2 Article Summaries (23)

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/feb/16/independent-closes-print-titles-national-union-journalists

Independent staff condemn closures as owner moves to keep big names

Summary:
Staff at the Independent have condemned the closure of its print titles and cast doubt on managers’ promise to improve the quality of the website as the company transfers to a digital-only format. The Independent’s owners have moved fast to ensure that some of the papers’ biggest names – including Robert Fisk, Grace Dent and Patrick Cockburn – will continue to write for its digital-only operation.

Key Data:

• The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said the move, which also includes the£25m sale of the i newspaper to Johnston Press, was likely to cost about 100 jobs.
• According to the NUJ, Johnston Press staff also “expressed astonishment that the company, which is making job cuts on its regional and local papers and has not filled vacancies for some time, leaving staff with unmanageable workloads, was able to find £25m ‘down the back of the sofa’ to buy the i”.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/viz-magazine-could-be-permanently-banned-from-facebook-a6877156.html

Viz magazine could be permanently banned from Facebook

Summary:

The comic Viz has had its company page pulled from Facebook for violating the social media site's "welcoming, respectful environment". A message posted on the comic's Twitter stated: "Facebook have taken the Viz page down. We can appeal, but if we get it wrong, we'll be 'permanently deleted'. Oo-er."

Key Data:

• Viz is known for its risque content and black humour, with often graphic and violent content. It was founded in 1979 and parodies conventional comics such as The Beano and The Dandy, as well as tabloids and popular culture. It has a circulation of around 50,000 per issue.
• Facebook's policy of censoring some material has attracted criticism from campaigners who say that the company is unfairly stiffling free speech.