Facebook subscriptions: Could Meta still be a friend for publishers?

One publisher trying out subscriptions on the platform thinks it could benefit others too.

Report by Charlotte Tobitt for Press Gazette

Facebook owner Meta has been “unfriending” news for more than two years, ending a long period of wooing the publishers who create much of the content shared by its users.

But while Meta may have stopped giving grants to publishers and sharing ad revenue with them, it may yet hold the key to selling online subscriptions for some titles.

Pulman’s Weekly News, a small newsbrand based in Axminster, Devon, now has more than 500 subscribers (of 1,700 Facebook followers in total) who pay £3.49 a month, less than a month after turning on Facebook subscriptions.

This suggests a total of at least £1,745 monthly from Facebook alone (Meta has said it is not taking fees on these transactions until at least the end of 2024.)

Owner Duncan Williams said: “I have always been an advocate of utilising Facebook and there is much good sense in being in the centre of today’s most popular digital arena, which is where the majority of our audience and readers already have account access, rather than expecting readers to create separate accounts on a standalone platform or paywall system.”

Williams has run Pulman’s Weekly News, founded in 1857, since 2018 when it closed in print. He previously made headlines when he bought West Country newspaper series View From for £1 two weeks after it was closed by by the previous owner but ended up being ruled personally responsible for hundreds of thousands owed to the group’s former employees and forced into bankruptcy.

Despite this experience Williams remains in local news and described working on Pulman’s as “very much a labour of love”.

“To be honest, my own family think I am crazy,” he said. “My younger brother has made a fortune in banking and thinks I am quite mad putting all my money into local media. But I still have a belief in this industry, and I always will.”

Pulman’s is also funded by a combination of Facebook advertorials, e-newsletters and providing social media design and management services for local businesses. Williams supplements it with his own freelance journalism and creating commercial videos for social media advertising.

Facebook subscribers to the Pulman’s page receive access to a dedicated subscriber discussion group, exclusive posts, videos including live broadcasts, photos and polls, a subscriber badge next to comments, and five highlighted featured comments a month on live videos.

Williams believes Facebook groups, often maintained by people prominent in their communities, are where many people now turn to for their local news in the absence of having reporters for every town and village. He described groups as “essentially the new local newspaper”.

A Charitable Journalism Project report published last year noted that Facebook was “by far the most important” social media service for local news information and that local pages and groups filled a gap in many communities. One focus group participant in Lewisham cited their local group and said it is the first place they look and “a lot of it’s trash to be honest, but a lot of it’s very useful”.

Williams feels that now a Facebook page “is actually of more value to a local publisher than a standalone website” and he has therefore been posting directly to the Pulman’s page for years rather than giving people a tease and asking them to click through – the website mimics a social media feed rather than having a traditional layout. He works with advertisers to accommodate them on the page itself and support this style of posting.

Williams said this had helped him pass the eligibility test as Meta wants people creating content specifically for the platform rather than primarily posting external links.

Facebook first introduced subscriptions, formerly known as fan subscriptions, in 2018. But they have never taken off among news publishers and may now represent an opportunity to claw something back from the platform.

To be eligible, a Facebook page must meet certain criteria including having either 10,000 followers or at least 250 return views. It must also have reached either 50,000 post engagements or 180,000 watch minutes in the previous 60 days, and be in compliance with Facebook’s monetisation policies.

Williams said: “I feel that as soon as this is made aware to most publishers, they will want to try it.”

Duncan Williams - media owner

According to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report this summer, Facebook does remain the most-used social media platform for news (17% in the UK) even though this is down from a peak of 28% in 2016.

Gen Z (currently aged up to 26) have particularly moved away from Facebook and towards Instagram, visual mobile-first media and then Tiktok since 2018.

But in a world where the platform makes up a sizeable amount of time spent yet referral traffic has plummeted and publishers nonetheless continue to post on the platform to stay in front of the Facebook native audience, topping up revenue with subscriptions from that crowd could be a nice added extra source – especially as Substack has shown people are willing to pay for a community and content they care about.

