The precarious state of local news giants

Even compared to this year’s other brutal weeks for American journalism, the past seven days have been particularly turbulent. Last Wednesday, the publishing giant McClatchy reported severe liquidity problems along with its third-quarter results; its share price has since collapsed from $2.28 to $0.40. Last Thursday, shareholders voted to approve the merger of two more media giants—GateHouse and Gannett—despite stock in GateHouse’s parent, New Media Investment Group, also having cratered since the merger was announced. The deal closed yesterday; the new company is just called Gannett. Also yesterday, Alden Global Capital—a hedge fund, notorious for cost-slashing at its media properties, that itself tried to buy Gannett earlier this year—acquired a 25-percent stake in Tribune Publishing Company, becoming its biggest shareholder. To simplify, the Wall Street types who increasingly control local news are playing with all their biggest chips at once. As Nieman Lab’s Ken Doctor told CNN last night, this week marks a “major turning point” for the industry. “At a time when local news is needed more than ever, it is the bankers who are deciding what will be defined as news, and who will be employed to report it.” From archives: Politico embarrasses WSJ by publishing transcript The closure of the Gannett–GateHouse deal was the least surprising of these new developments, and is probably the most significant. Prior to their merger, the companies were, respectively, America’s first... Continue reading at 'Columbia Journalism Review'

[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2019-11-20 13:10:34 UTC ]
News tagged with: #senior editor #publishing giant

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The precarious state of local news giants'


Jason Reynolds bought up all his own books from local DC bookstores and gave them to readers.

Jason Reynolds: two-time National Book Award finalist, TIME 100 Next honoree, and, apparently, real-life angel. Yesterday, for Giving Tuesday, the Look Both Ways and Ghost author let us know via Twitter that he’d bought the entire inventory of his books from local bookstores across DC, so... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-12-03 18:19:56 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jason reynolds #giving tuesday #local bookstores #literary hub #national book award


Frankfurt Academic Conference: Libraries and Publishing in Europe and the States

The two-day Frankfurt Academic Conference program looks at how publishers and libraries are managing open access and the pandemic. The post Frankfurt Academic Conference: Libraries and Publishing in Europe and the States appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-12-02 19:20:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #states appeared #libraries


ABC accuses Morrison government of using News Corp to attack its journalism

Government tactics criticised after the Australian newspaper briefed about a series of Coalition questions meant for the ABC before the broadcaster even received themThe ABC has accused the Morrison government of using News Corp to attack its journalism after the Australian was briefed about a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-12-02 02:10:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #morrison government #front page #inappropriate behaviour #christian porter #news corp


Penguin to buy Simon & Schuster, create publishing giant

German media giant Bertelsmann says that its Penguin Random House division is buying rival Simon & Schuster Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2020-11-25 20:24:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #penguin random house #bertelsmann


12 new books to get from your local bookstore today.

In the mood for a little holiday shopping? You know what they say: November is the new December! Who says that? Independent bookstores that need your support now! So here are a dozen new books hitting shelves today. Go forth! * Ernest Cline, Ready Player Two (Ballantine) “This sequel, nine years... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-11-24 12:39:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #holiday shopping #independent bookstores #ready player #literary hub #bookstore


The good and bad news of the HuffFeed deal

Yesterday, Benjamin Mullin and Keach Hagey, of the Wall Street Journal, broke a huge media-business story: BuzzFeed is buying HuffPost in a stock deal, part of a broader package that will see Verizon Media, HuffPost’s current owner, take a minority stake and make a cash investment in BuzzFeed.... Continue reading at Columbia Journalism Review

[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2020-11-20 13:25:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #eu regulators #fallout continues #cover image #libel case #soccer star #digital publishers


Rupert Murdoch tries to weather News Corp's climate crisis at AGM | The Weekly Beast

News Corp executive chairman says ‘we do not deny climate change’. Plus: ABC rejects Media Watch segmentWhile News Corp’s Australian outlets were waging war against two former prime ministers at home, the New York-based company was holding its first virtual annual general meeting to update its... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-11-20 00:31:56 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #australian outlets #waging war #prime ministers #york-based company #bad year #kevin rudd #malcolm turnbull #lesser extent #murdoch press #royal commission #senate inquiry #media diversity #news corp


