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PA signs ‘landmark’ deal on user-generated photos

The Press Association has agreed a ‘landmark’ deal with citizen journalism service Demotix to distribute user-generated photos.

It has signed a deal with Demotix to distribute its photos in the UK and Ireland, which will increase the exposure of its members’ pictures.

Demotix brings together user-generated news pictures from contributors all over the world and brokers it to media buyers.

Martin Stephens, managing director of Press Association Images, said: “We are excited to be working with user-generated photographs for the first time, and believe these images will not only add a unique and personal perspective to our 100 year old archive, but provide our customers with a new angle on world news.”


A newspaper publisher has announced plans to build a £50m new printing site to replace a current base.

Proposals have been revealed by A&N Media, which runs Associated Newspapers and Northcliffe Media, to relocate its South London printing operation at Surrey Quays to a new site in Thurrock, Essex, and a consultation with staff has started.

Under the plans, the presses would be upgraded and transferred to the new site over a period of three-and-a-half years, with an investment of £45-50m in the new plant, after which the Surrey Quays base would close.

The Surrey Quays site is run by A&N Media’s printing division Harmsworth Printing Limited and prints the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and the Metro, although the latter will not be produced at the new operation.


An annual media awards which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year has secured sponsorship from an airport.

The Midlands Media Awards, which are run by Birmingham Press Club recognise the top journalists in 20 categories, will be sponsored by Birmingham Airport for the fourth year running.

The shortlist has now been announced for the awards, which include two new categories for the best photograph and the best journalist of the year, and the ceremony is due to be held on 10 March.

John Lamb, chairman of Birmingham Press Club said: “The awards is now firmly established as one of the leading competitions for the regional media and is one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the calendar and the fact we are now in our tenth year is testimony to that.”


A chief reporter at a regional daily has been given a new role covering the city’s Premier League football club.

Luke Traynor has been chosen as the new Liverpool FC reporter for the Liverpool Echo and will cover the Reds in every match they play.

He will provide daily updates and analysis of the team, as well as writing regular blogs.

He has been the chief news reporter at the Echo for two years and has been at the paper for more than five years in total.


A property website run by regional publisher Archant will be powered by property search and information website Zoopla after the companies signed a deal.

Archant’s online property channel homes24.co.uk will be operated by Zoopla from March under a partnership which aims to boost the site.

Under the deal, Archant will make significant investment in the promotion of the homes24.co.uk brand and Zoopla will power the website as part of its exclusive partner network, giving agents who advertise an even wider distribution for their listings.

Serge Taborin, Archant’s business development director, said: “This partnership will allow Archant to provide our users with a market-leading online property search product and focus on maximising traffic to the homes24.co.uk website, while giving our local estate agents significantly greater exposure and helping them generate even more leads.”


A new journalism qualification which was launched at colleges and universities in September is now on offer by a training company as a distance learning course.

CTJT is offering students the chance to study for the National Council for the Training of Journalists’ Diploma in Journalism as an e-course.

The organisation is offering all 11 modules to students in the UK and beyond in its newspaper, magazine and sports journalism courses.

Director Cleland Thom said: “We’re excited to be offering the new qualification. It will open up careers in journalism to people who are excluded because of location and cost, or who want to change careers but cannot afford to give up their jobs to study.”

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  • February 22, 2011 at 12:33 pm
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    Is this the same Cleland Thom who posted this comment ? cleland thom (19/01/2011 17:42) I’m still trying to figure out how the NCTJ – the kitemark of quality – seriously believes students can pass their exams on this course when they don’t even get their work marked! Strange that suddenly this course is OK….. anything to do with getting money from people Cleland ?

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