Charlotte Tobitt
@charlottetobitt.bsky.social
News, features and analysis about the news media business. UK editor at @pressgazette.co.uk - get me on [email protected]
Mishal Husain responds to Nigel Farage's 'listen, love' and shares a good take on how to do the best interviews - it's not as a 'contest' or letting it become a 'slanging match' pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/b...
Bloomberg's Mishal Husain: Interviews shouldn't be about 'winning or losing'
Bloomberg Weekend's editor-at-large Mishal Husain was interviewed at the NCTJ inclusion in journalism conference on Monday.
pressgazette.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Mishal Husain responds to Nigel Farage's 'listen, love' and shares a good take on how to do the best interviews - it's not as a 'contest' or letting it become a 'slanging match' pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/b...
I usually forget to share my stuff on Bluesky, but I should flag this one that I'm particularly proud of: what happened when we found out about a 'freelance journalist' called 'Margaux Blanchard' who had got published in Wired and Business Insider pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/d...
Wired and Business Insider remove 'AI-written' freelance articles
Wired and Business Insider have removed freelance articles over concerns they were written by AI under a fake name.
pressgazette.co.uk
August 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM
I usually forget to share my stuff on Bluesky, but I should flag this one that I'm particularly proud of: what happened when we found out about a 'freelance journalist' called 'Margaux Blanchard' who had got published in Wired and Business Insider pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/d...
Interesting to see Reach papers the Express and Daily Star use a blurred image of an injured Liverpool supporter but The Guardian and The i Paper use the same photo uncensored www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Newspaper headlines: Liverpool 'glory' descends into 'horror'
The aftermath of a car ploughing into crowds at the Liverpool FC victory parade dominates Tuesday's papers.
www.bbc.co.uk
May 27, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Interesting to see Reach papers the Express and Daily Star use a blurred image of an injured Liverpool supporter but The Guardian and The i Paper use the same photo uncensored www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
News: Management at the New Statesman and sister titles including Press Gazette have signed a union recognition agreement after years of negotiation. www.nuj.org.uk/resource/nuj...
NUJ celebrates recognition at the New Statesman and Progressive Media Investments
The NUJ has secured recognition at the distinguished political magazine the New Statesman and the global publisher Progressive Media Investments (PMI).
www.nuj.org.uk
May 23, 2025 at 11:32 AM
News: Management at the New Statesman and sister titles including Press Gazette have signed a union recognition agreement after years of negotiation. www.nuj.org.uk/resource/nuj...
Vittles in print: profitable, twice a year, the culmination of a long-held ambition - although print is "now countercultural" and can have "misplaced sense of prestige". Great interview with @jonathandnunn.bsky.social
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/m...
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/m...
'Print is new counter culture' says Vittles founder as newsletter launches in print
Interview with Vittles magazine founder Jonathan Nunn who first launched the food brand on Substack in 2020 and has now gone into print.
pressgazette.co.uk
May 21, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Vittles in print: profitable, twice a year, the culmination of a long-held ambition - although print is "now countercultural" and can have "misplaced sense of prestige". Great interview with @jonathandnunn.bsky.social
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/m...
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/m...
We're hiring at Press Gazette!
We're looking to hire either a junior reporter up for learning all about the world of media, or a more experienced person who can work part-time with me & Dominic Ponsford.
Feel free to send me any Qs. You can get all the info here: pressgazette.co.uk/media-jobs/p...
We're looking to hire either a junior reporter up for learning all about the world of media, or a more experienced person who can work part-time with me & Dominic Ponsford.
Feel free to send me any Qs. You can get all the info here: pressgazette.co.uk/media-jobs/p...
Press Gazette is recruiting a reporter/feature writer
Job advert for someone to join Press Gazette team.
pressgazette.co.uk
April 28, 2025 at 4:33 PM
We're hiring at Press Gazette!
We're looking to hire either a junior reporter up for learning all about the world of media, or a more experienced person who can work part-time with me & Dominic Ponsford.
Feel free to send me any Qs. You can get all the info here: pressgazette.co.uk/media-jobs/p...
We're looking to hire either a junior reporter up for learning all about the world of media, or a more experienced person who can work part-time with me & Dominic Ponsford.
Feel free to send me any Qs. You can get all the info here: pressgazette.co.uk/media-jobs/p...
Reposted by Charlotte Tobitt
This is wild, fascinating and genuinely important. pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/d...
Virtual reality: The widely-quoted media experts who are not what they seem
Press Gazette investigation into the widely-quoted national media experts who either do not exist, or whose credentials have not been checked.
pressgazette.co.uk
April 14, 2025 at 1:38 PM
This is wild, fascinating and genuinely important. pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/d...
