ProPublica's Richard Tofel: 'Our mission is to end abuses of power'

The president of the non-profit investigative journalism website on measuring impact, team work – and Edward SnowdenRichard Tofel has had a dream. It came upon him the night before we meet and he is still a little rattled by it. In it, he found himself performing his old role at Dow Jones, where he rose to become assistant publisher of the Wall Street Journal. "I was back in Dow Jones, and there were a million committees and a thousand departments and forms to fill," he says. After a beat, he adds: "It was not a happy dream."The good news for Tofel is that for more than five years he has worked at the gloriously lithe and bureaucratically unencumbered ProPublica, a non-profit investigative journalism outfit where he is president. "There are advantages to having 10,000 people, but the saying about turning round the battleship is true. The media business is changing so quickly, there are enormous advantages to those who can change quickly with it."On Monday night, Tofel takes that message of small and flexible is beautiful to London, where he will be addressing the One World Media awards honouring outstanding coverage of the developing world. He will talk about the subject that is increasingly preoccupying him: how to measure impact in journalism. The issue, you might say, is as old as the printing presses. Grub Street has traditionally done it, scurrilously, by counting "scalps" – resignations exacted of people in high office. Newspapers have also tracked circulation or... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-01-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Crowdfunding as a Source of Book Marketing Power

More than money, crowdfunding offers valuable feedback to authors, as they learn the fundamentals of speaking directly to readers, argues Deborah Emin. The post Crowdfunding as a Source of Book Marketing Power appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Elizabeth is Missing voted favourite Richard and Judy Spring title

Emma Healey’s début novel Elizabeth is Missing (Penguin) has been voted as the best title in Richard and Judy’s Spring 2015 Book Club. Readers voted for their favourite book from the book club’s eight Spring picks on the W H Smith website. The second most-voted-for title was The Miniaturist by... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #emma healey #missing penguin #favourite book #book club #tony parsons


Bookselling Roundup, Week Ending April 24, 2015

This week, U.K. chain Waterstones introduced a watch that consumers can use as a reading device; Vermont mini chain Phoenix Books announced a new store for Rutland; and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cannabis Cooking Goes High-End, Mainstream

Twenty-three states and D.C. have now decriminalized marijuana, and cookbook publishers are taking notice of the new face of pot consumption. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookselling Roundup, Week Ending April 17, 2015

Independent booksellers continue to show their resilience. Jan Saley has recommitted to the bookstore she has operated for the past 38 years and is tripling its space. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Happy Ending for Gay Author Thwarted by Small Publisher

When Sweetwater Books declined to publish a book with a co-author's biography that mentioned a "partner," the book found a new, better home: Scholastic. The post Happy Ending for Gay Author Thwarted by Small Publisher appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #happy ending #small publisher


Bookselling Roundup, Week Ending April 10, 2015

April marks the opening of two stores with a children’s connection: one is a children’s only bookstore, the other showcases indie authors and was launched by a children's book author. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Harper Lee elder abuse investigation closed

An investigation into potential elder-abuse of author Harper Lee - sparked by the surprising announcement that she would publish a new book - has been closed, with no findings of any abuse, officials say. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookselling Roundup, Week Ending April 3, 2015

Despite several store closings, independent bookstores continue to open in greater numbers, like B&F Books in West New York, N.J. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PlayStation's original programming future depends on 'Powers'

Powers is the first series to come from Sony PlayStation's original programming push, a partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, and it's not rated "E" for everyone. With comic books as its source material, the racy superhero cop drama from crea... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookselling Roundup, Week Ending March 27, 2015

The potential fragility of new bookstore ventures was driven home when two-year-old Granada Books in Santa Barbara announced that it needs $50,000 to stay open. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Europe's universities call for end to 'double dipping'

Europe's research universities have called on the academic publishing sector to stop double-dipping when charging researchers and their institutions for subscriptions and fees for processing contributed articles.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rotherham abuse survivor memoir to HC

Harper Element has signed a first-person account from a survivor of the Rotherham abuse scandal. Publisher Natalie Jerome and interim editorial director Kate Latham acquired world English language rights in Violated: My True Story as a Survivor of the Rotherham Abuse Scandal by Sarah Wilson... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookselling Roundup, Week Ending March 20, 2015

Lhooq Books opens, while Sparta Books marks its 50th anniversary. And Independent Bookstore Day (May 2) moves forward with a new interactive map. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New-Media Powers Say They'll Be Profitable Soon. Don't Ask About That Facebook Plan

New media titans have shown they can attract investors' money, raking in millions in venture capital funding, but they have not answered clearly whether they can show a profit.At South by Southwest, sales chiefs for three heavily-funded digital publishers said they can do that too, or can soon,... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookselling Roundup, Week Ending March 13, 2015

Two bookstores changed hands this week—Main Street Books in Davidson, N.C., and Partners Village in Westport, Mass. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Report: Alabama investigating possible elder abuse in connection with Harper Lee’s new novel

The news last month that Harper Lee would be publishing a second book was met with a brief blip of exultation followed by skepticism from fans of To Kill a Mockingbird. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Johnston Press chief: we will end up with fewer full-time journalists

Ashley Highfield says the ‘economics’ of digital news require the publisher to rely more on a ‘fluid’ selection of contributorsJohnston Press chief executive Ashley Highfield has warned that the number of full-time journalists working across the group’s local titles will fall from its current... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookselling Roundup, Week Ending March 6, 2015

The NEA’s Read Across America program continues through Saturday with a number of locations around the country celebrating children's literacy. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google, Beware: Facebook to Open Ad Exchange Powered by LiveRail

Facebook continues its campaign to invade Google's ad-tech turf.Facebook is building an ad exchange that would automate the sale of other publishers' ads, according to people familiar with the matter. LiveRail, the online video ad-tech firm that Facebook bought last summer, will be the one... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #display ads #publishers sell #ad exchange #facebook continues #facebook bought #people familiar