PinkNews

{{Short description|UK-based online newspaper focused on LGBT topics}}

{{Infobox website

| name = PinkNews

| logo = PinkNews (logo).svg

| editors =

| screenshot = Pink News Screenshot 15th April 2012.png

| caption = PinkNews homepage, April 2012

| url = {{URL|thepinknews.com}}

| commercial = Yes

| type = Online newspaper

| registration = No

| language = English

| num_users =

| content_license =

| owner =

| author = Benjamin Cohen

| launch_date = {{Start date|df=yes|2005|07}}

| current_status = Active

}}

PinkNews is a UK-based online newspaper marketed to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning community (LGBTQ+) in the UK and worldwide. It was founded by Benjamin Cohen in July 2005, initially released in print, but became an online version six months later.

The paper closely follows political progress on LGBTQ+ rights around the world, and carries interviews with cultural figures and politicians, including the gay marriage debate in the UK, and has participated in campaigns such as Out4Marriage.

History

=PinkUnlimited.co.uk=

PinkNews was founded by Benjamin Cohen in July 2005.{{Cite news |last=Tobitt |first=Charlotte |date=12 December 2022 |title=Pink News tackles news avoidance with positive news filter |work=Press Gazette |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/digital-journalism/pink-news-uplifting-filter-out-negative-stories-amid-news-avoidance-fears/ |access-date=13 December 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2007/07/30/comment-how-pinknewscouk-changed-the-gay-media/ |title=Comment: How PinkNews.co.uk changed the gay media |first=Benjamin |last=Cohen |date=30 July 2007 |website=PinkNews |access-date=15 January 2023}} PinkUnlimited.co.uk Ltd was registered at Companies House on 13 December 2005.[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/05653301 Companies House Co No 05653301] That month the sitting Prime Minister, Tony Blair, wrote their online article: We are living in a new age of equality.{{cite news |last=Blair |first=Tony |date=5 December 2005 |title=We are living in a new age of equality |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2005/12/21/tony-blair-heralds-a-new-age-of-gay-equality/ |newspaper=PinkNews}} The PinkNews paper version was officially launched in 2006.{{cite news|last=Shoffman|first=Marc|title=The Pink News launches new gay era|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2006/06/29/the-pink-news-launches-new-gay-era/|newspaper=PinkNews|date=29 June 2006}} However, PinkNews became an online-only publication when the print edition was dropped after six months.{{cite news |last1=Luft |first1=Oliver |title=Pink News five years on: 'revenue could rise ten-fold' |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/pink-news-five-years-on-revenue-could-rise-ten-fold/ |access-date=10 December 2024 |work=Press Gazette |date=28 July 2010}}

=PinkNews Media =

In April 2015, the company was renamed PinkNews Media Group Ltd. In 2018, PinkNews became the first LGBTQ+ publisher on Snapchat. It had an operating profit of £2million in 2021.{{cite news |last1=Tobbit |first1=Charlotte |date=1 September 2022 |title=Pink News CEO on how £2m profit LGBTQ+ brand resonates with Gen Z |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/reaching-gen-z-pink-news/ |access-date=9 November 2022 |work=Press Gazette}} The website was redesigned in 2022. New filtering features were also added to its app in an attempt to counter news avoidance due to negative reporting.

In November 2020, the company was renamed PinkNews Media Ltd.

