06 Informed


News Update


Some Like it Hot Metal


While the hot metal presses, windy public telephone booths and long lunches distinguished the newsroom portrayed in Stephen Spielberg’s Te Post from today’s media world, there was plenty to compare about the role of journalism, a panel of commentators agreed following a screening of the film at London’s Soho Hotel. Te film tells the tale of the


Washington Post and the decision of its owner Katherine Graham to publish the leaked Pentagon Papers, disclosing how the American government misled its citizens about the Vietnam war, continuing to send out young soldiers despite knowing it was unwinnable. Tim Dawson, NUJ president, said the disclosures by Edward Snowden of global surveillance programmes, the MPs’ expenses scandal and the Paradise papers, revealing mass tax evasion,


Westminster watch Emily Cunningham, MoC of the SNP’s chapel in Parliament, was successful in winning a seat on a panel set up by Leader of the Commons, Andrea Leadsom, which reviewed a survey of workers at Westminster showing high levels of bullying and harassment. Te panel called for a code of conduct and sanctions on MPs and peers who transgress. She said: “Our proposals were a positive step in building a safer, professional working environment.”


Panorama cuts a ‘terminal blow’ Staff on Panorama, the BBC’s flagship current


Entertainment One UK


proved that journalism was still holding power to account; any of them would provide ample fodder for an exciting screenplay.


Rebecca Vincent, UK bureau director of Reporters Without Borders, said the Investigatory Powers Act, the Date Protection Bill and the proposed Espionage Act showed newspapers and broadcasters were still fighting the batle to preserve press freedom. Te panel of media experts, which also included Ian Murray, of the Society of Editors, and Phil Harding, of Te Media Society, agreed the film starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks was an exciting portrayal of journalism at its best. But none of them would be drawn


Meryl Streep as Katherine Graham


by Robbie Collin, the Telegraph’s film critic, in suggesting who should play editor-in-chief Paul Dacre in Daily Mail: the Movie.


affairs programme, voiced their concerns aſter the new editor announced plans to make half of the programme’s experienced producers redundant. Rachel Jupp told them she wanted to reduce the numbers of full-time producers working on the programme from the existing seven to four. A producer leſt in October and his post was closed. It is part of the £600,000 savings Panorama plans to make in 2018/19; staff said it was a terminal blow to the award-winning show.


Recruitment boost Te union has won success in increasing members


at Nature and associated titles and, since voluntary recognition talks broke down, an application has been made to the Central Arbitration Commitee. A recuitment drive is under way in other areas of Springer Nature. A skirmish for recognition has been triggered at Rough Guides since its new owner gave notice to terminate the NUJ/Unite agreement. Organising campaigns are afoot at Conde Nast and Pan Macmillan, meanwhile reps at Faber and Faber are taking up the issue of unpaid interns.


Mags takeover One of the UK’s biggest magazine publishers, Time


Inc, which owns NME, Marie Claire, County Life, Women’s Weekly and Horse & Hounds among its 50-plus brands portfolio, has been sold to private equity company Epiris in a £130m deal. Alex Fortescue, the managing partner at Epiris, suggested some titles would be sold and cuts to the 1,700 workforce are expected. According to the Guardian, Epiris is also considering a bid for assets belonging to Dennis, the publisher of titles including Te Week, Viz and Men’s Fitness, for £75m to £100m. Time Inc UK made close to £30m in profits last year on revenues of about £250m.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12