See Press Gazette -

https://pressgazette.co.uk/social_media/facebook-subscriptions-news-publishers/

How regional newsrooms can use AI to protect the ‘lifeblood of local journalism’

Regional journalism experts appear optimistic generative AI can help their snowed-under newsrooms.

By João Santos for Press Gazette 

A WAN-IFRA survey has found that half of newsrooms are already deploying generative AI in some form or another.

Large language models quickly garnered the attention of Reach, Buzzfeed, Conde Nast and other publishers across the globe over the past six months for its potential to streamline editorial processes.

In particular the free-to-access ChatGPT has fast shown its potential to reinvent the way content is produced and journalism is done. But in local news outlets hard-pressed for time and staff, is the adoption of AI likely to be an opportunity or a threat?

AI vs the humans in local journalism

A number of UK regional news publishers have already realised that AI-generated news stories could free up journalists to concentrate on more meaningful reporting.

Duncan Williams, the managing director and proprietor of Pulman’s Weekly News in south east Devon, said: “AI has got huge advantages to help journalists, particularly in the regional sector, but it’s not yet at a level where it’s going to be able to write nitty-gritty stories.”

Rather, he said he believes the more in-depth stories produced by human journalists will carry increased significance. He wrote an op-ed in his newspaper last month emphasising the importance of human bylines for trust.

“As an editor, I would not dream of publishing a story by someone I did know the name of or who was not a trusted and credible human source,” he said. “Bylines not only protect my readers, but they also hold journalists accountable for their work.”

Dr Joy Jenkins, an assistant professor of Journalism at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, has worked extensively on how new technologies can be sustainably introduced into local industries.

She said: “AI can be used on more basic types of reporting in order to free up journalists to do the more investigative, in-depth types of stories they’d like to do but don’t always have the time and resources to produce.”

Eliz Mizon, a media writer and communications lead at Bristol Cable, believes AI could help local journalists carry out important “institutional accountability and community cohesion” roles, potentially reversing a trend that has seen around 300 local newspaper title closures since 2005 and left others hanging by a thread.

Will AI help or hurt regional journalist numbers?

A recurring worry that crops up in discussions of AI and news is whether the technology will end up replacing journalists, particularly in light of the economic headwinds that have encouraged many publishers to lay off staff in the past year.

Jody Doherty-Cove, Newsquest‘s special projects editor, is currently at the forefront of developing, coding and implementing AI tools for over 180 newsrooms across the UK, having just helped the Gannett-owned publisher establish its first AI reporter positions.

He explained: “A common misconception in the public discourse is the notion that AI, like some malevolent force, is poised to supplant human journalists in a ruthless bid to cut costs.

“Local journalism is a craft that requires investigation, relationship building, and nuanced understanding – elements that no machine, no matter how sophisticated, can truly replicate.”

Dr Jenkins agreed, explaining that AI should be seen as a “really affordable and helpful” tool which, if used properly, can be an “extremely effective way for local journalism to maximise its resources”.

Pulman’s owner Williams added: “It would streamline both the numbers of staff required to run our titles in an economic fashion and also the actual revenue streams that are the lifeblood of local journalism.”

This is the approach that Kallum Gethins, managing director at Dorset News and editor at View From Weymouth, has taken when incorporating AI into the running of both publications.

“If we find a story, we gather the facts, make a short sentence and then bring that into the AI software which produces a three to four-paragraph article, we proofread it and publish it,” he said. “The whole process takes about ten minutes.”

Much like the advent of social media and citizen journalism, AI could therefore lower the barrier of entry into the industry, making quality and consistency more affordable.

Gethins said: “I think that all organisations should implement AI because it could help their business massively, especially if the organisation is brand new and can’t afford journalists. For instance, we probably won’t be using AI-originated content in the long term and will look for potential journalists to join our franchise.”

