View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Comment
July 9, 2013updated 10 Jul 2013 1:42pm

Ban the byline bandits: Agency journalists recognised at NAPA awards, but bylines tell a different story

By Axegrinder

Axegrinder admits that he feared freelance journalist Sheron Boyle would ‘never work in this town again’ after railing against byline bandits at The Sun in a Press Gazette last month.

So I was pleasantly surprised when new Sun editor David Dinsmore responded on Twitter by saying that she makes a good point.

It looks like the fluffy, friendly, non phone-hacking News UK will be taking action to address the problem of staffers stealing bylines from freelances.

But what about the rest of Fleet Street?

The recent National Association of Press Agencies awards suggest that no matter how good your story is, if you're not on the staff you can whistle for a byline.

Axegrinder knows that sometimes news editors will stick a staffer’s byline on agency copy, and there may be little the reporter can do about it.

But it was interesting nonetheless to compare the names of the various agency journalist award-winners at the NAPA awards with the names which appeared next to the stories once they had appeared in print.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Exclusive of the year runner up: Lauren Brown, Cavendish Press.

Byline in the Daily Express: Jan Disley.

Exclusive of the year winner: Will Humphries of Wales News Service.

Byline in the Daily Mirror: Richard Smith.

Spec news story of the year winner: Paul Vass of Bournemouth News and Pictures.

Byline in the Daily Mail: Paul Harris. Byline in The Sun: Jamie Pyatt.

More contributions will be gratefully received.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network