results for the year to end of September will be announced on November 26.

AOP: RBI takes four prizes at Digital Publishing Awards 2008

Reed Business Information (RBI) won four of the 16 awards handed out at last night’s Association of Online Publishers (AOP) Digital Publishing Awards.

The publisher was named best online publisher in the business field for the second year running, as well as picking up prizes for best business website, best B2B online community for Farmers Weekly Interactive, and best online advertising sales team in the business category.

Sky News’ website was awarded the gong for best consumer website, while parent company BSkyB was named best consumer publisher online.

The Guardian picked up an accolade for its Katine project and FT.com for use of video online.

The full list of winners (courtesy of a release from the AOP):

Launch 2008 award – Guardian News and Media for www.guardian.co.uk/katine

Editorial team (business) – Accountancy Age, Incisive Media

Editorial team (consumer) – NME.com, IPC Media

Research & insights project – The Origin Panel – Women’s Space, IPC Media

Online advertising sales team (consumer) – Future Publishing – digital agency team

Online advertising sales team (business) – RBI e-newsletters

Innovation 2008 award – Financial Times, Mockingbird Model

Cross-media project – WKD Nuts Football Awards, IPC Media

Commercial partnership – Ford Bite, Channel 4

Use of video – FT.com

Mobile site – Sun Mobile, News Group Newspapers

Online community – Farmers Weekly Interactive, RBI

Best website (business) – XpertHR.co.uk, RBI

Best website (consumer) – Sky News, BSkyB

Best online publisher 2008 (business) – RBI

Best online publisher 2008 (consumer) – BSkyB