Mediagazer: Transcript of BBC Media Editor Amol Rajan's lecture at the University of Kent in England, on the myths surrounding journalism (Amol Rajan/BBC)

2:00 PM ET, March 6, 2018

Top News:

Gwilym Mumford / The Guardian:

The 2018 Oscars experienced a 16% decline YoY in ratings, with 26.5M US viewers watching the four-hour broadcast; Trump mocked the figures on Twitter — Broadcast for 2018 Academy Awards attracted 26.5m viewers, a 16% drop on last year's ceremony … US president Donald Trump has mocked …

Discussion: @realdonaldtrump, New York Times, The Wrap, Mediaite, Washington Post, Variety, Decider, Fox News Insider, NPR, Breitbart, Splinter, Fox News, The Daily Caller, Vanity Fair and Mother Jones

Peter Kafka / Recode:

Technology news aggregator Techmeme, sister site of Mediagazer, is launching a daily podcast called the Techmeme Ride Home — Because everyone has a podcast. (That's a good thing!) — Techmeme is an influential site that provides concise, headline-length summaries of the day's tech news.

Discussion: Wired, Fast Company and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »

Freddy Mayhew / Press Gazette:

The Independent says BBC Media Editor Amol Rajan must have “misremembered” anecdote about traffic-boosting headline, mentioned during speech about press at uni — The Independent has said BBC media editor Amol Rajan “must have misremembered” an anecdote claiming he made a column …

Amol Rajan / BBC:

Transcript of BBC Media Editor Amol Rajan's lecture at the University of Kent in England, on the myths surrounding journalism — I had the privilege of delivering this year's Bob Friend Lecture at the University of Kent at Canterbury. Bob was part of the original Sky News line up …

Discussion: Press Gazette

Benjamin Mullin / Wall Street Journal:

Subscription-based sports media site The Athletic has raised $20M Series C led by Evolution Media, plans to double staff from 120 to 200-350 employees in 2018 — The two-year-old startup plans to double staffing and expand across the U.S. and into international markets

Discussion: @rafat, @bill_shea19, @dcsportsbog, @chadgraff, @_brian_hamilton, @benmullin and Awful Announcing

New York Times:

Right-wing journalist Peter Schweizer plans to release a documentary on tech companies' role in filtering the news, casting them as censorious and oppressive — Conservatives are zeroing in on a new enemy in the political culture wars: Big Tech. — Arguing that Silicon Valley is stifling …

Discussion: New York Magazine, @jwherrman, East Bay Times, Vanity Fair, @profcarroll, @cwarzel, @brendannyhan, @shiraovide, @owillis, @williamturton, @ceciliakang, @4horsemenapoca, @slpng_giants and Peter O'Kelly's Reality Check, more at Techmeme »

Silvia Foster-Frau / MySanAntonio.com:

Co-founder of conspiracy theory website Side Thorn arrested with partner for harassing father of Sutherland Springs victim, told him shooting didn't happen — Two conspiracy theorists who have pushed the idea that the mass shooting at Sutherland Springs on Nov. 5 didn't happen were arrested Monday …

Discussion: @prehstrcforest, @erinscafe, @johnamato, @evenbev, @brianstelter and @lenpoz

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Funny Or Die is retiring its website and migrating over to Vox Media's platform; both are exploring potential collaborations on long-form entertainment — Funny Or Die is putting its aging web platform out to pasture. — Starting this summer, the digital comedy outfit will move FunnyOrDie.com …

Discussion: @mtmoe1, Tubefilter, @jackallisonlol, @zkahn, @reckless, @clockwerks, @bankoff, @melissabell and Splitsider

Joe Pompeo / Vanity Fair:

A look at the attempted revival of Rolling Stone under Jay Penske; sources say he approached Ryan Lizza about a job at the publication, after talks with staff — Jay Penske, the scion of an auto-racing empire, has a legitimate shot to turn the baby-boomer culture bible around—if he can make it safe for millennials.

Discussion: @pkafka, Politico, @joepompeo and @joepompeo

Alexandra Bruell / Wall Street Journal:

Fox is aiming to reduce TV ad time to 2 minutes an hour by 2020, its ad sales chief Joe Marchese claimed at a private industry event in LA last week — Network announced the target at an event it hosted to discuss TV advertising's challenges — Fox Networks Group's ad sales chief …

Discussion: Business Insider and The Wrap

Susan Heavey / Reuters:

Office of Special Counsel: Kellyanne Conway violated federal law in 2017 interviews with CNN and Fox News by using WH position to weigh in on a political race — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Kellyanne Conway, one of President Donald Trump's top advisers, violated federal law in two television interviews …

Sydney Ember / New York Times:

Profile of Phillip Picardi, chief content officer of Teen Vogue since January, who has launched a digital LGBT community platform for Condé Nast, called Them — Is Phillip Picardi, a former intern who now heads up Teen Vogue, the future of Condé Nast? Anna Wintour seems to think so.

Discussion: Fashionista

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Sara Fischer / Axios:
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ESPN names Jimmy Pitaro as new president of ESPN and co-chair of Disney Media Networks; he's currently head of Disney consumer products and interactive

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US House Speaker Mike Johnson says the GOP “probably will” try to repeal the CHIPS Act, but then walks it back, saying the GOP may “further streamline” the bill

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