The challenges ahead for AI in local journalism

As automation seeps into the media industry, the utility of AI in local journalism could be as far-reaching as the industry demands.

As well as editorial tasks, Dorset News’ Gethins has begun using different AI software engines for administrative work, for example producing email templates suited to potential investors and creating budget plans.

Automation could magnify the results of advertising campaigns and help integrate local papers more fully into social media, something which, Dr Jenkins explained, has been a historical struggle for many publications.

However there are considerable challenges to overcome before AI can be fully integrated into journalism in a way that is both ethical and practical.

Doherty-Cove said: “We must ensure that AI-generated content does not escape the watchful eyes of human editors who, with human oversight and rigorous fact-checking, can ensure AI-generated content meets their exacting requirements.”

Chatbots such as ChatGPT rely on what the user feeds into it, as the data on which they were trained is in some cases out-of-date. This means the fundamental newsgathering framework which leads to a fully-fledged story is, for the moment, outside the purview of generative AI programmes.

But as Dr David Ryfe, a professor and director at the School of Journalism and Media at the University of Texas at Austin, put it: “Clay Shirky wrote over a decade ago that it is much faster to lose something than to build something else to stand in its place. That is what is happening to local journalism.”

Source: https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/regional-newspapers/how-regional-newsrooms-can-use-ai-to-protect-the-lifeblood-of-local-journalism/

HERE'S TO THE DOUBTING THOMAS ON THE NEWSDESK - 🗞️📰

Report by Duncan Williams 

As journalists, the pursuit of truth is at the heart of our work. We strive to uncover the facts, to report them honestly and accurately, and to hold those in power accountable for their actions. In this pursuit, doubt can be a useful and even necessary trait.

I say this as someone who has had a rollercoaster ride of a journalistic career and has worked on everything from local newspapers to national splash tabloids to Christian good news magazines. Having doubt is no bad thing.

First and foremost, doubt helps us to avoid confirming our own biases. We all have preconceived notions and beliefs that can colour our perceptions and lead us astray. By maintaining a healthy dose of skepticism, we can challenge our assumptions and ensure that we are not simply reporting what we want to hear.

Furthermore, doubt can help us to be more thorough in our reporting. When we encounter a piece of information that seems too good to be true, our instinct may be to run with it and publish it immediately. But by questioning the veracity of that information and digging deeper to confirm its accuracy, we can avoid spreading misinformation and damaging our credibility.

Doubt also allows us to be more open-minded in our reporting. As journalists, we often encounter complex issues with no easy answers. By maintaining a sense of doubt and uncertainty, we can approach these issues with a willingness to listen to multiple perspectives and to consider all the available evidence before drawing conclusions.

Paradoxically, doubt can also serve as a powerful motivator for our work. By acknowledging that we don't know everything and that there is always more to learn, we can stay curious and driven to uncover new information and tell stories that matter.

Of course, there is a danger in allowing doubt to overshadow our work. Too much skepticism can lead to paralysis, preventing us from making decisions and taking action. But when doubt is used in the right way, as a tool to challenge our assumptions and push us to be more thorough and open-minded in our reporting, it can be an invaluable asset for any journalist.

So in my experience in news reporting, skepticism and doubt are not weaknesses for a journalist, but a necessary part of the pursuit of truth. By staying curious, open-minded, and willing to question our own assumptions, we can ensure that our reporting is accurate, thorough, and serves the public interest.

COULD ROBOT TECHNOLOGY REPLACE YOUR LOCAL VICAR?

Report by Duncan Williams @ViewNewsUK

As technology advances and becomes more integrated into our daily lives, it's natural to wonder what role it may play in our spiritual practices.

One area of possible interest is the idea of using AI (artificial intelligence) robot technology to create digital church ministers, capable of hearing online confessions and delivering religious sermons. Perhaps even hosting religious programmes and faith themed media events. Like a sort of non-existent but visible video vicar.

