Screenshot: How did a software glitch break the internet? June 11, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: Motty goes off the rails **How did a software glitch break the internet? **BT’s bolt from the blue Media Moment of the Week: Motty goes off the rails Look, everyone loves John Motson. He’s a juggernaut of football broadcasting and I don’t have a bad word to say [...]
MPs to grill former BBC chiefs over Bashir’s Diana interview June 10, 2021 MPs will next week grill two former director generals of the BBC in the wake of a scandal over Martin Bashir’s interview with Princess Diana. Lord Hall and Lord Birt will be hauled in front of the culture select committee on 15 June to answer questions about the events leading up to the explosive 1995 [...]
Exclusive: ‘Allow yourself to f*** up once in a while’, says Speak2Impact founder and TED talk writer Susie Ashfield June 9, 2021 Susie Ashfield started out as the voice of middle-class products on day time television; everything from Channing Tatum’s latest blockbuster to Jersey Royal Potatoes. Alongside her voiceover work, she worked as an insurance broker in the City, managing a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals, including celebrities and business high flyers. Seeing a gap in the market [...]
Guardian chief executive steps down amid reports of boardroom clashes June 9, 2021 The boss of the Guardian is stepping down after just 16 months in the job amid reports of clashes with the newspaper’s editor. Annette Thomas, who took over as chief executive of publisher Guardian Media Group (GMG) last March, will leave the company at the end of June. It comes after the Scott Trust, the [...]
Harry and Meghan accuse BBC of libel over Lilibet name claims June 9, 2021 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have issued legal warnings against the BBC over a report that claimed the couple had not asked the Queen’s permission before naming their baby Lilibet. The corporation’s royal correspondent cited a Palace source saying the monarch was “never asked” about the use of her childhood nickname. But the couple [...]
Sir Martin Sorrell’s ad agency terminates office leases to go fully hybrid June 7, 2021 London-based S4 Capital, the advertising agency run by Sir Martin Sorrell, has terminated several office leases as staff are being encouraged to adopt fully flexible hybrid working practices. The advertising guru, who resigned from his previous firm WPP in 2018, said creativity is not being lost by the arrangements. “We always knew that our people, [...]
Dennis Publishing ‘puts up for sale flagship title The Week’ June 6, 2021 Dennis Publishing has hired Liontree Advisors to oversee an auction of The Week, the publisher’s flagship news and current affairs magazine. The sale process only relates to The Week and does not include any other Dennis Publishing titles, which include AutoExpress, Minecraft World and Money Week among others, Sky News first reported. Analysts have reportedly [...]
Hipgnosis buys music rights from Taylor Swift and Lorde songwriter June 4, 2021 Music royalty fund Hipgnosis has beefed up its slate of songs after snapping up the catalogue of the songwriter and producer behind top hits by artists such as Taylor Swift and Lorde. Joel Little is best known for his collaboration with Lorde, co-writing and producing her debut EP The Love Club, which featured smash hit [...]
Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible pauses UK filming after crew Covid cases June 4, 2021 UK-based production of Tom Cruise’s latest Mission: Impossible film has been stopped for two weeks after people tested positive for Covid-19, studio giant Paramount said today. While it is unclear how many tested positive for the virus, which has prolonged releases since March last year, the blockbuster action sequel will resume shooting on 14 June, [...]
Bill Ackman’s Spac closes in on $40bn deal with Universal Music June 4, 2021 Billionaire Bill Ackman’s blank-cheque company is closing in on a deal to buy a 10 per cent stake in Universal Music Group for roughly $4bn (£2.8bn). Pershing Square Tontine Holdings is in talks with Universal’s French owner Vivendi over the deal, which would value the record label at around $40bn. Vivendi, controlled by billionaire Vincent [...]