Contents April –2009

—03

Welcome

For big-city dailies times have never been tougher. Even before the recession, factors beyond the control of any journalist were prompting metropolitan newspapers to lose sales faster than anywhere else. Couple that with the current downturn and you have a very dicey situation. In this issue, editors tell us why the big regional dailies do have future, and we weigh up Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev’s chances of turning things around at the London Evening Standard. We also find one print sector where circulation is still growing –contract publishing. In a special report, chief executives of some of the big customer magazine companies explain why this could now be one of the best sectors to work in as a journalist. Also in this issue: Freelance journalist Rob McGibbon explains why – despite the downturn – he hasn’t given up hope of making his millions with online start-up Access Interviews. Outgoing Sunday Times Magazine editor Robin Morgan lets fly with both barrels against the pernicious influence of celebrity PR on journalism and against editors who value opinion over on-the-ground reporting. Wired UK editor David Rowan gives us the inside track on the latest technological must-haves for journalists. And there’s an eight-page Reporter’s Guide to Obesity, with backgrounders, expert opinion and tips on one of the most talked-about topics going. This year’s Press Gazette British Press Awards on 31 March were too late to appear in this month’s issue, but you can find out the winners and see reports, photos and video footage from the night on www.pressgazette.co.uk. A souvenir supplement is in next month’s magazine. Dominic Ponsford, editor

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS

Looking for the best journalism on environmental issues SEE PAGE 53

NEWS ANALYSIS. THE BIG STORY Times have never been tougher for the UK’s big city dailies –but editors remain confident that quality will continue to sell, even if they have to employ fewer journalists 05

05

38

MAGAZINES

Despite the recession, customer magazines look well-placed to weather the storm 9 ONLINE Rob McGibbon on a year in the life of a web entrepreneur 12 PRWhat are PR wire services doing to adapt to the needs of multiplatformed journalists? 17 MEDIA LAW Christina Michalos on social networks, copyright and privacy 14 GLOBAL REPORT

William Horsley outlines the goals of a new centre for media freedom 22 GADGETS The best camcorders for journalists – from budget to pro 37 COMMENT. PETER KIRWAN Editor of Fullrun 31 DAISY McANDREW ITV economics editor 32 GREY CARDIGAN 33 DAVID BANKS Former Daily Mirror editor 34 DAVID SINGLETON PR pundit 34 CAMILLA WRIGHT Popbitch editor 35 LETTERS 36 FEATURES. THE BIG INTERVIEW Robin Morgan on a career at The Sunday Times that goes back to 1979 38 DESIGN The best designed newspapers in the world 40 PHOTOGRAPHY World Press Photo winner Mashid Mohadjerin talks about her work 42 TIPS & TRAINING. FREELANCE How to use social networking in your work and how to sell the same stories more than once. PLUS David Parsley on beating the bulge when working from home 44

THE KNOWLEDGE Three pages that include Times investigations editor Dominic Kennedy on exposing a miscarriage of justice, Tariq Aziz on making films for the web, and Peter Sands on time management for editors 48 REGULARS. EARLY ADOPTER New Wired editor David Rowan on why he can’t live without his MacBook Pro and 422 RSS feeds 20

40

EXIT INTERVIEW FT stalwart Jimmy Burns 54 BOOKS The School of Life’s bibliotherapist Ella Berthoud prescribes her literary remedies 59 AXEGRINDER Industry gossip from the columnist who settles scores and buries the hatchet 66

23

PLUS. Reporter’s guide to obesity and weight loss 23-30 Environmental Press Awards launched. Full details of how to enter 53

FREELANCE DIRECTORY 46-47 NEWS CONTACTS 60-61 ESSENTIAL SERVICES 62-63

RECRUITMENT 64-65

www.pressgazette.co.uk / NEWSROOM 020 7324 2385

PRESS GAZETTE — JOURNALISM TODAY/ APRIL 2009