My favourite thing about this piece by Colin Freeman is the emphasis on how great local newspapers were/are as a place to start for young journalists. "Yet like many in my trade, I regard my days on local papers as the most useful in my career." www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...
The sad decline of the local paper
King Charles praised local news – but the industry, which once covered everything from councils to courts, is fading fast. Can it be revived?
www.spectator.co.uk
April 3, 2025 at 11:17 AM
My favourite thing about this piece by Colin Freeman is the emphasis on how great local newspapers were/are as a place to start for young journalists. "Yet like many in my trade, I regard my days on local papers as the most useful in my career." www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...
Aside from the financial results themselves, really interested to see Jim Mullen highlight the customer experience on Reach sites.
He says they are rolling out a new website platform which is tripling page loading speed pressgazette.co.uk/media_busine...
He says they are rolling out a new website platform which is tripling page loading speed pressgazette.co.uk/media_busine...
Cost cuts and growing digital revenue boost Reach profits for 2024
Reach results 2024: Cost cuts and digital growth helped Reach grow profits for 2024 as overall revenue declines.
pressgazette.co.uk
March 4, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Aside from the financial results themselves, really interested to see Jim Mullen highlight the customer experience on Reach sites.
He says they are rolling out a new website platform which is tripling page loading speed pressgazette.co.uk/media_busine...
He says they are rolling out a new website platform which is tripling page loading speed pressgazette.co.uk/media_busine...
Three incredibly striking front pages today:
1. Daily Mail taking a massive stand on AI ahead of the Govt consultation closing.
2. The Sun: "paedo spotted spluttering on vape"!
3. New York Post calling out Trump and Putin.
I have seen all three of these praised today: the power of print lives on!
1. Daily Mail taking a massive stand on AI ahead of the Govt consultation closing.
2. The Sun: "paedo spotted spluttering on vape"!
3. New York Post calling out Trump and Putin.
I have seen all three of these praised today: the power of print lives on!
February 21, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Three incredibly striking front pages today:
1. Daily Mail taking a massive stand on AI ahead of the Govt consultation closing.
2. The Sun: "paedo spotted spluttering on vape"!
3. New York Post calling out Trump and Putin.
I have seen all three of these praised today: the power of print lives on!
1. Daily Mail taking a massive stand on AI ahead of the Govt consultation closing.
2. The Sun: "paedo spotted spluttering on vape"!
3. New York Post calling out Trump and Putin.
I have seen all three of these praised today: the power of print lives on!
It's a tough choice but here is my favourite of Tom's commandments: "And here is another thing to remember every time you sit down at the keyboard: a little sign that says "Nobody has to read this crap.""
Former Guardian science editor, letters editor, arts editor and literary editor Tim Radford - who once wrote 25 'commandments for journalists' - has died aged 84. https://buff.ly/41fhcY4 The commandments are here and still relevant today: https://buff.ly/2IZqhK5
Tim Radford, former Guardian science editor, dies aged 84
Tributes paid to journalist remembered for infectious enthusiasm for science and talent for turning a phrase
buff.ly
February 14, 2025 at 3:19 PM
It's a tough choice but here is my favourite of Tom's commandments: "And here is another thing to remember every time you sit down at the keyboard: a little sign that says "Nobody has to read this crap.""
Reposted by Charlotte Tobitt
@charlottetobitt.bsky.social covers our new paywalls study at @pressgazette.co.uk.
Fully study:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
We dug into millions of visits to paywalled articles at 21 news websites to see what prevented & prompted visitors starting & finishing the subscription journey.
Fully study:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
We dug into millions of visits to paywalled articles at 21 news websites to see what prevented & prompted visitors starting & finishing the subscription journey.
And how best to get people to subscribe in the first place? New research suggests less can be more on paywalled websites https://buff.ly/4hGjjtR
Giving readers less can lead to more subscribers, new research
Showing a standfirst or intro below the headline of a paywalled article "significantly decreases" the odds of visitors clicking subscribe.
buff.ly
February 13, 2025 at 12:34 PM
@charlottetobitt.bsky.social covers our new paywalls study at @pressgazette.co.uk.
Fully study:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
We dug into millions of visits to paywalled articles at 21 news websites to see what prevented & prompted visitors starting & finishing the subscription journey.
Fully study:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
We dug into millions of visits to paywalled articles at 21 news websites to see what prevented & prompted visitors starting & finishing the subscription journey.
Fascinating interview with Will Hayward who left Wales Online to relaunch his newsletter on his own and said it has proved a financial "no-brainer".
Publishers are going to have to reckon with the fact a lot of their top talent could earn more on their own
pressgazette.co.uk/newsletters/...
Publishers are going to have to reckon with the fact a lot of their top talent could earn more on their own
pressgazette.co.uk/newsletters/...
