- news archive

This is an archive of news about . Some links may no longer work, due to the transient nature of the internet.

The pools become a whole new ball game
From The Times. Posted July 24 2008, 12.00am
It was played by ten million people and was making a fortune for winners and donating millions of pounds to good causes long before the National Lottery. The army of people who collected football pools coupons on the nation’s doorsteps became friends to the families who huddled in front of the radio or television every Saturday teatime to find out the scores. (more)

Obituary: Donald James Wheal
From Media Guardian. Posted July 23 2008, 11.09pm
Obituary: Writer of 1960s TV scripts and Inspector Vadim novels (more)

Letters: Volcanic row over climate change film rumbles on
From Media Guardian. Posted July 23 2008, 11.06pm
Letters: The sad fact is that Ofcom has failed in its duty by avoiding whenever possible answering our charges (more)

Industry ready for RAJAR day
From Radio Today. Posted July 23 2008, 11.04pm
The UK radio industry has taken delivery of listening results for Quarter 2, 2008, from RAJAR. (more)

ITV to cover early FA Cup rounds on web
From Digital Spy. Posted July 23 2008, 10.26pm
ITV and the FA plan to put video highlights of selected early-round FA Cup matches on their websites. (more)

Top UK actors cast in Thatcher drama
From Digital Spy. Posted July 23 2008, 9.18pm
A lineup of respected British actors are cast in a BBC Two drama charting Margaret Thatcher's downfall. (more)

McFly boost 'MoS' sales by 300,000
From Digital Spy. Posted July 23 2008, 9.16pm
A free giveaway of McFly's new album lifted a Sunday newspaper's sales by 300,000, it is estimated. (more)

O'Connor quits as 'Countdown' host
From Digital Spy. Posted July 23 2008, 6.29pm
Des O'Connor will quit as the host of Countdown at the end of the current series. (more)

Anita Anand to co-host 'Politics Show' on TV
From Biz Asia. Posted July 23 2008, 6.25pm
Anita Anand will co-present 'The Daily Politics' on BBC Two from September 2008. Anita said: "It isn't often that you get the chance to work on a programme of which you are such a long-standing and enthusiastic fan. This is certainly one of those times. "The Daily Politics tackles the important issues with the people who have the power to affect change. "It is an honour to be part of this excellent team. I am also very much looking forward to working with Andrew Neil, who is – let's face it – a legend!" Robbie Gibb, Editor, 'The Daily Politics', said: "Anita has a natural warm broadcasting style which she has developed so successfully on BBC Five Live. "She has a lightness of touch, genuine connection with the audience and effortless wit. She is a great addition to the Daily Politics." The Daily Politics airs every lunchtime during the Parliamentary term on BBC Two and is hosted by Andrew Neil. The programme specialises in tough interviews and discussions on the top political stories of the day. It also covers issues away from Westminster and speaks to people not normally directly involved in the world of politics. Anita will continue to present on BBC Radio 5 Live where she has established herself as a popular broadcaster. Anita has worked on Radio 5 Live Drive, The Anita Anand Show, BBC Radio 4's The World Today, BBC World Service radio, BBC Asian Network and BBC One's Heaven And Earth Show. This will be Anita's first regular TV appearance after fronting ZEE TV's UK news bulletins between the late 90s to 2003. Related links: Anita Anand lands 'Drive' on BBC Radio 5 Live Ashish quits ZEE TV, ZEE News UK in major changes (more)

DMGT sales rise even as advertising declines
From Financial Times. Posted July 23 2008, 6.18pm
The publisher of the Daily Mail reported 5% rise in third-quarter revenue, as as growth in its business-to-business division offset further falls in newspaper advertising (more)

Bunton steps in for Judy Finnegan
From Digital Spy. Posted July 23 2008, 6.16pm
Emma Bunton replaces Judy Finnegan while the TV host recovers from knee surgery. (more)

Ad sales drop 16.4% at New York Times
From Financial Times. Posted July 23 2008, 6.15pm
The New York Times suffered a 16.4 per cent decrease in June advertising revenues and warned that the effects of high oil prices, a slowing economy and the housing crisis were likely to weigh on its prospects for some time (more)

Setanta chases fresh targets
From Financial Times. Posted July 23 2008, 5.51pm
Setanta has found itself fresh hares to chase, announcing a new break-even target of more than 1.5m direct subscribers to its sports channels (more)

The Wombats star in new T4 show
From Digital Spy. Posted July 23 2008, 5.03pm
The Wombats will star in new T4 show Je Suis Un Rock Star next month. (more)

Agyeman, Walsh, Bamber for 'L&O: UK'
From Digital Spy. Posted July 23 2008, 4.49pm
Freema Agyeman, Bradley Walsh and Battlestar Galactica's Jamie Bamber are on board for Law & Order: UK. (more)

Freeview transmission change nearly complete
From Digital Spy. Posted July 23 2008, 4.47pm
Changes to the way Freeview service information is transmitted near completion. (more)

Five government ministers named to supervise state-owned Bolivian TV channel
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 23 2008, 4.42pm
Reporters Without Borders says it is worried by yesterday’s announcement that five government ministers have been appointed to head the state-owned National Corporation for Bolivian Television (ENTVB) under an 11 June decree declaring it to be a “strategic enterprise.” ENTVB operates the Canal 7 television station. “This decision has been taken against a backdrop of extreme [...] (more)

NEC to deliver digital TV transmitters to Broadcast Service Denmark
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 23 2008, 4.02pm
NEC Corporation announced today that NEC Scandinavia AB has been selected by Denmark TV broadcasting system operator, Broadcast Service Denmark A/S (BSD), to establish a digital broadcasting network. The digital TV network is scheduled to commence operation within 2008. BSD operates the national TV networks in Denmark. In Denmark, the analogue TV network will be shut down [...] (more)