While this may seem like a futuristic and 'exciting' possibility, it's important to consider the potential drawbacks and limitations of relying on AI for such important roles.

One of the main reasons why an AI robot priest is unlikely to be as popular as a human being is the lack of emotional connection and empathy that they can provide. As humans, we naturally crave connection and understanding, especially when it comes to our spiritual lives. When we confess our sins or seek guidance from a religious leader, we want to feel heard and understood on a deep, emotional level. While an AI robot may be able to provide logical and rational advice, it cannot offer the same level of emotional connection that a human minister can.

Another potential limitation of using robots in this capacity is their inability to interpret the nuances of human behaviour and language. When delivering a sermon or counselling someone, a human minister can pick up on subtle cues such as body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions, which can inform their response and help them to better understand the person they are speaking with. An AI robot, on the other hand, may not be able to interpret these nuances as effectively, leading to a less meaningful and impactful interaction.

Also, there is the question of authenticity. When we attend church or seek guidance from a religious leader, we are often looking for a sense of authenticity and sincerity. We want to feel that the person we are speaking with truly believes in what they are saying and is genuinely invested in our well-being. It's difficult to imagine an AI robot being able to convey this same level of authenticity, as their responses are predetermined and programmed, rather than coming from a place of personal conviction and belief.

Of course, it's worth noting that there are possible benefits to using AI robots as ministers. They may be able to offer a more consistent and reliable experience, for example, or provide a level of objectivity that human ministers may struggle with. They might also alleviate the burdens of an overly busy church leader, freeing up their time to focus on other forms of outreach. 

However, it's important to weigh these potential benefits against the obvious limitations and drawbacks any rudimentary theologian would express. The connection with divinity surely requires human intercedence. Isn't this, after all, the pivotal reason why the Christian God offered salvation to man in the person of a real human being in the first place?

Moreover, if an AI robot is programmed to provide specific religious teachings or advice, what happens if those teachings conflict with the beliefs or values of the person seeking guidance? Who is responsible if an AI robot provides harmful or damaging advice? These are complex and important ethical questions that must be carefully considered before we might seriously consider implementing AI robots as church ministers.

In the end, while the idea of using robots as religious ministers may seem exciting and futuristic, it's important to approach this topic with caution and careful consideration. While technology can certainly offer benefits and enhancements to our spiritual practices, it cannot fully replace the emotional connection and authenticity that we seek in our interactions with religious leaders. Ultimately, the decision of whether to rely on AI robots in this capacity will depend on a variety of factors, including cultural attitudes towards technology, ethical considerations, spiritual needs and individual preferences and beliefs.

Some serious human discussion on this subject, sooner rather than later, can only be a good thing.

THE BIG SQUEEZE GRIPS THE WEST

Report from the Editor's Desk by Duncan Williams

In recent months, the cost of living crisis in the South West of England has seemingly reached a critical point, with reports of many local residents struggling to make ends meet. Rural communities can often seem especially neglected and are apt to feel completely off-the-radar as far as Westminster is concerned.

Rising prices for essentials such as food, housing, and energy have hit working people particularly hard, with many families finding it increasingly difficult to balance their budgets.

According to recent reports, the cost of living in the South West has risen by almost 20% in the last five years, with households spending an average of £600 more per month on essentials than they did in 2016.

With wages failing to keep pace with this increase, many workers are finding themselves in a precarious financial situation, with little room for savings or unexpected expenses.

So how can West Country people best save money in the face of this crisis?

One key strategy is to focus on reducing expenses wherever possible. This could mean cutting back on discretionary spending, such as eating out, entertainment, and luxury items, and focusing on essentials like food, housing, and transportation.

Another strategy is to seek out cost-saving opportunities wherever possible. This could mean switching to a cheaper energy supplier, shopping around for better deals on groceries and household essentials, or taking advantage of discounts and promotions wherever possible.

Finally, it's important for people to stay informed and engaged on issues related to the cost of living, and to advocate for policies that can help address this crisis. This could mean supporting initiatives to increase the minimum wage, improve access to affordable housing, and reduce the cost of essential services like energy and healthcare.

