Media Insider: UK Outlets Fight to Evacuate Afghan Journalists, The Post Expands TikTok Team, Ebony Returns

Welcome to Media Insider, PR Newswire’s roundup of media news stories from the week.

THE WASHINGTON POST
The Washington Post deepens investment in storytelling on TikTok, announcing two new positions

The Washington Post announced it will be hiring for two new positions on its TikTok content team. The positions, an associate producer and a community editor, will focus on channel growth and expanding content to connect with a constantly evolving audience. TikTok is currently the Post’s fastest-growing channel, with more than one million followers. Micah Gelman, director of Editorial Video, said, “These new positions will augment the success we’ve seen, helping us further grow, innovate and continue connecting with more people who may not regularly consume traditional news.”

Read next: YouTube surpasses 2 Million creators in monetization program.

THE GUARDIAN | MICHAEL SAVAGE
Afghan journalists win right to come to Britain after media appeal

Media outlets across the globe have been struggling to evacuate their Afghan journalists since the Taliban’s return to power in the country. After being met with red tape, a coalition of major newspapers and broadcasters in the UK wrote an open letter urging the government to ensure all Afghan journalists are evacuated safely from Afghanistan. In response, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab agreed to issue visa waivers for 200 Afghan journalists and their immediate families in recognition of the risks they have taken for media freedom. However, with chaos still surrounding Kabul airport, there are serious concerns about getting the group out of the country. The British Council said it is working with the Ministry of Defence to “explore every avenue of support available to ensure … all former and current colleagues receive the fullest consideration possible.”

Continue reading: A humanitarian effort led by Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard helped The Times get its journalists out of Afghanistan.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL | BENJAMIN MULLIN
Vox Media Agrees to Acquire Punch, Weighs Going Public

Vox Media announced it will buy Punch from Penguin Random House. The acquisition of the cocktail website will allow Vox Media to expand its coverage of food and restaurants and boost its ecommerce revenue. The deal comes as Vox Media explores going public through a SPAC merger. Talia Baiocchi, editor in chief of Punch, will join Vox Media under the leadership of Amanda Kludt. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

More acquisition news: Nexstar acquires The Hill for $130 Million and Axel Springer is acquiring Politico in a $1 billion deal.

MEDIAPOST | RAY SCHULTZ
3 Gannett Newspapers In New Jersey Vote To Unionize

Asbury Park Press, Home News Tribune, and Courier News are the next Gannett newspapers to unionize. The New Jersey newspapers signed a bid to join the NewsGuild of New York to protect themselves from management that continuously cuts staff and pushes the bottom line. Cheryl Makin, a reporter for the Courier News, said, “We should not be living a life based on the daily mantra ‘be grateful you have a job,’ repeated and reinforced by upper management. We should be working in an environment of professional respect — shown through quality benefits, policies and salaries.”

Related: Newspaper unios in Texas fight for first contracts.

THE NEW YORK TIMES | MARC TRACY
Ebony Returns to Chronicle a New Moment

Eden Bridgeman Sklenar has been leading the revival of Ebony magazine since it emerged from bankruptcy earlier this year. Sklenar began the revival with the appointments of Michele Thornton Ghee as chief executive and Marielle Bobo as editor in chief. They launched Ebony digitally with daily articles and videos posted to its website. Starting in 2022, a print edition is scheduled to come out four times a year. Ebony has also entered into several major partnerships. Ebony is working with Bloomberg Media to create original videos and content to cross promote on social media. Bloomberg Media will also assist with the revival of the Ebony Power 100, an annual list of influential Black Americans. In another partnership with HarperOne, Ebony’s book division will publish a memoir by Viola Davis in 2022.

The Charlotte Observer named its first Black editor in the newspaper’s 135-year history.

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Erin Wade is a Senior Customer Content Specialist with PR Newswire. She is also an animal lover and aspiring world traveler. Tune into her insights as a social curator at @TotalCSR.