First video ’splash’ for Telegraph.co.uk
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 23 2008, 3.44pm
An update to Twitter from Telegraph.co.uk communities editor Shane Richmond suggests the paper is breaking more new ground with its videojournalism. News of the sentencing of John Darwin, who faked his own disappearance in 2002, and his wife Anne was broken on the site using the video below: (more)

ABC Australia launches its own version of the BBC iPlayer
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 23 2008, 3.41pm
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation tonight launched an Internet platform that streams five new ABC channels onto computer screens. The service, called ABC iView, is modelled on the BBC’s iPlayer and enables viewers to catch up on some popular programmes they might have missed and to watch the latest news bulletins. It also has a children’s cartoon channel, a [...] (more)

Telegraph.co.uk: Felix Dennis to launch The Week in Australia, India and Canada
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 23 2008, 3.28pm
Felix Dennis, the man behind Dennis Publishing and magazines Stuff and The Week, is planning to launch an Australian edition of The Week in October. Future plans also involve editions for India and Canada. "I don't care if I'm investing in a so-called sunset industry. The sun is setting very, very slowly. And there are only two types of businesses: the well run and the badly run. The well run will survive a recession," he said. (more)

Iran satellite channel says Cairo bureau closed over Sadat film
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 23 2008, 3.27pm
Egypt has closed down an Iranian television channel’s Cairo bureau, with the channel saying it was targeted over a controversial a film about former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat that has shaken Iran-Egypt relations. An Egyptian security official told AFP on Wednesday that police raided the offices of Al-Alam satellite channel on Monday and confiscated equipment including [...] (more)

Sky Sports ?Epic England? 48 sheet
From UTalk Marketing. Posted July 23 2008, 3.26pm
New multimedia campaign (more)

Mirror.co.uk joins competitors with homepage redesign
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 23 2008, 3.23pm
Not wanting to be left out following a new look for The Sun's homepage last Friday, a Telegraph.co.uk redesign and the last stage of the Guardian's site revamp, Mirror.co.uk began its relaunch on Monday. Starting with changes to the homepage, the rest of the site will follow suit and new features will be introduced in the [...] (more)

Living obituaries for journalists?
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 23 2008, 2.44pm
The Columbia Journalism Review is asking for contributions to its Parting Thoughts series - a chance for journalists on their way out of the business to share their thoughts on why and what next for the industry. In one 'letter' in the series, Jim Spencer, who was 'involuntarily separated' from the Denver Post, recalls his reaction [...] (more)

Kiss signs Grammy nominated DJ
From Radio Today. Posted July 23 2008, 2.41pm
Kiss Radio has signed Ibiza favourite DJ Tiesto for its Music is Life series of special programming over the summer. (more)

Hurt and Ryan join the cast of BBC1's new drama Merlin
From The Stage. Posted July 23 2008, 1.50pm
(more)

Al Jazeera English expands Spanish reach
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 23 2008, 1.02pm
Al Jazeera Network has unveiled a new contract with TSF On Sat that takes the channel to over 3.2 million households across Spain on the Hispasat satellite network. Al Jazeera English (AJE) currently reaches over 120 million households worldwide. Al Jazeera English programming will be broadcast on TSF’s satellite platform and on digital terrestrial television [...] (more)

Wartime entertainer Hutch remembered in C4 documentary
From The Stage. Posted July 23 2008, 12.40pm
(more)

In Pictures: Estelle Getty
From Digital Spy. Posted July 23 2008, 12.38pm
DS takes an in-pictures look at the life of Estelle Getty. (more)

Portland fined �25k over porn breaches
From Digital Spy. Posted July 23 2008, 12.25pm
Portland Television is fined �25,000 for breaches of broadcasting standards on porn channel Television X. (more)

Former USIA chief Charles Z Wick dies at 90
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 23 2008, 12.09pm
Charles Z Wick, the controversial, long-serving director of the United States Information Agency, who raised the agency’s profile, doubled its budget and extended its ability to reach foreign audiences through new technology such as satellite television, died of natural causes on Sunday at his Los Angeles home. He was 90. Wick, a close friend and [...] (more)

Geo TV falls foul of UK advertising law
From Digital Spy. Posted July 23 2008, 12.08pm
The British advertising regulator bans a series of commercials on Geo TV UK for medical services in the US. (more)

Twitter searches for the next step
From Media Guardian. Posted July 23 2008, 12.06pm
In their first newspaper interview since buying third party search startup Summize, the Twitter founders Jack Dorsey and Evan Williams talk to Giles Turnbull (more)

Dragon?s Fire to be Unleashed at PHOTONEX08
From Press Release, via webitpr. Posted July 23 2008, 12.00pm
TV entrepreneur, Doug Richard, to speak at UK?s top photonics industry gathering near Coventry Doug Richard, business entrepreneur and star of TV?s Dragons? Den, is to be one of a host of potential investors at this year?s PHOTONEX08 event at Stoneleigh Exhibition Centre in Coventry (15-16 October 2008). Mr Richard will be keynote speaker at an opening night dinner, where earlier in the day, PHOTONEX will have unveiled its Technology Innovation Forum ?a unique gathering,... (more)

McDiarmid, Fox and Hardy to appear in BBC2 Margaret Thatcher drama
From Media Guardian. Posted July 23 2008, 11.53am
Ian McDiarmid, James Fox and Robert Hardy are to join Lindsay Duncan in the cast of a BBC2 drama about Margaret Thatcher's final days in office. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Guardian: Guardian chief arts correspondent on making the move to blogging
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 23 2008, 11.46am
Following yesterday's launch of Guardian.co.uk's redesigned culture section, chief arts correspondent Charlotte Higgins is now a full-time blogger for the site. She discusses her plans for the blog and the debate between blogger vs critic. (more)