Will Hayward says quitting Wales Online to launch Substack was financial 'no-brainer'
Former Reach Welsh affairs editor Will Hayward has said going solo via Substack has proved to be a financial “no-brainer”.
pressgazette.co.uk
February 3, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Fascinating interview with Will Hayward who left Wales Online to relaunch his newsletter on his own and said it has proved a financial "no-brainer".
Publishers are going to have to reckon with the fact a lot of their top talent could earn more on their own
pressgazette.co.uk/newsletters/...
Publishers are going to have to reckon with the fact a lot of their top talent could earn more on their own
pressgazette.co.uk/newsletters/...
For a few years now the Mail has been slowly combining its print and digital operations, in part getting rid of duplicated work between Mail Online and the papers. This is believed to be the final stage. Double-digit job cuts (so 99 or fewer) expected. pressgazette.co.uk/news/mail-do...
Major job cuts at Mail titles in final stage of digital-first transition
The Mail plans to make up to 100 job cuts as it brings its print and online teams "fully together to create a dynamic digital-first newsroom"
pressgazette.co.uk
January 30, 2025 at 4:16 PM
For a few years now the Mail has been slowly combining its print and digital operations, in part getting rid of duplicated work between Mail Online and the papers. This is believed to be the final stage. Double-digit job cuts (so 99 or fewer) expected. pressgazette.co.uk/news/mail-do...
New Adrian Chiles classic just dropped: "I have lost all faith in zips" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I have lost all faith in zips | Adrian Chiles
The only thing worse than spending a fortune on a coat you don’t really need is spending a fortune on a coat you don’t really need, then damaging it, then discovering that no one wants to fix it, says...
www.theguardian.com
January 29, 2025 at 3:08 PM
New Adrian Chiles classic just dropped: "I have lost all faith in zips" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Enjoyed outgoing Daily Star editor Jon Clark's entire quote about his departure: “It’s been fun.”
Big shake-up as new Daily Star editor-in-chief will be focused on online for the first time, with the print editor reporting to him.
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/n...
Big shake-up as new Daily Star editor-in-chief will be focused on online for the first time, with the print editor reporting to him.
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/n...
Daily Star editor Jon Clark to leave amid new digital-first strategy
Daily Star editor-in-chief Jon Clark is stepping down as a "more digitally-focused structure" comes into place.
pressgazette.co.uk
January 28, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Enjoyed outgoing Daily Star editor Jon Clark's entire quote about his departure: “It’s been fun.”
Big shake-up as new Daily Star editor-in-chief will be focused on online for the first time, with the print editor reporting to him.
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/n...
Big shake-up as new Daily Star editor-in-chief will be focused on online for the first time, with the print editor reporting to him.
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/n...
An absolutely remarkable judgment. Court of Appeal says judge was "unfair" to the media including because he said "with such vehemence… that the journalists had been guilty of inaccurate, unfair and irresponsible reporting" and was sarcastic about a Dispatches prog pressgazette.co.uk/news/journal...
Sara Sharif murder case judges to be named after 'unfair' treatment of journalists
Journalists have won their appeal to be able to name three judges who dealt with schoolgirl Sara Sharif's case in the family court.
pressgazette.co.uk
January 24, 2025 at 11:13 AM
An absolutely remarkable judgment. Court of Appeal says judge was "unfair" to the media including because he said "with such vehemence… that the journalists had been guilty of inaccurate, unfair and irresponsible reporting" and was sarcastic about a Dispatches prog pressgazette.co.uk/news/journal...
Reposted by Charlotte Tobitt
News UK admits ‘unlawful activities’ at Sun in settlement apology to Prince Harry pressgazette.co.uk/news/prince-...
News UK admits 'unlawful activities' at Sun in settlement apology to Prince Harry
Sun publisher News Group Newspapers has admitted "unlawful activities" took place at the newspaper in a legal settlement with Prince Harry.
pressgazette.co.uk
January 22, 2025 at 11:06 AM
News UK admits ‘unlawful activities’ at Sun in settlement apology to Prince Harry pressgazette.co.uk/news/prince-...
Fascinating to discover the tech world is currently obsessed with using the Chatham House Rule
“There’s no clear reason why we’re using it,” he said. “I haven’t noticed people saying spicier stuff.” sfstandard.com/2025/01/11/c...
“There’s no clear reason why we’re using it,” he said. “I haven’t noticed people saying spicier stuff.” sfstandard.com/2025/01/11/c...
Why is every Bay Area event imposing Chatham House Rules?
An archaic English gag rule is enforcing silence everywhere in the Bay Area, from health conferences to AI salons to dinner parties.
sfstandard.com
January 15, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Fascinating to discover the tech world is currently obsessed with using the Chatham House Rule
“There’s no clear reason why we’re using it,” he said. “I haven’t noticed people saying spicier stuff.” sfstandard.com/2025/01/11/c...