Notable mentions

= Premiership footballers =

In 2006, two tabloid newspapers, the News of the World and The Sun, published false allegations about two unnamed Premiership footballers having a gay orgy with a DJ, using a pixelated photograph of footballer Ashley Cole to illustrate the story. PinkNews published what it claimed to be the unpixelated original photograph. Cole, along with the DJ, Masterstepz, sued the tabloids' parent company News International and won at least £100,000 plus legal costs.{{cite news|last1=Brook|first1=Stephen|title=England star wins libel payout over sex slur|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/jun/26/newsoftheworld.pressandpublishing1|access-date=25 September 2017|work=The Guardian|date=26 June 2006}}

= Stonewall =

PinkNews reported heavily on the refusal of Stonewall, an LGBTQ+ rights group, to actively campaign for gay marriage prior to October 2010. A poll commissioned by PinkNews and answered by more than 800 of their readership found 98% in support of marriage equality. Stonewall was also criticised by a former founder, Michael Cashman, MEP{{cite news|last=Reeves|first=Andrew|title=What does Stonewall want if it isn't gay marriage?|url=http://www.libdemvoice.org/stonewall-gay-marriage-21378.html|access-date=11 January 2013|newspaper=LibDemVoice.org|date=28 September 2010|archive-date=8 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608205523/http://www.libdemvoice.org/stonewall-gay-marriage-21378.html|url-status=dead}} in an op-ed for PinkNews entitled "What part of 'equality' can't Stonewall understand?"{{cite web |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/09/27/stonewall-co-founder-michael-cashman-what-part-of-equality-cant-stonewall-understand/ |title=Stonewall co-founder Michael Cashman: What part of 'equality' can't Stonewall understand? |website=PinkNews.co.uk |date=27 September 2010 |access-date=2013-03-28 |archive-date=2013-04-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424065257/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/09/27/stonewall-co-founder-michael-cashman-what-part-of-equality-cant-stonewall-understand/ |url-status=live }} Stonewall CEO, Ben Summerskill later accused PinkNews of running an "unethical campaign" against Stonewall after asking every LGBT organisation and political group to outline their stance on the issue, with only Stonewall refusing to comment. In October 2010, Stonewall revised its policy and agreed to support same-sex marriage.{{cite web |url=http://www.petertatchell.net/lgbt_rights/partnerships/stonewall-undermines-campaign-for-gay-marriage.htm |archive-url=https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20101204165931/http://www.petertatchell.net/lgbt_rights/partnerships/stonewall-undermines-campaign-for-gay-marriage.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 December 2010 |title=Stonewall undermines campaign for gay marriage |publisher=Peter Tatchell |access-date=22 May 2012 }}{{cite web|last=Geen |first=Jessica |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/10/27/stonewall-says-it-will-campaign-for-gay-marriage/ |title=Stonewall says it will campaign for gay marriage |date=27 October 2010 |publisher=PinkNews.co.uk |access-date=22 May 2012}} On 25 April 2012 PinkNews began using a video for the Coalition for Equal Marriage in their advertising space, wrote articles in support of it and gave it their official backing, encouraging readers to respond to the government consultation to show their opinions.{{cite web |last=Gray |first=Stephen |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/04/25/video-coalition-for-equal-marriage-releases-beautiful-viral-campaign-film/ |title=Video: Coalition for Equal Marriage releases beautiful viral campaign film |publisher=PinkNews.co.uk |access-date=22 May 2012 |archive-date=1 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101145956/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/04/25/video-coalition-for-equal-marriage-releases-beautiful-viral-campaign-film/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/04/25/comment-i-hope-my-equal-marriage-film-wakes-us-all-up-to-support-changing-the-law/ |title=Comment: I hope my Equal Marriage film wakes us all up to support changing the law |publisher=PinkNews.co.uk |access-date=22 May 2012 |archive-date=24 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624024633/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/04/25/comment-i-hope-my-equal-marriage-film-wakes-us-all-up-to-support-changing-the-law/ |url-status=dead }}