Northcliffe Media sees drop in revenue
From Hold the Front Page. Posted July 23 2008, 11.30am
Advertising down year-on-year for newspaper publisher (more)

Barrymore keen to appear on 'Top Gear'
From Digital Spy. Posted July 23 2008, 10.52am
Michael Barrymore says he wants to compete on the test track in Top Gear. (more)

C4 appoints first multicultural commissioner
From Digital Spy. Posted July 23 2008, 10.50am
Channel 4 appoints Aaqil Ahmed as its first multicultural commissioning editor. (more)

Sienna Miller makes privacy complaint over Sun and News of the World holiday pics
From Media Guardian. Posted July 23 2008, 10.45am
Sienna Miller has launched a legal battle against News International and photo agency Big Pictures, claiming breach of privacy. By Oliver Luft (more)

TV ratings - July 22: Audiences plummet for BBC's Eastenders and Bonekickers
From Media Guardian. Posted July 23 2008, 10.45am
EastEnders pulled in one of its lowest-ever ratings, while BBC1's archaeology drama Bonekickers also continued to see its audience fall away. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Sky News remains execs' favourite
From Digital Spy. Posted July 23 2008, 10.40am
Sky News remains European business executives' favoured news channel, market research shows. (more)

BBG to set up Learning English website for Persian and Mandarin speakers
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 23 2008, 10.30am
The US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is soliciting bids for a contract to develop “a dynamic Learning English web site that will be used to teach English to the Persian and Mandarin languages.” The website will include lessons, exercises, drills, and tests for use by learners of English as a second language in the [...] (more)

Leukaemia journalist Adrian Sudbury to deliver Downing Street petition
From Media Guardian. Posted July 23 2008, 10.08am
Local newspaper journalist and blogger Adrian Sudbury is at Downing Street today to deliver a petition for improved education about bone marrow donation. By Jemima Kiss (more)

Korean bill calls for resumption of broadcasts to North Korea
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 23 2008, 9.54am
A human rights bill for North Korea was submitted once again to the 18th National Assembly in South Korea. Grand National Party lawmaker Hwang Woo Yea and 22 others proposed the bill on July 4 before the opening of the Assembly. In the 17th National Assembly, the bill was not even placed on the agenda [...] (more)

Internet television service Joost enters China
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 23 2008, 9.43am
Internet television service provider Joost says it has launched a Chinese service with local portal TOM Online to tap the world’s largest online market. The company has also set up a joint venture with Hong Kong-listed TOM Group, parent of TOM Online, to bring a full Joost offering to China, Joost said in a statement posted [...] (more)

Government to unveil Olympic health push backed by ad and TV industries
From Media Guardian. Posted July 23 2008, 9.28am
The government is to outline details of a multimillion-pound healthy living campaign supported by a coalition of advertisers, media companies, health charities and community groups. By Mark Sweney (more)

New social network for journalists
From Hold the Front Page. Posted July 23 2008, 9.10am
MeejaHub aims to bring together reporters and media professionals (more)

Newspaper's Dump It! campaign forces rethink on contaminated waste plant
From Hold the Front Page. Posted July 23 2008, 9.10am
Nuneaton Tribune drums up mass support among community opposed to plant near homes and schools (more)

Awards shortlist for memorial website
From Hold the Front Page. Posted July 23 2008, 9.10am
Associated Northcliffe Digital's Lasting Tribute in the running for two prestigious awards (more)

Former chief sub-editor awarded nearly �21,000 in damages
From Hold the Front Page. Posted July 23 2008, 9.10am
Sub sacked for gross misconduct wins claim of unfair dismissal against Northeast Press (more)

DMGT's B2B arm offsets newspaper fall
From Financial Times. Posted July 23 2008, 8.39am
The publisher of the Daily Mail reported 5% rise in third-quarter revenue, as as growth in its business-to-business division offset further falls in newspaper advertising (more)

Daily Mail advertising revenues plunge 5%
From The Times. Posted July 23 2008, 8.36am
Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT), the newspaper and information publisher, today reported total advertising revenue at its Associated Newspapers arm fell by 3 per cent in the third quarter as deteriorating trading conditions spread from its regional to national titles. (more)

Daily Mail & General Trust revenues up 5% despite ad dip
From Media Guardian. Posted July 23 2008, 8.32am
Daily Mail & General Trust has reported revenue grew 5% year-on-year during the third quarter to June 30 despite falling ad revenues. By Oliver Luft (more)

Arts Mag Fails in Latest Attack on Doherty
From allmediascotland - Spike. Posted July 23 2008, 8.15am
An attempt has failed to have the president of the National Union of Journalists suspended. It is the latest episode in a battle between an arts magazine and James Doherty, in his capacity as media manager for Culture and Sport Glasgow. Variant magazine is accusing Doherty of suppressing... (more)

Golden Girl Estelle Getty dies at 84
From Media Guardian. Posted July 23 2008, 8.03am
Estelle Getty, who starred as the sarcastic octogenarian Sophia in The Golden Girls, has died at the age of 84. By Rachel Williams (more)

Michelle Ryan and John Hurt join all-star cast for BBC1 drama Merlin
From Media Guardian. Posted July 23 2008, 6.14am
Bionic Woman star Michelle Ryan will join veteran actor John Hurt in the cast of BBC1's forthcoming fantasy drama Merlin. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Herald and Times MD denies Charles McGhee quit over newsroom merger plans
From Media Guardian. Posted July 23 2008, 6.12am
The MD of The Herald and Times newspaper group has denied Charles McGhee resigned as editor of its flagship title over a plan to merge newsrooms. By Severin Carrell (more)

