Top News:
Shane Goldmacher / Politico:
Sources: WH aides are sharing a mix of fake and real news stories with Trump in an attempt to influence policy and bolster their standing within the Oval Office — The president rarely surfs the web on his own, but his staff have made a habit of slipping news stories on to his desk—including the occasional internet hoax.
Discussion:
The Wrap, The Daily Caller, Newser, Washington Post, Vanity Fair, @maggienyt, Media Matters for America, Business Insider, @mattyglesias, Mother Jones, @maggiejordanacn, Mashable, Rare, @shanegoldmacher, New York Magazine, IJR, Fast Company, bookforum.com, AOL, mikeallen, @braddjaffy, @liberaljaxx, @gabrielsherman, @andrewwrites, Real Stories, @politico, @carlzimmer, Mediaite, @bradmossesq, @brendannyhan, @mattnegrin, @kevinmkruse, @maggienyt and The Week
Pamela McClintock / Hollywood Reporter:
Sources: Disney CEO Bob Iger says hackers claiming to have access to an upcoming movie have demanded a ransom; the company is refusing to pay it — He says the hackers are demanding a ransom, which the company won't pay. — Have real-life pirates taken aim at Disney?
Discussion:
Deadline, Business Insider, Fast Company, The Wrap, TechCrunch, The Next Web, Fortune, Engadget and @kfile
Rick Kogan / Chicago Tribune:
Chicago Tribune parent tronc is seeking to purchase its rival paper, the Chicago Sun-Times; tronc CEO Justin Dearborn says Sun-Times will remain independent — Tronc, owner of the Chicago Tribune, has entered into a nonbinding letter of intent to buy the Chicago Sun-Times.
Discussion:
tronc, inc., HuffPost, @michaelroston, @walldo, @andrewhayespr, @annecw, @walldo, @mdoukmas, @ourmaninchicago, @jeffcercone and @felixsalmon
RELATED:
U.S. Department of Justice:
Justice Department's antitrust division says it is investigating possible acquisition of Chicago Sun-Times by Chicago Tribune owner tronc — Wrapports LLC is Conducting a Public Sale of the Chicago Sun-Times — The Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice announced today …
Vulture:
During the 2016-17 season, 27 returning TV shows suffered a 25% or larger decline in ratings, as viewers switch to streaming services — Almost every year since 2013, Vulture has published a chart illustrating the performance of veteran TV shows during the most recent season.
Discussion:
Fortune, @dkthomp, @vulture and @alexsburton
RELATED:
Mike Fleming / Deadline:
Brad Grey, the former CEO and Chairman of Paramount Pictures, has died of cancer at age 59 — In a shocking development, it saddens me to report that Brad Grey has died at age 59. His death, from cancer, comes months after his exit as chairman/CEO of Paramount Pictures, a job he held for 12 years.
Discussion:
Variety, Variety, The Wrap, EW.com, The Wrap, Vanity Fair, HuffPost, IndieWire, TVWeek.com and Rare
Sarah Frier / Bloomberg:
Snap pilots ads for world lenses, its AR filters for the rear-facing camera, which sources say cost 30% more than the $300K-$700K promotional lenses — Snapchat's user growth is slowing. Prepare for the deluxe ads. — Subscribe Reprints — On Cinco de Mayo, millions …
Discussion:
@caseynewton, Business Insider, TechCrunch, @alexeheath, Adweek, @sarahfrier, Recode, @larakiara and Digiday, more at Techmeme »
Gabriel Sherman / New York Magazine:
Sources: Rupert Murdoch is interested in hiring WSJ editor Baker or Rebekah Brooks to run Fox News; key executives from the Ailes era are still at the network — When Rupert Murdoch left his office on a recent Monday afternoon, the 86-year-old mogul was ambushed by a BBC reporter seeking comment on the ongoing scandals at Fox News.
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, @ericgeller, The Week, @sarahlerner, @gabrielsherman and Politico
David Bond / Financial Times:
The Guardian now has 230K members paying a minimum of £5/month, 185K print and digital subs, and 190K one-off contributors, yet still faces an uncertain future — Editor says signs are good that donations will help fend off digital revenue woes — Read next
Discussion:
@sarahmarshall, @ft and Poynter
Dylan Byers / CNNMoney:
The New York Times says A.G. Sulzberger will take over paper's opinion section from his father, expanding his role beyond deputy publisher — Arthur Gregg Sulzberger, the 36-year-old deputy publisher of The New York Times, is one step closer to taking over the paper his family has owned since the late 19th century.
Josh Constine / TechCrunch:
Facebook updates Live video policy to address misleading uses including livestreamed polls with deceptive background images — Facebook is banning misleading uses of its Live video format. The company tells TechCrunch that it's adding a section to its Live API Facebook Platform Policy that reads …
Discussion:
Adweek, Facebook, VatorNews, @kantrowitz and Engadget
BBC:
News UK says columnist Kelvin MacKenzie's contract with The Sun newspaper has been terminated “by mutual consent” — Columnist Kelvin MacKenzie's contract with The Sun newspaper has been “terminated by mutual consent”, the paper's parent company has said.
Discussion:
@bbcbreaking, @davidfolkenflik and Press Gazette
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