“There’s no clear reason why we’re using it,” he said. “I haven’t noticed people saying spicier stuff.” sfstandard.com/2025/01/11/c...
In which I give some analysis of the Tortoise-Observer deal, share our biggest British Journalism Awards winners, shout out some women in journalism.. oh and also reveal my sister-in-law is obsessed with Gavin & Stacey and that I have a soft spot for a Netflix rom com (One Day and Nobody Wants This)
Ofcom puts the breaks on Radio 2 Extra, Tortoise grabs The Observer, Gregg-gate latest plus TV for 2025. The @radiotimes.bsky.social's Caroline Frost and @pressgazette.co.uk's @charlottetobitt.bsky.social join @mattdeegan.com.
Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpbU...
Listen: pod.fo/e/293df1
Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpbU...
Listen: pod.fo/e/293df1
Tortoise Takes The Observer | The Media Club
YouTube video by The Media Club with Matt Deegan
www.youtube.com
December 20, 2024 at 2:48 PM
In which I give some analysis of the Tortoise-Observer deal, share our biggest British Journalism Awards winners, shout out some women in journalism.. oh and also reveal my sister-in-law is obsessed with Gavin & Stacey and that I have a soft spot for a Netflix rom com (One Day and Nobody Wants This)
Big day for media takeover news in the UK: The Observer and Tortoise make their deal official, while the 3rd-biggest regional publisher National World agrees a takeover by marketing business and Irish local publisher Media Concierge.
Both are expected to take effect in Q1 (spring for The Observer)
Both are expected to take effect in Q1 (spring for The Observer)
December 18, 2024 at 5:23 PM
Big day for media takeover news in the UK: The Observer and Tortoise make their deal official, while the 3rd-biggest regional publisher National World agrees a takeover by marketing business and Irish local publisher Media Concierge.
Both are expected to take effect in Q1 (spring for The Observer)
Both are expected to take effect in Q1 (spring for The Observer)
Billy Bragg sang at the Guardian/Observer picket line today! He cracked out protest song Which Side Are You On?
@gonuj.org @nujofficial.bsky.social Pic credit: Mark Thomas
@gonuj.org @nujofficial.bsky.social Pic credit: Mark Thomas
December 12, 2024 at 4:27 PM
Billy Bragg sang at the Guardian/Observer picket line today! He cracked out protest song Which Side Are You On?
@gonuj.org @nujofficial.bsky.social Pic credit: Mark Thomas
@gonuj.org @nujofficial.bsky.social Pic credit: Mark Thomas
British erasure! 😅 if you type 'The Times' into Bluesky search, The New York Times comes up above The Times & Sunday Times
(Yes, I know it will be because the NYT has so many more followers)
(Yes, I know it will be because the NYT has so many more followers)
December 12, 2024 at 3:32 PM
British erasure! 😅 if you type 'The Times' into Bluesky search, The New York Times comes up above The Times & Sunday Times
(Yes, I know it will be because the NYT has so many more followers)
(Yes, I know it will be because the NYT has so many more followers)
UK journalists: I'm on the lookout for a news publisher or two who's using Reddit really successfully or in an interesting or developing way. Any ideas who I should look at, let me know! Thanks
December 11, 2024 at 1:27 PM
UK journalists: I'm on the lookout for a news publisher or two who's using Reddit really successfully or in an interesting or developing way. Any ideas who I should look at, let me know! Thanks
Some remarkable quotes from Observer staff's furious meeting with management.
One journalist asked The Scott Trust's chair if he knew his name (he didn't). "To care about the Guardian and Observer you have to know us, you have to read us, you have to care..."
pressgazette.co.uk/news/scott-t...
One journalist asked The Scott Trust's chair if he knew his name (he didn't). "To care about the Guardian and Observer you have to know us, you have to read us, you have to care..."
pressgazette.co.uk/news/scott-t...
Scott Trust and Guardian management face staff fury over Observer sale
Guardian and Scott Trust leaders faced furious staff as they faced questions about the plan agreed to sell The Observer to Tortoise.
pressgazette.co.uk
December 6, 2024 at 3:01 PM
Some remarkable quotes from Observer staff's furious meeting with management.
One journalist asked The Scott Trust's chair if he knew his name (he didn't). "To care about the Guardian and Observer you have to know us, you have to read us, you have to care..."
pressgazette.co.uk/news/scott-t...
One journalist asked The Scott Trust's chair if he knew his name (he didn't). "To care about the Guardian and Observer you have to know us, you have to read us, you have to care..."
pressgazette.co.uk/news/scott-t...