Digital TV sales defy slowdown
From Financial Times. Posted July 23 2008, 3.00am
US consumers are continuing spend more on flat-panel digital televisions and other consumer electronics products despite the credit crunch and economic slowdown,... (more)

No more talk for Diamond
From Radio Today. Posted July 23 2008, 12.48am
One half of the Diamond and de Andrade drive show on Edinburgh's talk107, Dominik Diamond, is leaving. He joined the station just 12 months ago from Xfm Scotland. (more)

GCap helps charity projects
From Radio Today. Posted July 23 2008, 12.31am
GCap Media and youth volunteering charity v have created over 6000 opportunities at 170 projects across England in the first half of its three year partnership. (more)

More radio stations for Freesat
From Radio Today. Posted July 23 2008, 12.21am
Seven more stations will starting broadcasting via the Freesat line-up on August 1st.Capital 95.8, Xfm, Classic FM, Gold, NME Radio, Insight Radio and BFBS will join 10 BBC channels and Virgin Radio on the new free-to-air satellite service. (more)

John Hurt, Michelle Ryan join 'Merlin'
From Digital Spy. Posted July 23 2008, 12.02am
John Hurt, Michelle Ryan and Santiago Cabrera join the cast of BBC One's fantasy drama Merlin. (more)

Sky to take on Apple's iTunes with online MP3 music service
From Daily Telegraph. Posted July 23 2008, 12.01am
BSkyB is taking on Apple by launching an online subscription music service, signing the world's largest music group, Universal, as its first partner. (more)

NUJ happy with deal at South London Press
From Press Gazette. Posted July 23 2008, 12.00am
NUJ members at the South London Press have accepted a new three per cent pay deal from the paper's management after the addition of a change to pay bands. (more)

NME: From magazine to website to radio station
From Press Gazette. Posted July 23 2008, 12.00am
As brand extensions go, NME Radio makes perfect sense says Rachael Gallagher, who probes the NME team about the digital station’s launch (more)

Sub editor sacked over text messages wins £20k payout
From Press Gazette. Posted July 23 2008, 12.00am
A local newspaper chief sub-editor has won £20,000 for being wrongfully dismissed after he drunkenly sent a personal late-night text message to a female junior colleague. (more)

Northcliffe issues gloomy prognosis and warns of cuts
From Press Gazette. Posted July 23 2008, 12.00am
Daily Mail and General Trust has refused to rule out further job cuts in its regional newspaper business, Northcliffe Media, after it reported a sharp decline in advertising revenue. (more)

Publisher reports 5% rise in revenues despite weak advertising performance
From The Scotsman. Posted July 23 2008, 12.00am
THE publisher of the Daily Mail today reported a five per cent rise in third-quarter revenues after a strong performance in its business information division offset weak adver (more)

Thousands log on to Post and Echo's Tall Ships live blog
From Press Gazette. Posted July 23 2008, 12.00am
The Liverpool Post and Echo attracted more than 9,000 visitors to their live blog coverage of the four-day Tall Ships Race 2008 last weekend, the latest in a string of live blogs from the papers. (more)

Mirror unveils new-look web site
From Press Gazette. Posted July 23 2008, 12.00am
The Mirror has unveiled the long-rumoured redesign of its website, which was developed with Cases i Associats, the Spanish design firm that has also redesigned of the Daily Mirror print edition. (more)

Associated Newspapers wins legal fight against scottishdailymail.co.uk cybersquatter
From Press Gazette. Posted July 23 2008, 12.00am
Associated Newspapers has won an order giving them ownership of internet domain name ‘scottishdailymail.co.uk’, which was used as a commercial directory website that pointed visitors to rival media including the Independent newspaper. (more)

Associated Newspapers wins fight against cybersquatter
From Press Gazette. Posted July 23 2008, 12.00am
Associated Newspapers has won an order giving them ownership of internet domain name scottishdailymail.co.uk, which was used as a commercial directory website that pointed visitors to rival media including the Independent newspaper. (more)

Guardian appoints former Washington Post digital publisher to advise on US expansion
From Press Gazette. Posted July 23 2008, 12.00am
Guardian News and Media has appointed a former chief executive and publisher of the Washington Post’s digital wing to expand its business in America. (more)

Sex and the City star turns to art
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 11.08pm
Sarah Jessica Parker to front new reality television show American Artist (more)

Stephen Moss: The Wire: the unmissable show that no one is watching
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 11.06pm
Television is dead. Long live The Oresteia, Measure for Measure, Bleak House, War and Peace (more)

Music industry: Sky sets up rival for iTunes with Universal deal
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 11.06pm
BSkyB announces tie-up with the world's biggest record label to launch an 'all you can eat' digital service (more)

One of UK's largest newspaper publishers to ban ads for 'adult services'
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 11.05pm
One of the largest newspaper publishers in the UK to ban advertisements for 'adult services' (more)

US advertising: McMorning Las Vegas, here's the news
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 11.04pm
The growth of product placement on US TV shows has taken another controversial step with the introduction of McDonald's iced coffee front of Fox News anchors in regional news programmes. By Ed Pilkington (more)

'Baldy Blogger' hands bone marrow petition to parliament
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 22 2008, 11.00pm
Journalist and blogger Adrian Sudbury will submit almost 11,000 signatures to schools secretary (more)

Freelancer of the fortnight: Nick Goundry, London
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 22 2008, 11.00pm
Journalism.co.uk catches up with a member of its freelance community. Nick Goundry specialises in film and entertainment and is currently based in London. (more)

MessyMedia ceases blog publishing
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 22 2008, 11.00pm
Blogs Westmonster and Glitterditch have been closed, because of insufficient audience figures (more)

