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Torin Douglas Media correspondent

This is where you can find my latest updates about the programmes, personalities, business and politics of the media world

18 hours ago

Shareholders present protest vote against James Murdoch

This round-up of Tuesday's main media stories reports on more new developments in the phone-hacking scandal.

The Guardian says James Murdoch's future at News Corporation looks increasingly precarious as shareholders delivered a damning verdict on his tenure amid widespread criticism of his handling of the hacking scandal. Figures published last night show that a majority of independent shareholders voted against the re-election of chairman Rupert Murdoch's sons James and Lachlan Murdoch. James Murdoch faces a second grilling in the Parliament next month over phone-hacking.

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10:27 UK time, Monday, 24 October 2011

Lord Chief Justice defends a free press

This round up of Monday's main media stories reports on reaction to the Lord Chief Justice's speech in defence of a free press.

The Independent's Stephen Glover believes the likelihood of statutory regulation of newspapers has been reduced "almost to zero" after a "magnificent speech" last week by Lord Judge, the Lord Chief Justice. He urges people to read it. "These were no inconsequential musings from the most senior member of our judiciary. Delivered in clear, beautiful English, what he said amounted to the most powerful and moving defence of a free press that I have heard from a living person, and it is wondrous that such words should have fallen from the lips of a judge."

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09:33 UK time, Friday, 14 October 2011

Private Eye and public scandals

For a magazine best-known for jokes and satire, Private Eye - which is celebrating its 50th anniversary - has a remarkable track record in investigative journalism.

Since its early days, it has built a reputation for breaking stories that other papers will not print - taking on the rich and powerful and risking expensive libel actions that have threatened to close the magazine down.

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09:58 UK time, Thursday, 13 October 2011

Sport and the sponsorship gamble

With England ranked as the best Test team in the world, it's a sweet moment for the team's sponsors, Brit Insurance.

The company's "calculated risk" in taking over the sponsorship - after England had suffered a 5-0 Ashes whitewash at the hands of Australia in 2006-7 - has really paid off.

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10:18 UK time, Wednesday, 12 October 2011

Liverpool want breakaway TV deal

This round-up of Wednesday's main media stories reports on a possible new shake-up for football TV rights.

The Guardian says the deal that shares television's billions equally between Premier League clubs is facing its biggest threat, after Liverpool announced they would lead a challenge for overseas TV rights to be sold on a club-by-club basis. It says Liverpool's managing director, Ian Ayre, has insisted the break-up of the established broadcasting deal, worth £3.2bn to all Premier League clubs is "a debate that has to happen".

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10:05 UK time, Tuesday, 11 October 2011

Internet providers offer parents bar on porn

This round-up of Tuesday's main media stories reports on government moves to help parents protect their children from internet porn and inappropriate content in other media.

"A tough new crackdown to help parents protect their children from internet porn will be unveiled today by David Cameron", reports the Daily Mail on its front page. It says four of Britain's biggest internet service providers will force customers to specify if they want to view explicit sites (though other reports say this will only be an option).

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09:57 UK time, Monday, 10 October 2011

Ban on provocative posters proposed

This round-up of Monday's main media stories reports on a proposed ban on provocative poster advertisements.

Provocative billboard ads could be banned over fears over the sexualisation of children, reports the Sunday Telegraph. It says "the most explicit advertising hoardings will be banned from public display altogether, while any put up within 100 yards of schools will have to pass a strict new code designed to remove sexualised imagery from billboards."

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10:43 UK time, Friday, 7 October 2011

Papers react to BBC cuts

This round-up of Friday's main media stories reports on reaction to the BBC cuts announcement.

The Guardian says BBC News will bear the brunt of the 2000 job losses announced yesterday, with 800 positions lost, "largely from merging the broadcaster's publicly funded news operation with the World Service, and not transmitting programmes such as Newsnight and Radio 4's PM live from party conferences."

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18:59 UK time, Thursday, 6 October 2011

BBC Cuts: Will audiences notice?

Today's proposals for implementing a 20% cut in the BBC's budget will radically change how - and where - the corporation operates.

There will be greater use of new technology, and 1,000 jobs will move from London to the north of England, including the digital TV channel BBC Three and Radio 4's consumer programme You & Yours.

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09:16 UK time, Thursday, 6 October 2011

Papers predict extent of BBC cuts

This round-up of Thursday's main media stories previews today's strategy announcement by the BBC, aimed at cutting spending by 20%.

The Financial Times predicts the BBC will cut 2,000 jobs, out of 18,000 currently funded by the licence fee, as it announces plans to cut spending by 20% over five years. The paper says no services will close under the review, which follows last year's licence fee settlement.

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09:42 UK time, Wednesday, 5 October 2011

The media frenzy around Amanda Knox

This round-up of Wednesday's main media stories reports on a media frenzy - and an apology - following the release of Amanda Knox.

The Daily Telegraph says Amanda Knox is contemplating TV and film offers that could net her tens of millions of dollars, as she returns home after four years in an Italian jail.

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09:55 UK time, Tuesday, 4 October 2011

Pub landlady wins TV football fight

This round-up of Tuesday's main media stories reports on a crucial court case for football and television.

A pub landlady has won the latest stage of her fight to air Premier League games using a foreign TV decoder, reports BBC News.

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About Torin

As media correspondent, has interviewed four BBC director generals, five BBC chairmen and a dozen Cabinet ministers responsible for broadcasting and press issues.

Covered the royal family’s “annus horribilis” in 1992 and the ongoing debate over press and privacy; the death of Diana, Princess of Wales; the birth of BSkyB and the growth of the Murdoch empire; and the rapid expansion of media choice in the digital age.

Helped launch Marketing Week and Creative Review magazines, wrote media columns for The Times, the Economist and the Independent, and presented LBC Radio’s media show.

Born in September 1950, Torin graduated from the University of Warwick in 1972.

Joined the BBC as media correspondent in 1989.

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