Top News:
Benjamin Mullin / Poynter:
Politico journalists Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman will take over Politico's Playbook newsletter in July, according to memo from EIC John Harris — Journalists Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman will take over Politico's Playbook newsletter in July, according to a memo from Editor-in-Chief John Harris sent to newsroom employees Sunday night:
Noah Kulwin / Recode:
Tronc's latest branding video discusses content funnels and AI, resembles an Adult Swim parody, and draws criticism online for its use of buzzwords — Content funnels. Artificial intelligence. Optimize. — Last month, newspaper chain Tribune Publishing rebranded itself as Tronc …
Discussion:
New York Magazine, NPR, The Awl — Medium, The New York Observer, LA Observed, @max_read, @nkulw and tronc, inc.
Steven Perlberg / Wall Street Journal:
New York Times Chief Executive Mark Thompson says paper will launch ad-free option for subscribers in response to the rise of ad-blockers — CEO Mark Thompson says readers can pay more to ditch ads online amid rise in ad-blocking adoption — New York Times Co. Chief Executive Mark Thompson confirmed plans …
Discussion:
@yrechtman, @gerryfsmith, @rafat, @clarajeffery and @kurtgessler
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Tumblr to launch live video on Tuesday, will introduce a series of live broadcasts as well as a user-facing feature that could compete with Facebook Live — Twitter has Periscope. Amazon has Twitch. Google has YouTube's live streaming. And Facebook has Facebook Live.
Discussion:
The Next Web, @taylorlorenz, @joshconstine, @gamoid and The Verge
Alan Murray / Fortune:
In interview with Fortune, Philippe Dauman defends his record as Viacom CEO, talks legal battle with Sumner Redstone, says he has lost more than $54M in stock — Philippe Dauman's fate as CEO of Viacom is now in the hands of a Delaware court, which must decide whether 93-year-old Sumner Redstone …
Discussion:
Deadline, @peterlauria3, @jasonhirschhorn, @alansmurray and @mikeisaac
Elena Cresci / Guardian:
Behind Lonelygirl15, a fictitious video blogger who became one of YouTube's first viral sensations — Bree was a funny, friendly 16-year-old video blogger with a strange family. But all was not what it seemed. Ten years on, we revisit YouTube's first viral sensation
Discussion:
@martinbelam, @drcelinefitz and @codinghorror
Shan Wang / Nieman Lab:
Fast and furious: Using Axel Springer's reach, Business Insider is pushing rapid expansion abroad — Business Insider is wasting no time setting up its little newsrooms around the world. With the recent launch of Polish and Nordic sites, the company now has 10 international editions.
Discussion:
@niemanlab and @niemanlab
Madhumita Murgia / Telegraph:
Spotify says it has 100M+ monthly active users, adding 1.8M monthly, with 30% as paying subscribers — Spotify has confirmed that it has more than 100m monthly active users on its music streaming service today. — Based on its last count, the Swedish company is adding 1.8m users to the service monthly …
Discussion:
MacRumors and Engadget, Thanks:@ravichandrans25
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Analyst: Netflix price hikes could lead to 480K subs canceling but also generate $520M in additional revenue — A truckload of Netflix subscribers may bail on the streaming service after the No. 1 subscription video service raises prices for long-term customers over the course this year.
Peter Kafka / Recode:
Taylor Swift, U2, other artists, sign open letter calling on Congress to rewrite DMCA legislation — An open letter to Congress asks for change to the DMCA, but it's aimed at Google's video site. — The music industry is ratcheting up its fight against YouTube. And Taylor Swift is joining in.
Discussion:
Billboard, Patently Apple and Fortune
John Plunkett / Guardian:
Carlisle-based CN Group launches 24, national newspaper targeted at readers in North of England, most of its content will be provided by the Press Association — 40p tabloid's editorial director says it will cover news and sport ‘with a bit of northern flavour’
Discussion:
@helenpidd and @ellaewalker
Jack Murtha / Columbia Journalism Review:
As Trump freezes out some news organizations, the Democratic mayor of Harrisburg, PA, follows suit, perhaps signaling increased dismissiveness of media — 904 WORDS — What motivates a politician to freeze out the press? In Harrisburg, the poverty-stricken capital of Pennsylvania …