Ultimately, the cost of living crisis is a complex and challenging issue, but by taking proactive steps to reduce expenses, seek out cost-saving opportunities, and advocate for systemic change, people can help protect their financial security and build a more sustainable future for themselves and their families.

Independent publisher reveals fresh expansion plans

Report by David Sharman for HTFP.co.uk

An independent publisher has revealed plans for expansion after announcing a new work experience scheme.

Pulman’s Weekly News is set to offer three long-term internships in the new year after receiving funding from the UK Government Apprenticeship Scheme.

The internships will specialise in social media journalism, podcasts and vlogging, and local sport respectively.

Duncan Williams, who currently runs the historic South-East Devon title as a digital-only concern, hopes he will then be able to take the interns on permanently after six months.

He said: “We are independent and local. Although we are a small media company, our passion and belief in the importance of regional news underpins our determination to push Pulman’s forward into the digital age.

“Multimedia expansion is the key to our growth strategy, with Pulman’s already producing live video streaming and regular news bulletins via Chesil Radio Station in West Dorset.”

Duncan previously recruited freelance journalist Nikki Latham and photographer Neil Dobson to aid the project, with the hope of increasing the size of the Pulman’s team and expanding its coverage again in future.

Source: https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2023/news/independent-publisher-reveals-fresh-expansion-plans/

Entrepreneur vows to expand after regional press return

Report by David Sharman for HoldtheFrontPage.co.uk

An entrepreneur declared bankrupt after buying a group of defunct local newspapers has revealed his ambition to re-enter to the regional press industry.

Duncan Williams has returned to publishing using the name of historic South-East Devon title Pulman’s Weekly News, which he is currently running as an online news aggregation service.

He has recently taken on freelance journalist Nikki Latham and photographer Neil Dobson to aid the project, with the hope of increasing the size of the Pulman’s team and expanding its coverage again in future.

Mr Williams, pictured, previously worked in publishing for titles including Sorted magazine and bought the View From series of newspapers in 2018 for £1 after they ceased publication.

However, the purchase sparked a long-running legal battle in which he was found to be liable for money owed to more than 20 View From staff who had been made redundant prior to the deal being agreed – rather than the papers’ previous owner Peter Masters.

The affected staff were awarded notice pay settlements and additional payments by an employment tribunal after Mr Williams was declared bankrupt in 2020.

Pulman’s recently won a Corporate Livewire Prestige Award, which recognises the work of small and medium-sized businesses.

Speaking to HTFP about his new venture, Mr Williams said: “Independent news has a vital role to play in maintaining the views and democracy of our regional towns and communities.

“I believe historic media brands such as Pulman’s can actively grow with the digital age to offer increased communication reach and utilise the popularity of social media trends to rebuild a healthy culture of engagement with regional news.

“Pulman’s Weekly News Group Ltd has been fortunate enough to employ a freelance journalist and photographer whose skills have contributed towards this award.

“As we move forward with increased marketing revenues, Pulman’s aim to gradually increase the team and continue to expand our local coverage.”

Pulman’s was founded in 1857 to cover the towns of Axminster and Seaton in East Devon, Lyme Regis in Dorset, and other villages in East Devon, West Dorset and South Somerset.

It was assimilated into the View From Axminster free title in 2012 by then-owner Tindle Newspapers.

007 agent, film star and former Launceston College student - A look into the life of Roger Moore

Local report by Rosie Cripps for Launceston Life
Most people remember the late Sir Roger Moore as the effortlessly cool 007 agent James Bond, but many in our little community will also know that he spent a brief time as a student at Launceston College, after evacuation from London during the Second World War.

The star’s brief encounter with our little Cornish town is recorded by Duncan Williams in a 2014 issue of SORTED magazine, which goes into depth about his time spent in north Cornwall as an evacuee.