Buzzfeed to take over online news site HuffPost

The deal will bring together two of the world's most high-profile digital media firms. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2020-11-19 19:56:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital media


Bertelsmann acquiring S&S would be 'profound antitrust issue' for the trade, News Corp c.e.o. claims

News Corp c.e.o. Robert Thomson has said that it would be a "serious antitrust issue" for the industry if Bertelsmann were to acquire Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-19 09:05:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #robert thomson #antitrust issue #news corp


News Corp CEO Sees Antitrust Concerns in PRH Buy of S&S

Robert Thomson, CEO of HarperCollins parent company News Corp, said during the company's annual meeting that a purchase of Simon & Schuster by Penguin Random House "will clearly be a serious antitrust issue." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-11-19 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #robert thomson #annual meeting #simon schuster #antitrust issue #penguin random house #harpercollins


Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull challenge News Corp over reports of ‘foreign interference’ in petition

Parliamentary committee investigating after former prime ministers criticise Murdoch media story on ‘fake’ names in petitionFormer prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull have challenged News Corp to co-operate with any investigation stemming from reports of “foreign interference” in a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-11-18 08:02:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #petition calling #kevin rudd #malcolm turnbull #royal commission #murdoch media #australian newspaper #rupert murdoch #news corp


Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp Bids for Simon & Schuster

A sale of the venerable publisher of Stephen King and Hillary Clinton could fetch $1.7 billion and rev up consolidation in book publishing. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-11-17 08:28:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rupert murdoch #simon schuster #stephen king #hillary clinton #book publishing #news corp


New York Times reports News Corp bid for S&S

Rupert Murdoch's media giant News Corp has made a bid for Simon & Schuster, according to a report in the New York Times. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-17 08:28:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rupert murdoch #simon schuster #news corp


Doctor Who's sonic pioneers to turn internet into giant musical instrument

The BBC Radiophonic Workshop made the famous science fiction theme tune and worked with the Beatles. Now it is preparing to make historyThe Radiophonic Workshop has always broken new sonic ground, from the Doctor Who theme to the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Now they’re at it again – this... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-11-15 10:00:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #influenced generations #paul mccartney #pink floyd #science fiction


Will Donald Trump start his own right-wing news channel?

As Trump and his allies continue their desperate efforts to overturn the election results, there are reports that the soon-to-be former president is planning to launch his own media venture. Mike Allen, of Axios, wrote in his newsletter on Thursday that Trump “has told friends he wants to start... Continue reading at Columbia Journalism Review

[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2020-11-13 12:41:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mark zuckerberg #fbi director #anthony fauci #general counsel #daily newspapers #digital media


Making virtual local

When we started planning Book Week Scotland 2020, the natural fit for the theme was future: the year was filled with exciting possibilities and interactive, grassroot community projects. At Scottish Book Trust, planning that started in February soon shuddered to a halt: although we didn’t know... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-10 20:24:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #natural fit #libraries #physical book #scottish book #book week


21 new books to buy from your local indie today.

You know what they say: November is the new December! When’s the best time to support your local bookstore and get holiday gifts? Well, there’s no time like the present. (Get it?) (I’m sorry.) (But seriously, support your favorite indie and check out these new books!) * Jonathan Lethem, The... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-11-10 19:44:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #local bookstore #holiday gifts #literary hub #bookstore


Trump Team Holds News Conference Outside Drab Landscaping Firm, Next to Adult Book Store

Trump first said it was going to be at the Four Seasons and everyone assumed it was the hotel but he later clarified it was Four Seasons Total Landscaping. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2020-11-07 23:30:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #adult book


Why Nordic publishing giant Schibsted joined the coalition lobbying for Apple App Store ‘fairness’

Schibsted is one of the newest members of the Coalition for App Fairness, a group that includes the likes of Epic Games and Spotify. The post Why Nordic publishing giant Schibsted joined the coalition lobbying for Apple App Store ‘fairness’ appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2020-10-29 04:01:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #epic games #publishing giant


Public keen to shop locally this Christmas, BA finds

A recent consumer survey conducted by the Booksellers Association has revealed strong public support for shopping locally in the run up to Christmas, in addition to an earlier start to festive buying. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-27 17:41:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #shop locally #booksellers association