PinkNews regularly reported on the progress of the Out4Marriage campaign, which was started in May 2012 and launched by Mike Buonaiuto and PinkNews founder, Benjamin Cohen. The campaign used YouTube videos of people supporting equal marriage, including celebrities and Members of Parliament, finishing with the line "And that's why I'm out for marriage. Are you?". The Out4Marriage YouTube campaign reached 14 million views in just three weeks from launch.{{cite web|url=http://www.out4marriage.org|title=Out4Marriage|work=out4marriage.org|access-date=26 July 2015}}{{cite news |last=Grice |first=Andrew |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/home-secretary-theresa-may-records-video-declaring-full-support-for-gay-marriage-7785927.html |work=The Independent |date=24 May 2012 |access-date=27 May 2012 |title=Home Secretary Theresa May records video declaring full support for gay marriage}}{{cite news |last=Guardian |first=The |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2012/may/24/theresa-may-gay-marriage-video |work=The Guardian |date=24 May 2012 |access-date=27 May 2012 |title=Theresa May records video in support of gay marriage – video}}

PinkNews was an official supporter of the Coalition for Equal Marriage (C4EM), a counter-organisation to the Coalition for Marriage, and successfully petitioned for the introduction of same-sex marriage rights in England and Wales, while the Coalition for Marriage campaigned against it.{{cite web|url=http://www.c4em.org.uk/|title=C4EM supporters|publisher=C4EM|access-date=4 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20130102223741/http%3A//www.c4em.org.uk/|archive-date=2 January 2013}}

PinkNews began to collaborate closely with Stonewall following the departure of Summerskill in 2014. PinkNews had regularly reported criticism of Stonewall for its refusal to campaign on transgender issues.{{Cite news |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2008/11/07/celebs-split-over-trans-protests-at-stonewall-awards/ |title=Celebs split over trans protest at Stonewall Awards |work=PinkNews |access-date=12 October 2017 |language=en-UK}} A year later, under Chief Executive Ruth Hunt, Stonewall decided to begin campaigning on transgender issues.{{Cite news |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/02/16/stonewall-announces-it-will-now-campaign-for-trans-rights-too/ |title=Stonewall announces it will now campaign for trans rights too |work=PinkNews |access-date=12 October 2017 |language=en-UK}} Hunt has written for PinkNews on a number of occasions.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/author/ruth-hunt/|title=Ruth Hunt · PinkNews|website=PinkNews|language=en-UK|access-date=12 October 2017}}

In 2017, Stonewall and PinkNews co-hosted an election hustings.{{Cite news |title=General Election 2017: Stonewall LGBT hustings sells out |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/05/19/general-election-2017-stonewall-lgbt-hustings-sells-out-join-waiting-list/ |access-date=12 October 2017 |work=PinkNews |language=en-UK}}

= Peter Tatchell Day =

In 2012 PinkNews named 25 January as Peter Tatchell Day to celebrate the British political campaigner's 60th birthday, 45 years of human rights campaigning and 10 years since the launch of the Peter Tatchell Foundation.{{cite web |title=Peter Tatchell Day declared |url=http://www.rainbowforum.co.uk/home/2012/1/11/pinknews-to-celebrate-25-january-as-peter-tatchell-day-legen.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225112710/http://www.rainbowforum.co.uk/home/2012/1/11/pinknews-to-celebrate-25-january-as-peter-tatchell-day-legen.html |archive-date=25 February 2012 |access-date=4 April 2012 |publisher=Rainbow Forum LGBT Group}} PinkNews also published a prose poem written by Stephen Fry in honour of Tatchell's birthday on 24 January and frequently carries advertisements for the Peter Tatchell Foundation.{{cite web |date=24 January 2012 |title=Peter Tatchell Day poem |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/01/24/a-poem-for-peter-tatchell-by-stephen-fry/ |access-date=4 April 2012 |publisher=PinkNews}}

= Interview with the Archbishop of Canterbury =

PinkNews became one of the few LGBTQ+ publications to have interviewed an incumbent Archbishop of Canterbury in 2014, when Justin Welby discussed the Church of England's approach to homosexuality.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/blog/2014/may/14/archbishop-canterbury-great-remark-gay-magazine |title=Archbishop of Canterbury creates a stir with 'great' remark to gay magazine |work=The Guardian |date=14 May 2014 |first=Andrew |last=Brown |access-date=20 December 2024}}