Channel 4 opens awards for young media talent
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 22 2008, 11.00pm
Wide ranging media awards are part of the broadcaster's search for fresh talent (more)

Guardian appoints Washington Post digital executive Caroline Little
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 22 2008, 11.00pm
Little will become a special adviser to the Guardian's US team (more)

New York Times in social network site tie-up
From Financial Times. Posted July 22 2008, 9.01pm
A new alliance between the New York Times and LinkedIn, the social network for professionals, could allow LinkedIn users' data to shape the media and advertising they see elsewhere across the internet (more)

Hamish Mykura: Greens, not Channel 4, create climate-change scepticism
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 5.30pm
Hamish Mykura: Don't blame Channel 4. It is greens trying to stamp out dissent who harm their own cause (more)

SportsXchange confirms FTA, Sky EPG slot
From Digital Spy. Posted July 22 2008, 5.16pm
SportsXchange is confirmed as a free to air channel with Sky EPG slot 456. (more)

Freesat adding 18 channels, radio stations
From Digital Spy. Posted July 22 2008, 5.14pm
Freesat announces the addition of 18 FTA satellite TV channels and radio stations to its EPG. (more)

Radio Plymouth win FM licence
From Radio Today. Posted July 22 2008, 5.04pm
Radio Plymouth has been awarded the long-overdue FM licence for Plymouth. It follows a two year wait since the licence was first won, to be then handed back to Ofcom.The losing applicant was UKRD, who had proposed a station branded as Pirate FM. (more)

TimesOnline: Esquire to produce flashing magazine cover
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 22 2008, 4.11pm
The cover will flash 'the 21st century begins now' thanks to a battery, which will last for 90 days. (more)

Red Bee Media chief executive Pam Masters to take on new role
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 3.56pm
Pam Masters, the chief executive of television company Red Bee Media, is stepping down to take on the newly created board position of vice-chairman. By Caitlin Fitzsimmons (more)

Sun’s Page 3 widget breaks download records
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 22 2008, 3.32pm
A Page 3 girl widget for RSS feeds, launched by The Sun on Friday, has beaten previous download figures for Sun apps after only three days, the newspaper has said. The Keeley Hazell application (see below) was built using Adobe Air - a new piece of technology, which allows one widget to be built that will [...] (more)

Lil' Chris backstage at T4 On The Beach
From Digital Spy. Posted July 22 2008, 3.28pm
Popstar-turned-presenter Lil' Chris tells DS about his new TV series. (more)

Radiohead, Adele up for Mercury Prize
From Digital Spy. Posted July 22 2008, 3.22pm
Radiohead, Adele and Estelle are nominated for this year's Nationwide Mercury Music Prize. (more)

Playboy TV ad puts the bounce into summer
From UTalk Marketing. Posted July 22 2008, 3.01pm
Stars bikini babes on bouncy castle (more)

'Dragons' Den' heats up BBC Two ratings
From Digital Spy. Posted July 22 2008, 2.45pm
The sixth season of Dragons' Den made an impressive start in the ratings on BBC Two last night. (more)

Analysis: Colleagues welcome Roly Keating's move to new archive role
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 2.42pm
Roly Keating's appointment as the BBC's first director of archive content presents him with a major managerial challenge - and allows BBC2 to get a fresh injection of new blood. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

MG OMD Media Marketplace. Radio overview July.
From UTalk Marketing. Posted July 22 2008, 2.22pm
Expert industry insight (more)

Radio Host Michael Under Fire for Remarks on Autistic Children
From radio.about.com. Posted July 22 2008, 1.48pm
Talk show host, Michael Savage, is being harshly criticized by some for comments he made concerning autistic children. According to newsday.com: "...he called autism 'a fraud, a racket. ... I'll... (more)

Radio Host Michael Savage Under Fire for Remarks on Autistic Children
From radio.about.com. Posted July 22 2008, 1.48pm
Talk show host, Michael Savage, is being harshly criticized by some for comments he made concerning autistic children. According to newsday.com: "...he called autism 'a fraud, a racket. ... I'll... (more)

Keating leaves BBC2 to lead archive content division
From The Stage. Posted July 22 2008, 1.40pm
(more)

International Blogging and New Media Association names new president
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 22 2008, 1.27pm
The International Blogging and New Media Association (IBNMA) has relaunched under the leadership of new president Paul Chaney. "The IBNMA strives to serve the interests of the blogging and new media communities as a global non-profit association. The Association's mission is four-fold: to provide research, information, education and advocacy to bloggers, podcasters, social media consultants [...] (more)

Spleak launches new online communities
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 22 2008, 1.17pm
California-based startup Spleak Media Network has launched three new online applications for fashion, TV and gaming communities. StyleSpleak, TVSpleak and GameSpleak will work in the same way as the company's existing sites by providing short-form news and gossip updates alongside comments and contributions from users, and content from partnered media organisations such as Hearst Digital. The Spleak [...] (more)

NYTimes: Tribune employees start protest blog against job cuts
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 22 2008, 1.00pm
Journalists facing the axe at Tribune's titles are using the Tell Zell blog to protest against the publisher's owner Sam Zell. (more)

Press Gazette: Automated news will free up journalists, says agency report
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 22 2008, 12.59pm
Automated news - produced by machines for machines - is set to become an increasingly important part of the news agency's arsenal, according to a report released by Thomson Reuters. The news provider hopes the increase of such automated news, for financial information in particular, will free up journalists to write analysis of this info instead. (more)

BSkyB and Universal to launch digital music service
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 12.57pm
BSkyB is to break into the digital music market with a new business, launched in conjunction with Universal Music, that aims to take on Apple's iTunes in the UK. By Mark Sweney (more)

