In this episode, the BBC’s Specialist Disinformation Reporter Marianna Spring takes us through the responsibilities of broadcasters to counter disinformation, whether it’s a losing battle to engage with conspiracy theorists, and the role of platforms like Google and Facebook when it comes to the spread of lies, damn lies.
In the news roundup the team debates whether the B2B events industry is about to have its print advertising moment, discusses the 550 jobs set to be lost at Reach, and ask if anyone will pay for a subscription to the Media Voices’ Twitter feed. Special guests: dogs.
Key story:
News in brief:
- Reach, the owner of the Daily Mirror, Daily Express and Daily Star newspapers is to cut 550 jobs, 12% of its workforce, because of falling income amid reduced demand for advertising in its titles.
- Hours after Hong Kong announced sweeping new powers to police the internet on Monday night, several tech companies including Microsoft all suspended requests for data from the Hong Kong government.
- 18- to 39-year-olds perceived some problems with news quality during the pandemic. Multiple studies have shown that older generations are more likely to share fake news without fact-checking.
- Cycling Electric, a magazine launch from Dennis Publishing, is a new brand for e-bikes and e-mobility, with a bi-annual 140 page magazine priced at £5.99. It’s supported by a dedicated e-bike online channel within cyclist.co.uk.
- Reuters is planning an online paywall which will go into effect in February, according to a memo to employees. Its coverage of industries including energy and sustainability and Breaking Views will be some of the sections to be paywalled.
- Archant has put itself up for sale to plug a funding deficit exacerbated by COVID-19. The New European publisher, one of Britain’s oldest regional newspaper groups, has appointed corporate financiers with the aim of securing funding in the next few months.
- New Zealand’s Stuff newspaper group is ‘experimenting’ with quitting Facebook – not posting breaking news or stories to the platform – as part of the global boycott to pressure FB to take stronger action against hate speech.
- A new job listing shows that Twitter has a new internal team codenamed ‘Gryphon’ that is looking to build a subscription platform.
Sign up to The Media Roundup – our new daily newsletter bringing you the top 3-4 stories you need to know each day
[revue_subscribe]
