Media UK: Press news

Libel case set to shed light on Desmond media empire - from Media Guardian

Sun, 5 Jul 2009 11:00:01 +0100

Daily Express owner Richard Desmond suing investigative biographer Tom Bower over claims about editorial interferenceA window could be opened tomorrow on the operation of one of Britain's most controversial media tycoons as Richard Desmond starts a high court libel battle against investigative biographer Tom Bower.The owner of Express Newspapers is suing Bower for defamation after claims made in Bower's recent book about disgraced press baron Conrad Black alleged Desmond interfered in editorial policy.Both sides have hired heavyweight lawyers for the high court clash, which is expected to lead to a number of revelations about the inner workings of Desmond's organisation.Desmond selected London firm Schillings, specialists in defamation claims and reputation management, who have previously represented celebrity clients including actor Keira Knightley, author JK Rowling and TV star Jonathan Ross.In the other corner Bower, who is married to former Evening Standard editor Veronica Wadley, has hired feted libel silk Ronald Thwaites QC.The trial, in effect, also pitches the proprietor of one large media business against another publishing empire as Bower's Conrad book was published by Harper Collins, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.The case has come about because Bower is a biographer who likes to deal in heavy hitters. In addition to Conrad Black, in the last 20 years he has written books on some of the most powerful people in Britain including Richard Branson, Robert Maxwell, Mohamed Al Fayed, Geoffrey Robinson and Gordon Brown.But it is a further, unpublished biography that gives extra spice to the proceedings, which start tomorrow and are expected to run for more than a week.Bower has written a biography of Desmond, provisionally titled Rough Trader, which has yet to appear in book stores, despite having been pencilled in for publication years ago.This week's case, which is understood to relate to a single paragraph of Bower's book on Black, the former owner of the Daily Telegraph, comes before a jury in Justice Eady's Court 13 – almost two years after Desmond launched his legal battle.Desmond, who owns a number of adult pay-TV channels, has also seen his personal worth fall since launching the libel claim, with the Sunday Times Rich List estimating it to have dropped to £950m this year from close to £2bn the previous year.• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".Richard DesmondDaily ExpressDaily StarDaily Star SundaySunday ExpressExpress NewspapersNewspapers & magazinesMedia lawNewspapersNational newspapersguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

'Newspaper Club' Aims Custom Newsletter Publishing At Community Groups paidContent:UK - from paidContent:UK

Sun, 5 Jul 2009 06:20:16 +0100

Industry Moves: Rubicon's Director Of Publishing; Discovery Nordic Chief; Nokia VP Joins Wolfson paidContent:UK - from paidContent:UK

Sun, 5 Jul 2009 06:20:11 +0100

'The challenge is not to save newspapers, but journalism' - from The Independent

Sun, 5 Jul 2009 00:00:01 +0100

More than three weeks after Iran's disputed presidential election, at least 33 journalists are behind bars this weekend. Iran now has more journalists in prison than any country in the world, says the charity Reporters Sans Frontiers. Dozens of foreign journalists were booted out of the country or arrested following the election, and the entire editorial staff of one Iranian newspaper was incarcerated.

The feral beast: Who's that dandy? - from The Independent

Sun, 5 Jul 2009 00:00:01 +0100

Evening Standard editor Geordie Greig has been a big hit with The Big Issue, which has a highly favourable interview under the headline "Raising Standards" (what would Veronica Wadley make of that?)

Noel Gallagher Spent £1m On 'Beautiful' Drugs - from Sky News

Sat, 4 Jul 2009 13:30:07 +0100

Oasis star Noel Gallagher has spent an amazing £1m on drugs and enjoyed every minute of it, he told an Italian newspaper.

Trinity Mirror bolstered by Citi rating - from Financial Times

Sat, 4 Jul 2009 03:00:00 +0100

Newspapers group Trinity Mirror added 3 per cent to 59¾p after Citigroup reiterated its "buy" rating, on the grounds that concerns over debts and competition...

Indulge your selfishness. Go and help someone - from The Times

Sat, 4 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

My friend L, for years a magazine editor of sharp tailoring and formidable repute, has been helping out her local hoodies. When introduced to these huge, surly, baseball-capped lunks, her first instinct was to flee. They were Neets — that growing pariah group of kids not in education, employment or training — with barely a GCSE between them. Nonetheless L had volunteered to help them to draw up CVs, so she rolled up her sleeves, as she put it, “to try to make s*** shine”.

Corrected: Obama's Web Strategist Not Helping Olympics Or Labour Party - from paidContent:UK

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 19:50:10 +0100

Corrected: I really must stop believing some news sources. Contrary to what Revolution magazine reported from its own conference, Blue State isn’t retained by London 2012 either “in any capacity”, the Games’ new media head Alex Balfour tells us in our comments...

What next for newspapers? - from The Independent

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 18:28:39 +0100

Rolling Stone gathers no readers at Goldman Sachs - from Daily Telegraph

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 17:26:24 +0100

The highly entertaining war of words between Rolling Stone magazine and Goldman Sachs goes on.

Why Nick Denton wouldn’t set up shop in UK - from Journalism.co.uk

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:42:33 +0100

From Politico: a report on a panel at the Institute’s Ideas Festival in Colarado, asking ‘What’s the News Worth to You?’ For us Brits, this is the interesting part: “During the panel’s Q&A, Gawker Media’s Nick Denton sarcastically thanked the American newspaper industry for being so unaggressive, making it possible for ‘thugs’ like him to succeed. “Conversely, Denton [...]

Regional press big hitters to be quizzed by MPs - from Hold the Front Page

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:40:16 +0100

Committee inquiry into state of industry continues

Industry Moves: Rubicon's Director Of Publishing; Discovery Nordic Chief; Nokia VP Joins Wolfson - from paidContent:UK

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:40:08 +0100

—Rubicon publisher: UK ad technology company the Rubicon Project has appointed Justin Thomas to the new role of director of publisher development. The former AOL (NYSE: TWX) Europe man moves over from price comparison service Xelector, where he sealed white label partnerships with Telegraph.

Regional press big hitters to be quizzed by MPs - from Hold the Front Page

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 15:30:14 +0100

Committee inquiry into state of industry continues