Top News:
Jason Abbruzzese / Mashable:
Facebook says a dip in reach numbers for publishers in February was due to a data glitch, not a real decline in delivery of posts — Facebook claims Newsfeed dip for news sites was a mere ‘bug’ — Facebook giveth traffic. Hath Facebook taken it away? — The social network …
Discussion:
The Whip, The Awl, @jayrosen_nyu, @pierrefitter, @ssstrom, @earcos, @mikeisaac, @mathewi and American Press Institute
Benjamin Mullin / Poynter:
Toronto Star drops paywall, joins Snapchat — The Toronto Star announced Wednesday the retirement of its digital subscription program, formalizing a move that was projected months ago. — The Star also launched a Snapchat account and enabled readers to share its articles with WhatsApp.
Discussion:
Toronto Star
NetNewsCheck:
Scripps, Journal Communications Complete Merger And Spinoff — The E.W. Scripps Company has completed its merger of broadcast assets with Journal Communications and the two companies have spun off their respective newspaper properties, Scripps announced on Wednesday.
Discussion:
TVSpy
Associated Press:
Berkshire Hathaway buys 2 small Virginia newspapers, The Martinsville Bulletin and the Franklin News-Post, from Haskell Newspapers — Berkshire Hathaway buys 2 small Virginia newspapers — OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett's company has added two small Virginia newspapers to its collection …
Discussion:
Poynter
Patrick Frater / Variety:
Unlicensed foreign films and TV series to be removed from Chinese video streaming sites today — Rules Tightened for Foreign Content on China's Online Video Platforms — Unlicensed foreign films and TV series are to be removed from China's powerful online video platforms from today.
Discussion:
ecns
William Turvill / Press Gazette:
News website partly funded by EU launches in UK ahead of possible in-out referendum — European Union news and policy website EurActiv has today launched a new website specifically for the UK. — The site, which is part-funded by the EU and also relies on company sponsorship …
Discussion:
@gazthejourno
Hollywood Reporter:
Hollywood Reporter Inks Content Partnership With China's Tencent — The Hollywood Reporter has entered into a multi-year content deal with Tencent. The partnership will see THR's news, features and videos syndicated across platforms of the China-based web giant.
Discussion:
Investor's Business Daily, New York Times and @justinaknope
Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab:
The Indianapolis Star took a bold stand in print but forced the editorial into a standard Gannett template online — When your newspaper wants to make a big statement, make sure you're making it online too — Indiana's passed a bill that many say allows state-sanctioned discrimination …
Discussion:
@ryansholin, @dansinker, @samkirkland, @jayrosen_nyu, Politico, Rolling Stone, Washington Post, The Daily Caller, Poynter, Mediaite, The Huffington Post, The Week, MarketWatch and Mashable
Jason Abbruzzese / Mashable:
The Guardian targets oil companies with ‘unprecedented’ climate-change campaign — Climate change is one of those large, sweeping stories in which history has not made a dent in more than 30 years. Alan Rusbridger, the editor in chief of the Guardian, decided to tackle it in a six-month, all-hands blitz
Discussion:
Guardian
Lukas I. Alpert / Wall Street Journal:
NY, OR, MN, MO, and TX sue magazine subscription service Orbital Publishing Group for price inflation and unauthorized sale of publications — Subscription Service Accused of Fraud — States allege sham outfit inflated prices for publications it wasn't authorized to sell
Discussion:
Syracuse Post-Standard, Bloomberg Business, Long Island Exchange, Consumerist and New York Times
Stuart Dredge / Guardian:
Vice's head of content Alex Miller talks about covering UK elections, staying in global hotspots like the Ukraine, using new tools like Snapchat, and more — Vice's election will feature ‘freakishly young, smart and angry people’ — Content boss Alex Miller on covering the polls …
Hannah Allam / McClatchy Washington Bureau:
State Dept. denies journalist Tice has been seen in custody in Syria — WASHINGTON — State Department officials on Monday denied a French news report that a missing American journalist has been seen in captivity in Syria and that the Syrian government has acknowledged holding him.