TIML increase commerical focus
From Radio Today. Posted July 22 2008, 12.56pm
The new owners of Virgin Radio have appointed Chris Goldson to the new role of Commercial Content Director, in a bid to grow revenue through creative commercial output. (more)

TIML increase commercial focus
From Radio Today. Posted July 22 2008, 12.56pm
The new owners of Virgin Radio have appointed Chris Goldson to the new role of Commercial Content Director, in a bid to grow revenue through creative commercial output. (more)

Harpers relaunches as TalkingDrinks.co.uk
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 22 2008, 12.53pm
The website for the wine and spirits industry Harpers.co.uk is relaunching with a new name and expanded coverage of the industry. The Nexus Business Media title will be called TalkingDrinks.com from July 24 and will include a range of new interactive features, such as blogs and forums, a press release from the publisher said. Breaking news will [...] (more)

Choice PC made redundant
From Radio Today. Posted July 22 2008, 12.48pm
London newspaper New Nation has reported that Choice FM programme controller Ivor Etienne was one of the staff made redundant by GCap last week.Radio Today understands from separate sources that more significant cuts are expected by staff as the IT, sales and HR operations of Global and GCap are merged once the buyout of GCap by Global is complete. (more)

Insight Radio in DAB talks
From Radio Today. Posted July 22 2008, 12.36pm
Glasgow based Insight Radio is in talks with DAB multiplex operators to secure space on the digital platform. (more)

'Bones', '24' and 'Earl' join UK iTunes
From Digital Spy. Posted July 22 2008, 12.24pm
Fox makes several of its hit TV shows available for paid-for download on iTunes in the UK. (more)

Janice Hadlow tipped for BBC2 top job
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 12.06pm
The BBC4 controller, Janice Hadlow, is tipped as favourite to take over BBC2 following Roly Keating's announcement that he is to step down as controller. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

DRM Consortium welcomes shortwave tests in Alaska
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 22 2008, 11.43am
The Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium (DRM) says it’s pleased to learn that the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) of the USA has granted a licence to Digital Aurora Radio Technologies (DART) that will conduct a 2 year experiment for coverage of the state of Alaska with DRM signals in three of the lower shortwave bands around [...] (more)

Burger King makes cinema debut with Batman Dark Knight ad campaign
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 11.43am
Burger King has capitalised on the release of Batman film the Dark Knight with a TV and cinema campaign. By Mark Sweney (more)

Murray Morse named as new Sport editor-in-chief
From Hold the Front Page. Posted July 22 2008, 11.20am
Former Cambridge Evening News editor takes top job with national titles (more)

BBC ceases sponsorship of on-air events
From Digital Spy. Posted July 22 2008, 11.16am
BBC-run "on-air" events will no longer accept sponsors following a damning ruling by the BBC Trust. (more)

Choice FM programmer made redundant as GCap Media job cuts reach 160
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 11.08am
The redundancy toll at GCap Media has risen to about 160 and includes the programme controller for Choice FM in London, according to sources close to the company. By Caitlin Fitzsimmons (more)

TV Ratings - July 21: Just 38,000 watch The Wire
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 11.01am
Despite the thousands of column inches devoted to its return, US cop drama The Wire attracted just 38,000 viewers to the FX channel. By Oliver Luft (more)

IBA offers English, Arabic news for cellphone users
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 22 2008, 10.26am
The Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) is providing a new service for English and Arabic speakers via their cellphones. Anyone whose cellphone menu includes a video option can call up the news any time of the day or night, without having to access the Internet The complete VOD service enables users to decide what news items they [...] (more)

Korean government moves to dismiss KBS head
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 22 2008, 10.21am
The Korean government is moving to unseat Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) head Jung Yun-joo despite controversy over the President’s right to dismiss the state-owned public broadcaster’s chief. Media-related civic groups are strongly opposing the move, claiming the Lee Myung-bak administration is attempting to take control of the media by appointing new heads favourable to the [...] (more)

New York Times to offer targeted stories to LinkedIn users
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 10.04am
The New York Times will be able to serve targeted web stories to business and technology users following a deal with social networking site LinkedIn. By Jemima Kiss (more)

Roly Keating appointed as Director of Archive Content
From BBC Press Ofice. Posted July 22 2008, 9.50am
Roly Keating has been appointed as the BBCs first Director of Archive Content with responsibility for maximising public access to the BBCs constantly expanding archive of television radio and multimedia content. (more)

Deepening newsrooms cuts are changing the face of American newspapers, says PEJ study
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 22 2008, 9.47am
The American daily newspaper in 2008 has fewer pages, shorter stories and younger staff, but its coverage is more targeted than ever, according to a new report. The study released yesterday paints a grim picture of how lay-offs in US newsrooms are damaging the quality of their products - but it's not all doom and gloom. The [...] (more)

Felix Dennis plans to launch The Week in Oz
From Daily Telegraph. Posted July 22 2008, 9.40am
As media groups batten down the hatches to weather what may prove the worst advertising season since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, multi-millionaire publisher Felix Dennis telephones from the Caribbean island of Mustique and says we should not get "too hung up" on the howling headlines. (more)

Leo Hickman: Ofcom's verdict on Channel 4 will feed the conspiracy theorists
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 9.30am
Leo Hickman: Ofcom's mixed verdict on The Great Global Warming Swindle will only fuel the conspiracy theorists' climate change fantasies (more)

News International to deliver the Times for free in London
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 9.28am
News International has started a free home delivery service for readers of the Times and the Sunday Times within the M25. By Oliver Luft (more)

BBC appoints Roly Keating as first archive director
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 22 2008, 9.28am
The BBC has named BBC Two controller Roly Keating as its first director of archive content. Keating, who will take up his new role in October, will be responsible for the corporation's tv, radio and multimedia archive. He will be tasked with increasing public access to this content, a press release from the BBC said. He will [...] (more)

