In a poll conducted by Platform 51, more than 40 per cent of women asked supported the idea of a ban on the likes of the Sun‘s Page 3.

The support comes weeks after four women’s groups presented evidence to the Leveson inquiry demanding that the press must stop objectifying women.

The poll of 2,013 adults found that support for a ban was particularly high among young men and women aged between 18-24. While 42 per cent of women asked supported an outright ban on topless photos, 24 per cent additionally voiced their support for ending the publication of such images.

Platform 51′s Rebecca Gill said she hoped the Leveson inquiry will now “listen to women’s views”. She added: “Every day we help girls and women across the country to build up their confidence and self-esteem and we see how they are affected by such photos, both in how they feel about themselves and how men see them.”

Earlier this month Media Digest published the thoughts of freelance journalist Nicola Thornton on the issue of how women are represented in the press.

(Source: journalism.co.uk)

Paul Dacre has issued a staunch defence of his newspaper, the Daily Mail, in the face of questioning during the Leveson inquiry.

During questioning, Dacre told Robert Jay Q.C, that he presented a “bleak”, “somewhat one-sided picture of the Mail”, and that its readers enjoy and support the paper.

Dacre told the Leveson inquiry that he “categorically disputes” the idea that “we adopt an irresponsible stance on medical stories” following a line of questioning from Jay that focused on the Mail‘s coverage of cancer-related stories.

Jay, referring to a Daily Mail article headlined: ‘Cancer danger of that night-time trip to the toilet’  – which suggested that turning on a light to go to the toilet at night increases the risk of cancer – grilled the Mail’s long-standing editor on how responsible the newspaper’s journalists are when it comes to scientific reporting. In response, Dacre refuted claims of “sensationalism” and said his paper performed a huge range of good work on science and medical stories.

Another key area of Dacre’s evidence surrounded the role of the Press Complaints Commission. Dacre made the suggestion that journalists should be registered under a new regulator, all of whom would be granted a press card. This system of accreditation would steer journalists from ‘bad’ reporting techniques, especially if those journalists are ‘banned’ from high-profile press events. Dacre explained: “No publication could survive if its reporters were banned.”

Dacre also hit out at publications owned by Richard Desmond, labelling them full of “very bland, slightly sycophantic” journalism. He also shared his concerns of getting a new regulatory system to “lock-in” the likes of Desmond. “By and large, Mr Desmond does not produce the kind of journalism – mostly celebrity bland journalism – that would end up in this court or arbitration model,” he said.

(Source: MediaGuardian, Press Gazette)

If the strike goes ahead, it will take place over a 48-hour period next week – coinciding with the release of the company’s full-year financial results.

Members of the National Union of Journalists chapel at the company claim that the pay rise, following “four years of effective pay cuts” isn’t good enough.

The blame lies at the feet of Thomson Reuters, according to chapel officers Mike Roddy and Helen Long: “The company ignored repeated warnings that members had reached a tipping point, after years of below-inflation pay rises, combined with rising costs, that are pricing many members out of their jobs.”

Voters agreed unanimously to go on strike. 83 per cent of Thomson Reuters NUJ members voted in favour of action.

It’s not the first time staff at the news agency have threatened strike action. In 2008 and 2009, the threat of industrial action was used following concerns over job cuts and working conditions.

(Source: MediaGuardian)

The Media Blog‘s Will Sturgeon credits Mail Online’s picture desk as the “engine room” of its booming growth after comScore named it the world’s biggest newspaper site. (Source: The Media Blog)

Follow the links for more on the movers and shakers in the press relations, marketing, media and press industries over the past week.

