The big news this week involves an editor who led the charge of the Daily Mail’s coverage of ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s legal and ethical lapses. The Daily Mail fired him unceremoniously but now Geordie Greig is back as editor in chief of The Independent. Also read about Bloomberg’s hopes to expand by acquiring to leading media outlets.
Independent makes an ouster hire… The Independent has named Geordie Greig its next editor in chief — a stunning comeback after the Daily Mail ousted him from the same post in late 2021 after he lead the outlet’s dogged coverage of the scandals surrounding ex-Prime Minster Boris Johnson. “I am delighted to become editor-in-chief of The Independent, the only title that has successfully made the transition from national newspaper to global news platform, whilst maintaining editorial integrity and remaining profitable throughout,” Greig said. Read more here.
Bloomberg looking to acquire?… Mike Allen and Sara Fischer of Axios report, “Bloomberg wants to expand his media empire and sees Dow Jones as his ideal fit, but he would buy the Post if Jeff Bezos were interested in selling, the source said. Bloomberg, the source notes, would be interested in a potential acquisition of either property, but Dow Jones — the publisher of financial titles such as The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s and MarketWatch — would be a stronger target.” Read more here.
Bloomberg denies acquisition plans…Previously, Axios reported that Michael Bloomberg had expressed interest in acquiring Dow Jones & Co. and The Washington Post. In lieu of these media speculations, an official response states, “There have been no conversations with anyone or either organization about an acquisition. The company has no interest in acquiring either,” said Ty Trippet, Bloomberg LP spokesman.
Reuters parent and union reaches agreement… Thomson Reuters Corp. and the Communications Workers of America union journalists at Reuters, which represents around 300 Reuters reporters, photographers and video journalists in the US have ratified a new three-year agreement that includes a $5,000 bonus. The deal also includes 3 percent wage increases for each of the next two years and pools for merit increases along with 16 weeks paid parental leave and six months sabbatical leave every five years and eight weeks to work anywhere, including four abroad. The agreement also bars the company from using non-disclosure agreements. Initially a tentative agreement was reached with details here.
WaPo bids farewell to biz columnist Sloan…Seven Gerald Loeb Award winner business columnist Allan Sloan is stepping away from his Washington Post column after 30 years. “Now, I’ll do what I should do, and stop while I’m ahead. Or maybe only a little behind,” Sloan wrote. “I’d like to thank The Post for buying my column when I self-syndicated it — revenue from The Post and various other outlets is how my wife and I paid for our kids’ college educations without them or us having to take on debt. And I’m glad to have kept up my relationship with The Post for so long.” Read more here.
2022 ends with Yahoo finance departure… Andy Serwer, the editor in chief of Yahoo Finance, is leaving after eight years. Serwer wrote, “It’s also been a kick doing these columns and my Influencers interview series, both of which I was only able to do with a great deal of help. Mostly though, I will remember all the super-talented people whom I worked with at Yahoo Finance. What an incredible group! Now under the leadership of Jim Lanzone, Tapan Bhat, and John Marcom I see even greater things ahead for Yahoo Finance—and for you, our audience. As for me going forward, it’s simple. I will continue to follow the markets, the economy, and society writ large. There’s just too much going on not to.” Read more here.
Bloomberg’s international hire…Bloomberg has appointed Marcelo Rochabrun as its Peru bureau chief. Recently, he was at Reuters, where he covered Peru and Latin American mining. He also worked at The New York Times and ProPublica. Rochabrun graduated from Princeton University, where he was editor in chief of the student newspaper.
Au revoir to resolutions?…Talking Biz News Editor and Publisher Lou Carlozo talks New Year resolutions – should we make them or do away with them for good? He writes, “What can’t we be happy where we are? With who we are? Or is there some irresistible gravitational pull to a new year that’s akin to a black hole cleverly disguised as a yummy Crenshaw melon? Now in my later 50s, you might say I’ve come full circle on the resolution calliope, and plan to jump off the carousel for good. That’s right: No resolutions for me. I’m disgusted with being disgusted, if you will, and think that a fine way to begin 2023 is to do away with resolutions altogether.” Read more of this interesting column here where Carlozo captivates the reader with his amazing writing as he takes you – the reader- on doing without resolutions … or with them after all?
Two new staffers join The Atlantic…The Atlantic has hired Xochitl Gonzalez as a staff writer on its editorial team Eleanor Barkhorn as a senior editor. Gonzalez has contributed to The Atlantic through her subscriber newsletter, Brooklyn, Everywhere. She is also a novelist, screenwriter, and television executive producer. Barkhorn joins from The New York Times’ Opinion, where she was editor at large. Previously, she worked at The Atlantic from 2009 to 2014. She also served as a features editor at Vox.
News on the medical side…Haymarket Media Group’s medical trade publication GPOnline has tapped Eleanor Philpotts to serve as a senior reporter. Previously, she was a rankings reporter at Times Higher Education. She worked at Pulse and her stories have been picked by the BBC, Sky News, The Times, The Telegraph, Guardian, Daily Mail, Metro, Mirror, Express, BMJ and London Evening Standard. Philpotts graduated from Cardiff University.
Bine ati venit (welcome) from Rome…The Washington Post has appointed Anthony Faiola to the post of Rome bureau chief. He is an experienced foreign correspondent who has worked from Washington, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, New York, London and Berlin. He spent nearly a decade covering the Vatican that will be a big part of his portfolio in Rome. He joined the Post in 1994. Read more here.
2022 was “gold” to Fortune…Fortune really hit a home run in 2022. As per editor in chief Alyson Shontell; “50 colleagues joined the fortune newsroom in 2022, new verticals were launched, new newsletters and social handles were launched, Fortune won 10 journalism awards and 8 design awards and increased its revenue by 20 percent.” Read more here.
WSJ makes a hire… Kevin McAllister has joined The Wall Street Journal as a rankings reporter. Previously, he worked at the Journal from May 2017 to November 2019 as a video audience development associate and rankings data reporter. Recently, he was at Protocol, where he worked as an associate editor and research editor. A graduate of the University of Southern California, McAllister interned at CNN and NBC News.
Executive editors at The Wrap… Adam Chitwood and Jethro Nededog have been promoted to co-executive editors of TheWrap. A story on its website states, “They will report to Editor In Chief Sharon Waxman. Nededog most recently led TheWrap’s PRO subscription service as the Assistant Managing Editor for Business, focused on serving the industry professional, while Chitwood has led the expansion of TheWrap’s audience team as Assistant Managing Editor for Audience, focused on features and news articles for entertainment’s most obsessive fans.” Read more here.
Catching “The Fly”…Financial technology firm TipRanks Ltd. has agreed to acquire financial news site The Fly for an undisclosed amount. The deal is expected to close by the end of March. “TipRanks is a natural home for The Fly,” said Ron Etergino, The Fly’s president, in a statement. “Both companies strive to level the playing field for investors, and TipRanks’ institutional-grade research tools and data will enhance The Fly’s financial news products.”
TBN sends condolences on the passing of Hollywood Reporter EIC Dowling… Robert Dowling, who ran The Hollywood Reporter for 17 years as publisher and editor in chief has died from cancer at the age of 83. Mike Barnes of The Hollywood Reporter writes, “The publication saw huge growth under Dowling amid an explosion in media coverage of Hollywood, and he helped reshape THR into a fierce, underdog rival to the industry’s other five-days-a-week trade, Daily Variety.” Read the full story here.
Mariam Ahmed is Talking Biz News’ content correspondent. For tips on the Friday TBN Ticker, email her at mariam@talkingbiznews.com or connect with her on LinkedIn.