A young Roger Moore was first evacuated in 1939 to Worthing in Sussex and soon became very homesick. It was when his father came to visit him and noticed how the separation from his parents had affected him, that Roger was put on the next train home to London. He was then sent to live in Chester with his mother, but as no bombs had dropped on London by 1940, the pair returned home, only for Roger to be evacuated again after the Blitz.

In the summer of 1941, Roger was carted off to Bude where he and two other evacuees stayed on a farm. It’s said that he enjoyed life there, swimming in the Tamar River and eating many a blackberry and apple pie with clotted cream.

With his life temporarily being based in Bude, Roger attended Launceston College - but unfortunately he did not enjoy going to school as much as he enjoyed swimming in the Tamar and eating fruit pies.

He told Duncan, a former Launceston College student himself: “I can’t say that I liked Launceston College, possibly because I was expected to study hard. I wrote to my parents begging to come home and adding that I’d happily cycle all the way back to London as I only had sixpence and that would not buy a train ticket.”

With this, his parents promptly put him on the train back to his beloved home city.

Of course, after the war, life went on for the Moore family, with Roger eventually ‘falling into’ the world of film after landing a role as an extra in the movie Caesar and Cleopatra in 1945. He was spotted by a talent scout and went to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) before starring in plays at the Cambridge Arts Theatre and was ‘seduced by MGM’. He first became well known as Simon Templar in the hit TV series ‘The Saint’, then of course became known to everyone as the third actor to play James Bond.

Duncan, who was given the chance to chat to the famous star a few years ago when Cornish based biographer Frank Worral invited him along to meet the 007 star, was director of SORTED’s publishing company SCM Ltd at the time and did several interviews which were used in the men’s magazine.

He said: “It was a pleasure to meet Roger Moore, particularly because of his connection with Launceston College. I was something of a Bond film nut as a kid and can promise you I saw ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ nine times when it was first released, which included several screenings at the old Lanson flea pit, The Tower Cinema, formerly in Market Street.

“Roger Moore was promoting the publication of his autobiography at the time I met him and was in great demand to give journalists an interview about his life and recollections. He eventually agreed to turn up to meet me at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire. This was very familiar territory for him, having acted in dozens of episodes of The Saint back here in the 1960s.”

Roger turned up to meet Duncan right on time in a small, black Smart car - a little different to the flashy Aston Martin which famously appears in the James Bond films.

As a journalist and editor, Duncan has been fortunate enough to meet a number of British stars over the years, with some being more pleasant to speak to than others: “But in Roger Moore’s case, I can honestly say that he left quite a lasting impression of being a genuinely decent person. He was always first to mock himself and his acting style, yet was quiet and modest about his years of dedicated hard work for the United Nations Children’s Trust.”

He added: “I feel that Launceston would be wise to acknowledge Roger Moore’s link to the town more often. Perhaps his evacuation years at our school were not his happiest, but his short attendance at the college must have helped shape him, even to the smallest degree.”

To read the full article with Roger Moore in SORTED magazine, go to https://issuu.com/duncanwilliams/docs/sortedmagazine2014c/58

News Team Wins Regional Media Innovator Award 2020

Congratulations to Pulman's Weekly News digital team named "Best Local News Publication 2020 - West Country" by Corporate Vision Magazine in their Media Innovator Awards.

PULMAN'S WEEKLY NEWS & ADVERTISER SERIES was founded in 1857 by West Country publisher George Philip Rigney Pulman. For generations his papers have been highly regarded by communities as a reliable source of news and for their local advertising services. Today this honourable tradition continues. New and growing readership demands have required a gradual transition from print to digital.

This long-term technology investment has already resulted in the company being presented with the West Country 'Media Innovator Award' for 2020 by Corporate Vision Magazine.

Says Devon born Managing Editor, Duncan Williams: "This validation for our digital outreach, particularly during these Covid-19 aware times, has been been most welcome. We are seeing more readers and businesses needing to read, promote and connect to our local news services than ever before."