Nieman Reports: Twitter should add to and not replace reporting
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 22 2008, 9.09am
John Dickerson, Slate's chief political correspondent, describes how Twitter has become the home for 'all of those asides I've scribbled in the hundreds of notebooks'. Reporters should use it to add colour and extra insight into their beats and their work. Journalists should not try and make the service do more than this, he argues. (more)

Roly Keating to step down as controller of BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 8.38am
BBC2 controller Roly Keating will leave the channel in October to take on a new role as the corporation's director of archive content. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

New radio talent at FM107.9
From Radio Today. Posted July 22 2008, 8.30am
FM107.9's weeks of searching have come to an end ‐ the station's Radiostar 2008 has been named as Ali Marchant from Birmingham. (more)

Daily Sport Appointment for Morse
From allmediascotland - Spike. Posted July 22 2008, 8.00am
A former news editor of the Daily Record and Edinburgh Evening News, and newsdesk executive at the Press and Journal, has been appointed editor-in-chief of the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport newspapers. Murray Morse succeeds Barry McIlheney, who has been promoted to group editorial director at... (more)

Aaah, Cute
From allmediascotland - Spike. Posted July 22 2008, 7.59am
Spike wonders how a ‘cute baby’ competition at the Castle Douglas branch of Tesco supermarket went, at the weekend, after - according to our sources - details of it failed to appear in the organisers’ own newspaper. The event was being promoted by Scottish and... (more)

Facts Getting in the Way of a Good Story
From allmediascotland - Spike. Posted July 22 2008, 7.38am
The old political maxim says that if you tell a lie often enough people will begin to believe it. The classic example these days, advanced by politicians and the anti-independence newspapers (which means most of them) is that polls consistently show Scots reject independence. Whatever happened... (more)

George Monbiot on Channel 4's global warming documentary
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 7.30am
The environmentalist George Monbiot says Channel 4 was wrong to screen a documentary that distorted the views of climate scientists (more)

Reporter's reasons to love and loathe the NHS
From Hold the Front Page. Posted July 22 2008, 7.00am
Former Argus journalist and Parkinson's sufferer Adam Trimingham looks at the NHS as it marks 60 years (more)

Newspaper publisher uses own TV experts to help launch online video news
From Hold the Front Page. Posted July 22 2008, 7.00am
Iliffe keeps things 'in-house' as websites start showcasing video journalism news (more)

New birthday brew celebrates newspaper's special anniversary
From Hold the Front Page. Posted July 22 2008, 7.00am
Charities to benefit from profits of Sheerness Times Guardian 150th year ale (more)

PA protest sees judge reverse reporting ban
From Hold the Front Page. Posted July 22 2008, 7.00am
Couple accused of running a brothel lose fight to keep address and photo out of the papers (more)

CBeebies hit show seeks £5.5m investment
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 6.16am
The production company behind the BBC children's hit Underground Ernie is to seek a cash injection of more than £5m in a bid to break the US market. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Daily Sport Barry McIlheney editor-in-chief leaves role
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 6.15am
Barry McIlheney has left his post as editor-in-chief of Sport Media Group, publisher of the Daily and Sunday Sport newspapers, after just six months in charge. By Oliver Luft (more)

Telegraph Media Group axes 17 support jobs
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 6.14am
Telegraph Media Group is undertaking cost-cutting measures that will lead to 17 job losses from its non-editorial staff. By Oliver Luft (more)

CBS Wins Appeal of Janet Jackson Fine, Radio & TV Sighs a Relief
From radio.about.com. Posted July 22 2008, 5.05am
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Monday that the Federal Communications Commission "acted arbitrarily and capriciously" when it levied a fine against CBS television for the now... (more)

C4 reprimanded over documentary
From Financial Times. Posted July 22 2008, 3.00am
Channel 4 was reprimanded by Ofcom yesterday over a documentary on climate change that breached impartiality rules, writes Ben Fenton . The broadcasting... (more)

Virgin viewers boost iPlayer
From Financial Times. Posted July 22 2008, 3.00am
Virgin Media subscribers accounted for a third of all programme viewings on the BBC iPlayer in the on-demand service's first month of being available on the cable TV... (more)

BBC abandons programme sponsorship
From Financial Times. Posted July 22 2008, 2.57am
The UK broadcaster, prompted by complaints from ITV and the Radio Centre, says that it would no longer accept commercial deals for on-air events (more)

UBC Media to review options
From Financial Times. Posted July 22 2008, 1.38am
The group, one of the last remaining listed radio companies in the UK, will look at delisting as one of its options once the sale of its commercial division is completed (more)

Review of injury claims attacked
From Daily Telegraph. Posted July 22 2008, 12.01am
Insurers have accused the Government of deliberately publishing a disappointing response to a key consultation the day before the parliamentary recess begins. (more)

C4's climate change documentary 'was unfair but not misleading'
From The Independent. Posted July 22 2008, 12.00am
A Channel 4 documentary which claimed that the idea of man-made climate change was a fraud and a conspiracy has been censured by the broadcasting regulator. Ofcom. (more)

US newspapers turn their back on the world
From Press Gazette. Posted July 22 2008, 12.00am
The drastic cutbacks in staff at American newspapers is beginning to have a noticeable effect. A new survey of more than 250 newspapers shows that almost two thirds of all American papers are publishing much less foreign news than they... (more)

Winehouse husband and fixers jailed thanks to Daily Mirror sting
From Press Gazette. Posted July 22 2008, 12.00am
Amy Whitehouse's husband was jailed yesterday after being exposed for trial fixing by the Daily Mirror. (more)

