Mediagazer: Tronc posts a $3M net loss on a private share buyback as total revenue falls 8.1% to $366M and ad revenue falls 13.1% across its 11 papers in Q1 (Lukas I. Alpert/Wall Street Journal)

1:15 PM ET, May 4, 2017

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Shalini Ramachandran / Wall Street Journal:

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Wall Street Journal:

Snap launches Snapchat Ad Manager, which lets marketers buy targeted Snapchat ads without using Snap's sales team or ad partners — Snap Inc. is launching a new tool that small- and mid-size advertisers can use to buy targeted ads on the vanishing-message app and pay with a credit card.

Discussion: @georgia_wells and @jackmarshall, more at Techmeme »

Lukas I. Alpert / Wall Street Journal:

Tronc posts a $3M net loss on a private share buyback as total revenue falls 8.1% to $366M and ad revenue falls 13.1% across its 11 papers in Q1 — Newspaper company Tronc Inc. said a private share buyback from an outside investor in March resulted in a $3 million net loss for the firm in the first quarter.

Discussion: @lalpert1 and @craignewman

Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg / Wall Street Journal:

Airbnbmag, a new print publication from Airbnb and Hearst, will launch May 23 with a circulation of 350K and stories sourced from Airbnb's anonymous data points — New print publication will roll out May 23 with a $3.99 cover price — When the new travel publication Airbnbmag hits select newsstands …

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Mat Smith / Engadget:

EU accepts Amazon's offer to withdraw strong-arm clauses in e-book contracts to settle antitrust case — The European Commission has accepted Amazon's changes to how it sells its e-books. Following a 2015 investigation over the retailer's anti-competitive behaviour, Amazon said back in January …

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Associated Press:

Paris prosecutor's office says it has opened an investigation into whether fake news is being used to influence voting in the French election — PARIS (AP) — The Latest on France's presidential election (all times local): — The Paris prosecutor's office says it has opened …

Max Willens / Digiday:

Mic has launched a gaming vertical called Multiplayer with a staff of four, plus seven outside contributors — Mic is leveling up its video game coverage. On Wednesday, the millennial publisher launched a gaming vertical called Multiplayer, part of a plan to branch out to new content areas with a $21 million round it just raised.

Seb Joseph / The Drum:

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Nilagia McCoy / Shorenstein Center:

Shorenstein report: to fight false news, researchers should involve more conservatives, amplify facts and collaborate with journalists, and develop shared data — Recent shifts in the media ecosystem raise new concerns about the vulnerability of democratic societies to fake news and the public's limited ability to contain it.

Discussion: @mmfa and Media Matters for America

Madeline Stone / Business Insider:

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Guido Fawkes:

MP Nadhim Zahawi wins £338K in libel case against Iranian state TV channel Press TV that falsely accused him of facilitating sale of oil between ISIS and Israel — Guido can reveal Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi has been awarded a stunning £338,000 payout after winning a libel case against Iranian state television channel Press TV.

Discussion: @bill_cameron

Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:

Guardian head of media Jane Martinson is stepping down, and business reporter Graham Ruddick has been promoted to media editor — Guardian head of media Jane Martinson is stepping down and business reporter Graham Ruddick has been promoted to media editor.

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D.B. Hebbard / Talking New Media:

McClatchy lost $95.6M in Q1 due to falling print ads and impairment charges; total ad revenue was $119.9M, down 12% YoY, but digital ad revenue up 11.7% — With revenue dear, newsroom layoffs have been reported at several McClatchy-owned papers including yesterday at The Tribune in San Luis Obispo, California

Jason Koebler / Motherboard:

For nearly three years, Canadian government has pursued the notes of former Motherboard editor Ben Makuch in court, affecting his job by damaging sources' trust — For nearly three years, our colleague and friend Ben Makuch has had the full weight of Canada's intelligence agencies …

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Joel Simon / Committee to Protect Journalists:
President Trump's lack of support for the essential role of a free press fuels deterioration of press freedom worldwide

Discussion: Free Press Blog, Washington Post, @nikkihaley, @fahmyfoundation, @hamidmirpak, @jimmurphysf, @opensociety, Broadcasting & Cable, Amnesty International USA, The Indian Express, The Daily Caller, Globe and Mail and Washington Post

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Earlier Picks:

Sean Craig / Financial Post:
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Joe Flint / Wall Street Journal:
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A.J. Katz / TVNewser:
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Todd Spangler / Variety:
Hulu launches its live TV service, Hulu With Live TV, in beta; priced at $40 a month, ABC, CBS, Fox News, ESPN, and CNN are available on it

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The New York Times Company:
The New York Times adds 308K digital news subscriptions in Q1, with overall revenue up 5% and digital ad revenue up 19% YoY; operating profit rises to $29M

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From Techmeme:

Foo Yun Chee / Reuters:
Sources: EU may accept Apple's proposal to open its NFC payments tech to rivals, and may close its antitrust probe in May, letting Apple avoid hefty fines

George Steer / Financial Times:
Nvidia closed down 10% on Friday, falling the most since March 2020 and losing more than $200B of its market value, as investors pull back from AI bets

Gaby Del Valle / The Verge:
The US Senate reauthorizes FISA's Section 702; some communication service providers had threatened to stop cooperating with the US government in case of a lapse

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