Criticism for 10 papers over reporting of chainsaw suicide

The Press Complaints Commission has found 10 newspapers to be in breach of its rules on reporting suicide over a series of articles about a man who took his own life with a chainsaw. By Oliver Luft
- Mirror disputes ruling on suicide story
VW fight ad attracts over 100 complaints

A Volkswagen Golf advert featuring a series of fight scenes between a car designer and clones of himself has attracted more than 100 complaints. By Mark Sweney
- Watch Matrix-style punch-up in VW ad
HBO cues up US version of Shameless

Cable network HBO has struck a deal for a US version of Shameless with writer and producer John Wells. By Leigh Holmwood
French public sector TV goes ad-free

French public service broadcasting channels are poised to scrap evening prime time advertising amid an outcry from journalists and strike action planned this week. By Angelique Chrisafis in Paris
Independent News & Media's O'Reilly
hit by Waterford Wedgwood collapse

Anthony O'Reilly and his brother in law await a buyer for their 60% stake in the collapsed luxury lifestyle group. By Stephen Brook
- Waterford Wedgwood falls into administration
New weekly to launch in Merseyside

Champion Media Group is rolling out a new free weekly newspaper in Merseyside. By Oliver Luft
- Greenslade: Newsquest axes Wandsworth paper

Virgin Atlantic goes '80s for retro TV ad

Virgin Atlantic has launched a £6m campaign celebrating its 25th anniversary with a retro TV featuring yuppies, brick-sized mobiles and headlines about the miners' strike. By Mark Sweney
Doctor Who unveiling beats FA Cup

TV overnights: The BBC scored a victory over ITV1's FA Cup coverage with its unveiling of the new Doctor Who. By John Plunkett
La Plante's TV return draws nearly 7m

TV overnights: Lynda La Plante's new ITV1 crime drama Above Suspicion launched with nearly 7 million viewers, comfortably seeing off BBC1's latest nature show. By Leigh Holmwood

More media news

All stories from the last 24 hours

Latest from our blogs

PDA's Newsbucket

Jemima Kiss,

5 Jan 2009, 11.27pm
Elevator Pitch: SocialGO's pitches for the long tail of social networks

Jemima Kiss,

5 Jan 2009, 7.01pm

Michael Grade delivers second opinion on Doctor Who: 'I was wrong'

Monkey,

5 Jan 2009, 6.03pm
Ben Goldacre puts Detoxinabox in a pickle

Monkey,

5 Jan 2009, 5.24pm

More news & features

The online future is now

The press in 2009, Roy Greenslade: With bosses focused on commerce and ratings, papers are falling behind where it really matters, says - creating online material and innovations people are prepared to pay for
The shape of things to come

Tom Teodorczuk talks to the digital guru Clay Shirky and gets his media forecast for 2009
More from the MediaGuardian section

Looking ahead to the new year in the media - plus all the regulars
'ITV to slash Friends Reunited price'

paidContent: ITV's failure to make Friends Reunited in to a successful social network has been plain to see since its acquisition in 2005. By Robert Andrews
BBC gives 'too white' TV doll darker face

Executives are denying a character from In the Night Garden was lightened for commercial reasons. By James Robinson
Local ownership rules may be relaxed

The government is set to recommend the relaxation of local media ownership rules in a bid to help newspaper groups, MediaGuardian.co.uk understands. By Leigh Holmwood
Telegraph slashes stringer fees to £60

The Telegraph Media Group has slashed its payments to freelance foreign correspondents and is offering them just £60 for each news story. By Stephen Brook
Scramble for picture of minister's baby

The birth of French justice minister Rachida Dati's baby girl has intensified speculation over the father's identity. By Angelique Chrisafis
Cash for stars in NHS ads kept secret

Government refuses to disclose the fees paid to TV and pop celebrities for healthcare publicity
WPP takes axe to jobs amid gloom

Reduction in size of payroll will be offset by increases in staff in South America, eastern Europe and Asia
Tim Bowdler to chair PA Group

PA Group, owner of the Press Association, has appointed Tim Bowdler, the outgoing chief executive of Johnston Press, as its new non-executive chairman. By Mark Sweney
- Greenslade: Bowdler eases headache with PA post
The weekend's TV

Sarah Dempster on The Antiques Rogue Show | Demons
Radio review

Elisabeth Mahoney World Book Club (World Service, Saturday)
Open door

Siobhain Butterworth, the readers' editor on ... financial reporting and the banking crisis

Samuel L Jackson fronts Virgin campaign

Pulp Fiction star Samuel L Jackson is fronting Virgin Media's first TV campaign to promote its super-fast 50Mb broadband service. By Mark Sweney
- Download a film in three minutes, says Virgin
- Watch Virgin ad featuring Samuel L Jackson
Government launches £275m health push

The government is launching a £275m marketing campaign to tackle the obesity crisis with a TV ad that aims to kick start a 'lifestyle revolution'. By Mark Sweney
- Wallace and Gromit in public health ad
- 'Aardman ad is sweet and easy to digest'
'Channels merger would be scuppered'

Competition authorities would not approve a merger of Channel 4 and Five, according to a report. By Mark Sweney
ITV and Setanta bank on magic of the cup

Broadcasters are hoping that the FA Cup fourth round will produce plum ties to entice the viewing public. By Owen Gibson
Lobbyist sues New York Times

A woman linked by the New York Times to John McCain is suing the newspaper for $27m. By Stephen Brook
Viacom and Time Warner lock horns

Viacom is to pull 19 channels, including MTV and Nickelodeon, off Time Warner's US cable network on January 1. By Mark Sweney
BBC defends cost of Big Cat Live

The BBC has been criticised for the amount it spent on this year's Big Cat Live show, beamed from the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya. By John Vidal
Ridley wins £25k from Islam Channel

Former Sunday Express journalist Yvonne Ridley has been awarded more than £25,000 after winning a case for unfair dismissal and sexual discrimination against the Islam Channel. By John Plunkett
UK housewives world's top net surfers

Global poll also reveals six out of 10 adults in UK have gone on to meet up in 'real life' with someone they met online
Al-Jazeera sees off satellite rivals

Gaza bomb attacks are being covered in gruesome detail on Arabic TV channels with al-Jazeera watched by 50 million viewers. By Ian Black
- Foreign journalists demand Gaza access
Skins ad courts controversy with brawl

Channel 4 is to launch a hard-hitting TV promo for the new series of E4 teen drama Skins featuring a flare being set off in a pub. By Mark Sweney