– News Bulletin –
BBC’s Clive Myrie joins conference line-up
Protection for journalists added to Public Order Bill
Lucy Frazer MP appointed new Culture Secretary
London Press Club debate on Cancel Culture
Taking place on Wednesday 15 March 2023 in London, Myrie joins a stellar line-up of influential editors and journalists including Alison Phillips, Editor at the Daily Mirror, Ben Taylor, Editor of The Sunday Times, Sarah Whitehead, Deputy Head of Newsgathering at Sky News, Sophia Smith Galer, Journalist and Producer at VICE World News and many more.
Those who wish to attend the conference have until next Monday 13 February to take advantage of the £135+VAT early bird day-rate. A list of confirmed speakers so far and a programme can be found via the link below.
Public Order Bill
Specific protections for journalists have this week been added to the Public Order Bill which is currently passing through the House of Lords. The amendment, passed by 283 to 192, states that officers must not exercise any police power for the purpose of preventing someone from observing or reporting on a protest.
Lucy Frazer takes over at DCMS
Lucy Frazer, conservative MP for South East Cambridgeshire, has been named the UK’s new Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport this week.
Frazer takes over from Michelle Donelan MP who will head up the new department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Press Club debate
The Editor of Glamour magazine, Deborah Joseph, and Telegraph columnist Zoe Strimpel have been added to the line-up for the London Press Club’s debate on cancel culture. Taking place on the evening of Wednesday 22 February at Stationers’ Hall in London, the discussion will be chaired by BBC journalist and news presenter Samantha Simmonds and tickets are priced at £10 (including wine).
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DC Thomson to cut jobs and close titles
The company, which owns a number of newspapers, including The Sunday Post, and dozens of magazines, says it needs to plug a £10 million gap.
STV News is reporting that mega newspaper and magazine publisher DC Thomson is set to make widespread redundancies and close several titles.
Employees were told at an all-staff meeting on Wednesday that the Dundee-based company needs to plug a £10 million gap in the business.
DC Thomson owns a number of newspapers including The Press and Journal, The Courier, the Evening Telegraph and The Sunday Post.
It also owns dozens of magazine titles such as The People’s Friend, The Beano, Bunkered and Puzzler.
The company has offices across Scotland, including its headquarters in Dundee, and offices in Aberdeen and Glasgow. It also runs operations in Colchester, Essex, and London.
Rebecca Miskin, chief executive of DC Thomson’s media business, said the company had to make “difficult decisions” and would be announcing the closure of some “well-loved titles”.
She said: “We have today announced significant changes to our company, which involve the reshaping of our media portfolio and the simplification of the underlying structure.
She added: “Unfortunately, we have also had to make difficult decisions concerning those brands and activities which sit outside these growth areas.
“We will be announcing the closure of some well-loved titles, as well as the cessation of some commercial activities.
“This will mean losing some valued colleagues, something we deeply regret.”
Insight: Lynne Rankin, Dundee Reporter
DC Thomson has given many people their first job in journalism for well over 100 years.
These cuts will be widespread, affecting not just workers in Dundee but also in Aberdeen, Glasgow and three sites in England.
The company won’t say how many jobs will go or which titles will shut – details on that are expected on Thursday.
Many staff were shocked by the announcement, but others say job losses were inevitable.
Far fewer people are buying a newspaper. Instead, they reading their news online for free.
In a statement, the firm alluded to the change in reading habits, saying the goal is to make sure the company is “equipped to thrive long- term in an industry which is changing at an unparalleled pace”.
And that need to change has been accelerated by the current economic crisis.
Discussions with staff are ongoing. Many have already been told their jobs are at risk.
We’ll get more details of the extent of the cuts and which titles will be axed on Thursday morning.