SWNS Media Group explained

SWNS Media Group
Type:Privately held company
Foundation:Early 1970s
Location:London, UK
Key People:Andrew Young, Paul Walters, Martin Winter
Industry:News agency
Subsid:72point
Inside Media
OATH
OnePoll
Talk to the Press
Num Employees:100
Num Employees Year:2015

SWNS Media Group (also known as South West News Service) is a British news agency and media company with six subdivisions, including SWNS, 72point, InsideMedia, OATH, OnePoll and Talk to the Press.[1]

The company operates from offices in Bristol, Plymouth, Leeds, Solihull, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Cambridge and London.[2] As of 2015, SWNS employed around 100 reporters and photographers.[3]

History

It was founded as the Bristol Agency in the early 1970s. It is now run by partners Andrew Young, Paul Walters and Martin Winter.

In 2010 SWNS launched the website SWNS.com (Small World News Service) as a first hand source of current affairs and general interest news.[4]

In 2016 SWNS acquired the regional agencies Masons News Service, Newsteam International, Ross Parry, National News, Centre Press and Northscot.[5] [6]

Organisation

SWNS has two public relations divisions: 72Point and Inside Media,[7] [8] market research company OnePoll, also OATH and Talk to The Press.

SWNS has a relationship with the alternative news website venture The London Economic, though it is understood not to leverage any editorial control.[9]

Criticism

In 2023, SWNS Media Group's 72Point faced criticism over the transparency and ethics of its content generation practices following the discovery of articles attributed to 72Point's staff members on news websites.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Britain's biggest independent news agency expands . . Progressive Media International . London . 8 May 2008 . 7 March 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120306015405/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=41102 . 6 March 2012 . live .
  2. Web site: 2010 . NAPA Members' Directory – South West News Service . live . napa.org.uk . . 7 March 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120321033223/http://www.napa.org.uk/users/directory_list.php?pageno=5 . 21 March 2012.
  3. Web site: 2015-11-30 . SWNS news agency takes editorial headcount to nearly 100 with takeover of National News . 2022-04-10 . Press Gazette . en-US.
  4. Web site: About SWNS. swns.com. Small World News Service. Bristol. 7 March 2011. 10 February 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110425010447/http://swns.com/about-swns. 25 April 2011. usurped.
  5. Web site: SWNS acquires Leeds-based news agency Ross Parry. 24 September 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927145540/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/content/swns-acquires-leeds-based-news-agency-ross-parry. 27 September 2013. live.
  6. News: SWNS moves into London by acquiring yet another news agency. Roy Greenslade. The Guardian. 5 November 2015 . 16 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160603071152/http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2015/nov/05/swns-moves-into-london-by-acquiring-yet-another-news-agency. 3 June 2016. live.
  7. Web site: West Country News, Stories & Events Online – Western Daily Press. Western Daily Press. 21 January 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110505082744/http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/news/Budget-public-relations-firm-going-strength-strength/article-2018907-detail/article.html. 5 May 2011. live.
  8. News: Primal PR and 72 Point expand operations with launch of London offices . Brand Republic . 21 June 2010 . 21 January 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110505193547/http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/1011054/Primal-PR-72-Point-expand-operations-launch-London-offices . 5 May 2011 . live .
  9. News: Walker. James. Alternative news website The London Economic sees traffic boom with pro-Corbyn coverage'. 24 May 2018. Press Gazette. 12 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180524082718/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/alternative-news-website-the-london-economic-sees-traffic-boom-with-pro-corbyn-coverage/. 24 May 2018. live.
  10. Web site: 72Point defends business amid criticism . Siobhan . Holt. PR Week.

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