MediaGuardian briefing

Media briefing                                                                                        Friday 23 Jan 2015 g
Top stories on MediaGuardian                                                                                                       More »
Mobile network Three to buy O2 in £10bn deal Acquisition that would make Li Ka-shing one of UK’s biggest foreign investors sparks fears of phone and internet price rise  BBC and ITV set to expand party leader debates to include Greens, SNP and Plaid Cymru Broadcasters to present revised plan to political parties after David Cameron insisted on inclusion of the Greens  No More Page 3 inspires campaign against topless pictures in Germany Women launch petition against Bild’s use of sexualised images  Cilla Black among stars to settle phone hacking claims for ‘substantial’ damages EastEnders’ Jessie Wallace, singer Peter Andre and actor Darren Day have also settled with Mirror Group Newspapers  Tory MP accuses CPS of pursuing vendetta against Sun journalists ‘I don’t think the CPS is looking at the public interest’, she says  Economist magazine appoints its first female editor Business affairs editor Zanny Minton Beddoes succeeds John Micklethwait, who has held the role for nine years  ITV staff to hold strike ballot over annual pay offer Unions seeking improvement on broadcaster’s offer of 2% rise  Page 3: The Sun brings back topless women Campaigners dismayed by tabloid’s decision after reports 44-year-old practice had been quietly dropped  Andy Coulson faces retrial over alleged purchase of royal phone directories Jury in the original phone-hacking trial could not agree a verdict on corrupt payments charges and were discharged  Four Sun journalists accused of making corrupt payments face retrial Jury discharged after failing to reach verdict on charges against Chris Pharo, Ben O’Driscoll, Jamie Pyatt and Graham Dudman
Today's newspaper headlines                                                                                                         More »
Today's media stories from the papers Our roundup of the day's media stories, including mobile network Three to buy O2 in £10bn deal and BBC and ITV set to expand party leader debates
Media Monkey's pick of the day                                                                                                   More »
It's plane to see why Diane Coyle cost the BBC a packet last year One small bit of fall out from Lord Patten being forced to quit as BBC Trust chairman before the end of his term in office following heart surgery in May last year has been revealed in the latest BBC Trust expenses figures, released on Thursday. The bean counters at the corporation’s governing body had to shell out £1,536.90 for an one-way ticket from Cairns, Australia, back to London for vice-chair Diane Coyle. Coyle interrupted her family holiday down under to return to carry out duties as acting chairman on a temporary basis while Patten’s replacement was lined up. Monkey is relieved to note the ticket was listed as an economy class one, in line with the BBC’s austerity drive. One of Coyle’s first decisions in the role was to mirror Patten’s decision to not take up the offer of an official BBC driver, previously a perk of the job. Coyle spent £508.85 on cabs during the six months to September 2014 according to the official figures, more than any other BBC trustee (closest was Alison Hastings with a £322.69 taxi total), the bulk of which was for taxis from her house to the office.