News

Gallup poll: Only 21 percent list Internet as main news source — can this be right?

A recent Gallup poll found that 55 percent of Americans list TV as their primary source of news, and only 21 percent give Internet media this distinction. But this research may not be reason for broadcast companies to celebrate nor for digital media to despair: Other studies contradict Gallup’s findings by suggesting the new generation of news consumers are abandoning TV for information online.

Best practices for verifying UGC photos

The process of verifying user-generated content (UGC), particularly photos, has long been “more art than science,” as NPR’s Andy Carvin, who curates UGC from the Middle East on his 96,000-follower Twitter feed, said in 2011. But a recent study was able to identify fake photos with 97 percent accuracy, suggesting that technology will soon allow journalists to streamline the UGC verification process to the click of a button.

Stakeholder wants La Vie kicked out of Le Monde group over anti-gay marriage editorial

As stakeholder of Le Monde and an active supporter of gay rights, Pierre Bergé announced in a board meeting of the Le Monde newspaper group on Tuesday afternoon that he would like the French Christian weekly La Vie sold off and hereby disassociated with Le Monde following the magazine’s decision to publish an anti-gay marriage editorial.

Censored notes on a scandal: Mediapart, Le Point ordered to take down ‘Bettencourt Affair’ recordings

The Court of Appeal of Versailles ruled on Thursday that the French news organisations Le Point and Mediapart must remove all published copies and transcriptions of a series of recordings made at the home of France’s richest woman, Liliane Bettencourt. Based on the claim that the recordings infringed upon Bettencourt’s right to privacy, the judicial decision has been condemned by some of France’s leading media figures as an attack on press freedom.

Free trial pays off for Ekstra Bladet freemium content

Seven weeks from launch, the 40% conversion rate from Ekstra Bladet’s free trial shows that some readers are willing to pay for quality content on tabloid (or so called ‘boulevard’) news websites.

Trinity Mirror doubles digital staff, perhaps to woo Sun readers

Trinity Mirror announced plans to recruit 25 digital editorial staffers, doubling the size its new media department in a bid to become “digital first.”

Three years into The Times’ paywall, CEO says revenue’s worth lost reach

News UK Chief Executive Officer Mike Darcey said The Times’ strict, nonporous paywall has brought enough revenue to make it a success, three years since its introduction.

Sales of French national dailies plummeted in May

With the sole exception of La Croix, all national daily newspapers in France reported declining sales figures for the month of May, according to the OJD (Association pour la contrôle de la diffusion des medias).

Jordanian online press freedom is threatened as 254 unlicensed news sites are blocked

On Tuesday 2 July the Jordanian government announced it had blocked 254 news websites that had failed to obtain a government license. This move follows a controversial change to the Press and Publication Law in 2012 dictating that online news sites must register with the government, a policy that independent watchdog organisation Freedom House fear will “risk curbing their independent reporting and analysis.” Among the blocked sites are those for Al-Jazeera, Time Out magazine and AmmanNet.

News Corp turns to mobile in an attempt to make its news titles profitable

Robert Thomson, chief executive of the newly created News Corp, has been unveiling the company’s mobile-first strategy in the hope of convincing investors that there is a future beyond print for the now independent branch of Murdoch-owned news titles and publishers.