Regional newspaper group warns that Beeb could scupper its video news plans
From Press Gazette. Posted July 22 2008, 12.00am
A local newspaper publisher has said regional newspapers' video plans could be "jeopardised" by the BBC's proposed ultra-local news service. (more)

Regional newspaper group warns that BBC could scupper its video news plans
From Press Gazette. Posted July 22 2008, 12.00am
Iliffe News and Media has said regional newspapers' video plans could be "jeopardised" by the BBC's proposed local video news service. (more)

Paul Howlett's TV film picks
From Media Guardian. Posted July 21 2008, 11.53pm
Paul Howlett on Ghost Rider | Apocalypse Now | Don't Look Back (more)

Cable girl: Lucy Mangan on As Time Goes By
From Media Guardian. Posted July 21 2008, 11.36pm
Lucy Mangan on As Time Goes By (more)

BBC scraps sponsor deals after trust upholds ITV complaints
From Media Guardian. Posted July 21 2008, 11.07pm
Ruling decides managers 'compromised the editorial integrity of the BBC' with Sports Personality endorsement (more)

Watchdog's verdict on Channel 4 climate film angers scientists
From Media Guardian. Posted July 21 2008, 11.07pm
Station cleared of 'materially misleading the audience so as to cause harm or offence' (more)

Dando accused will not give evidence in retrial
From Media Guardian. Posted July 21 2008, 11.03pm
Defence challenges significance of fibre retrieved from raincoat of murdered TV presenter (more)

Letters: It's a crime how good news is reported
From Media Guardian. Posted July 21 2008, 11.03pm
Letters: Polly Toynbee is probably right, but this is surely not helped by the way the press report any good news (more)

Guardian completes website redesign
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 21 2008, 11.00pm
The culture, education and life&style channels are the last to be moved onto the site's new platform (more)

Raising the quality of online debates - Norway's Origo network
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 21 2008, 11.00pm
Kristine Lowe, Journalism.co.uk blogger (more)

Liveblog brings 9,000 to Liverpool Daily Post and Echo websites
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 21 2008, 11.00pm
Trinity titles' complete four days of live coverage for the Tall Ships Race (more)

Ting Tings, Dizzee plan collaboration
From Digital Spy. Posted July 21 2008, 10.27pm
The Ting Tings and Dizzee Rascal plan to record a song together. (more)

Sponsorship 'compromised BBC integrity'
From Digital Spy. Posted July 21 2008, 10.10pm
A sponsorship deal for Sports Personality Of The Year 2007 "compromised the editorial integrity of the BBC", the Trust finds. (more)

McLean quits GMTV for 'Loose Women'
From Digital Spy. Posted July 21 2008, 7.19pm
Weather presenter Andrea McLean quits GMTV after 11 years to host Loose Women. (more)

Original 106 sold to management
From Radio Today. Posted July 21 2008, 4.36pm
Original 106fm in Aberdeen has been sold by Canwest Media. It follows the company confirming speculation that its three UK radio operations were up for sale.The station will continue to operate under the brand name Original FM under a licence agreement with Canwest. (more)

George Monbiot: Channel 4 is deceiving itself about global warming
From Media Guardian. Posted July 21 2008, 4.30pm
George Monbiot: Channel 4's dismissal of Ofcom's damning verdict about its flawed programme is self-deception on a massive scale (more)

Why does Channel 4 seem to be waging a war against the greens, asks George Monbiot
From Media Guardian. Posted July 21 2008, 4.17pm
Channel 4 has shown a fierce antagonism towards environmentalism, writes George Monbiot (more)

BBC Management statement: BBC Trust finding and conclusion ? fair trading and editorial appeal on Sports Personality Of The Year 2007
From BBC Press Ofice. Posted July 21 2008, 4.15pm
The BBC management today issued a press statement following publication of the BBC Trust finding and conclusion on a fair trading and editorial appeal on BBC Sports Personality Of The Year 2007. (more)

No more sponsorship of BBC-run events after damning report
From Media Guardian. Posted July 21 2008, 4.03pm
Sponsorship of events run by the BBC - such as Proms in the Park - has been banned after a damning report on the corporation's commercial tie-ins. By Mark Sweney (more)

Jeremy Kyle joins talkSPORT
From Radio Today. Posted July 21 2008, 3.56pm
Jezza is returning to his radio roots by joining talkSPORT to host a weekly sports show. The Jeremy Kyle Sunday Sports show will air each Sunday between 12pm and 2pm from September 21st. (more)

Arab newspaper issues high court apology for 'wholly untrue' reports
From Media Guardian. Posted July 21 2008, 3.46pm
UK-based Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat has apologised to the prime minister of Qatar after it admitted printing three "wholly untrue" articles about him. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

A lesson in SEO from Charlie Brooker
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 21 2008, 3.40pm
Following the surge of comments generated by Charlie Brooker's Comment is Free article, he's asking this week what impact search engine optimisation could have on the quality of journalism online. To take his point to the extreme Brooker gives us a fully SEO-ready article complete with celebrity names, certain pharmaceutical brands and political links (I'd [...] (more)

Open golf proves a hit for BBC One
From Digital Spy. Posted July 21 2008, 3.38pm
An audience of 3.3m watched Padraig Harrington win the golf Open on BBC One yesterday afternoon. (more)

Trust okays bbc.co.uk management changes
From Digital Spy. Posted July 21 2008, 3.26pm
The BBC Trust approves new management controls for bbc.co.uk after the service overshot its budget by 48%. (more)

Channel 4's Global warming documentary: Ofcom report at a glance
From Media Guardian. Posted July 21 2008, 2.53pm
The main points of Ofcom's report into the Channel 4 documentary The Great Global Warming Swindle (more)

ITV rapped over prominence of Ford during American Idol
From The Stage. Posted July 21 2008, 2.40pm
(more)