= Lalya Moran =

On 2 January 2020, UK MP Layla Moran revealed in an interview with PinkNews that she is pansexual; she is believed to be the first UK parliamentarian to come out as pansexual.{{cite news |date=3 January 2020 |title=Layla Moran: Lib Dem MP announces she is pansexual |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50978997 |access-date=3 January 2020 |work=BBC News}}

Controversies

= Joanna Cherry =

In 2019 PinkNews apologised to Joanna Cherry, who at the time was the MP for Edinburgh South West for falsely stating that she was being investigated for homophobia.{{cite web |last=Rhodes |first=Mandy |date=15 October 2019 |title=With a cherry on top: Exclusive interview with Joanna Cherry |url=https://www.holyrood.com/inside-politics/view,with-a-cherry-on-top-exclusive-interview-with-joanna-cherry_14544.htm |access-date=20 December 2024 |publisher=Holyrood}} In a correction published on their website, they "made a donation to the Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group at Ms Cherry’s request in compensation for the damage done and we have paid Ms Cherry’s legal costs."

= Julie Bindel =

In July 2020, the writer and activist Julie Bindel sued PinkNews and its editor Benjamin Cohen for libel in relation to an article concerning gender-critical feminism that she argued defamed her.{{cite web |date=7 July 2021 |title=Judgment handed down in Julie Bindel's libel claim against Pink News |url=https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/news/judgment-handed-down-in-julie-bindels-libel-claim-against-pink-news/ |access-date=11 December 2024 |publisher=Matrix Chambers}}{{cite web |date=7 July 2021 |title=In the High Court of Justics - Julie Bindel and (1) PinkNews Media Group Ltd (2) Benjamin Cohen |url=https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Bindel-v-PinkNews-2021-EWHC-1868-QB-Final-for-hand-down-002.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707160825/https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Bindel-v-PinkNews-2021-EWHC-1868-QB-Final-for-hand-down-002.pdf |archive-date=7 July 2021 |access-date=11 December 2024 |publisher=Matrix Chambers |ref=Case No: QB-2020-002650}} In October 2021, the case was settled out of court with PinkNews publishing a joint statement with Bindel stating "The [original] article made a number of serious allegations of misconduct and PinkNews accepts that if the allegations were understood to refer to Julie, they would be wholly untrue."{{cite web |date=26 October 2021 |title=Julie Bindel settles libel claim with PinkNews |url=https://www.5rb.com/news/julie-bindel-settles-libel-claim-with-pinknews/ |access-date=11 December 2024 |publisher=5RB}}

===Sexual misconduct allegations===

On 11 December 2024, the BBC broadcast an investigation in which Anthony James and Benjamin Cohen were accused by more than 30 current and former members of staff of inappropriate touching, kissing, and bullying.{{cite news |last1=Tait |first1=Albert |title=Couple behind PinkNews accused of slapping employee on bottom and kissing drunk staff |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/10/couple-behind-lgbtq-website-pinknews-accused-by-staff/ |access-date=10 December 2024 |work=Daily Telegraph |date=10 December 2024}}{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Roisin |title=PinkNews bosses accused of sexual misconduct by former staff members |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/pinknews-allegations-benjamin-cohen-anthony-james-b2661805.html |access-date=10 December 2024 |work=The Independent |date=10 December 2024}} The staff members described a toxic workplace.{{cite news |last1=Parry |first1=Josh |title=PinkNews bosses accused of sexual misconduct |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy9q4zvwldvo|work=BBC News |access-date=10 December 2024 |date=10 December 2024}} On 17 December, the couple released a statement describing the allegations of sexual misconduct as "false, inconsistent and malicious" and accused the BBC of misleading the public.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crmn4kwpkydo |title=PinkNews bosses deny 'malicious' sexual misconduct claims |work=BBC News |date=17 December 2024 |access-date=18 December 2024}}