Amazon has hired Alex Hole as its advertising sales director. Hole was previously a digital executive at News International. (Source: Media Week)

Telegraph Media Group has switched Mike Allen, who has been with the publisher since 2008, to the new role of head of Olympic sales. (Source: Media Week)

Nick Emery has risen to the position of chief exec at Mindshare Worldwide, after previous incumbent Dominic Proctor took on the new role of president of WPP’s GroupM. (Source: Media Week)

M&C Saatchi has hired Jeff Brooks from Euro RSCG New York to spearhead the revival of its New York office, which merged with its Los Angeles office in 2008. (Source: Brand Republic)

A reshuffle of Yahoo Europe’s top brass has seen the departures of James Tipple, vice-president for marketing, and Andrew Cocker, marketing director. Robert Bridge, former business-to-business marketing director, has been promoted to the role of senior director and head of marketing for the region. (Source: Brand Republic)

Npower has hired Debbie Britton as its director of customer marketing, with a mandate to “rebuild trust” in the brand. She was previously marketing director at insurer Axa UK. (Source: Brand Republic)

Richard Desmond’s Health Lottery has appointed Andrew Kliman for the newly created position of head of communications. He joins the organisation from Dr Foster Intelligence. (Source: Brand Republic)

The COI’s former deputy chief executive, Peter Buchanan, has joined HMDG as a consulting director. (Source: Brand Republic)

The UK and Ireland branch of MTV Networks has brought in Jo Bacon as its vice-president of marketing, creative and publicity. (Source: Brand Republic)

Saatchi & Saatchi has promoted Leigh Thomas, its head of account management, to UK managing director, replacing Sydney-bound Michael Rebelo. (Source: Brand Republic)

MediaCom UK has filled its vacant chief operating officer role with the appointment of Josh Krichefski from the company’s European branch. (Source: Brand Republic)

Nick Clegg has hired his sixth, and final, special adviser in the form of Veena Hudson. She will use her experience as Monitor’s head of media and stakeholder relations to create better links to Whitehall departments. (Source: Brand Republic)

Mindshare has hired Nick Adams as its new head of digital development, which it hopes will boost its digital output. (Source: Brand Republic)

Virgin Atlantic has hired Joy Doyle to the role of international PR manager. Doyle joins from National Express, where she was head of media. (Source: Brand Republic)

MPG Media Contacts has hired Hamid Habib to take on the position of managing partner. He will head Catalyst, its new strategy and research unit. (Source: Brand Republic)

News Corporation’s senior comms professional Matthew Anderson – widely known as James Murdoch’s right hand man – has left to “pursue other opportunities”. All of News Corp’s senior comms team have now reportedly left since the phone hacking crisis. (Source: Brand Republic)

Michael Wolff, the biographer of Rupert Murdoch, is to join the Guardian as a columnist. He will write about tech, media, publishing and politics. (Source: MediaGuardian)

Bauer Media has hired Dilupa Nanayakkara from News International to take on the role of account director for some of its radio stations. (Source: Media Week)

Future Publishing has hired Nick King from News International to become its digital commercial director. He will start on 6 February. (Source: Media Week)

Future has also appointed Keith Walker from IPC, to take on the role of head of audience development for its game and film online properties. (Source: Media Week)

Mulcaire has lost the Court of Appeal case brought against him by the comedian Steve Coogan and PR consultant Nicola Phillips, who demanded that he should have to come clean on anyone employing his services.

However, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, who presided over the case, granted Mulcaire a stay until 5PM Monday, to give him the chance to appeal to the Supreme Court. Mulcaire’s solicitor, Sarah Webb, issued a statement saying that the decision would be appealed.

(Source: Press Gazette)

Just before Christmas last year, I proposed an idea to give healthy young people with talent and ambition a head start in the media. I suggested that every media company that can, should take on three interns over 2012 for four months each. We’re just about to take our first on and I’ll keep you up-to-speed with his progress.

On a linked note, we have launched a platform for young writers to showcase their talents: The Daily Blot (which has been in live development for a few months) is now part of Media Digest. The aim is to provide a safe haven for aspiring young writers to place their early words, hone their skills and technical disciplines, and have something real to show prospective employers.

If you know of anyone who could benefit from this free facility, please point them in this direction. There are hundreds of potentially great journalists and writers out there and no one knows their names…