Mediagazer: A look at what Hollywood insiders are using cryptocurrencies for: investing, financing and distributing films, and, in one instance, a plot point in a romcom (Natalie Jarvey/Hollywood Reporter)

12:40 AM ET, May 8, 2018

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Ken Doctor / Nieman Lab:

Alden plans 10-15% budget cuts at the Denver Post and other DFM properties; sources say at least one lender to withdraw financing after editorial resignations — Former Denver Post owner Dean Singleton is upset that the paper he built “has been totally gutted of news coverage...It is breaking my heart.”

Discussion: Public News Service Newscasts, @vosdscott, @kevinmodesti, Denver Westword and @niemanlab

Denver Newspaper Guild:

The Denver Post's newsroom releases a statement in support of former Editorial Page Editor Chuck Plunkett — To our readers: — Newspapers tell the truth. — They must. Always. — That is why we, the newsroom of The Denver Post, are outraged at the unconscionable censorship imposed …

Discussion: Rolling Stone, Poynter, Denverite, CNNMoney, Splinter, The Colorado Independent, @sulliview, @jonmurray, @rubinojc, Editor & Publisher and @jesseapaul

New York Times:

The Phnom Penh Post sold to Malaysian investor; senior editors ousted over a story about the connection between the investor's firm and the Cambodian government — PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — A newspaper widely seen as the last bastion of a free press in Cambodia has been sold to a Malaysian investor …

Discussion: @daphnechen_, Al Jazeera English, BBC, Reporters Without Borders, @colin_meyn, @quinnlibson, @joefree215, Mumbrella Asia, Asian Correspondent, Free Malaysia Today, Yahoo, CNNMoney, Reuters, The Cambodia Daily, Associated Press, Southeast Asia Globe Magazine, Phnom Penh Post and The Guardian

Natalie Jarvey / Hollywood Reporter:

A look at what Hollywood insiders are using cryptocurrencies for: investing, financing and distributing films, and, in one instance, a plot point in a romcom — It's little shock the volatile virtual currency has the attention of entertainment industry speculators (and their wary business managers) …

Discussion: Recode and Fortune

Steph Harmon / The Guardian:

Speaking at a panel at Sydney Writers' Festival, journalists like WaPo's Irin Carmon and NYT's Jenna Wortham discussed the difficulties of covering #MeToo — For anyone who thought the movement had lost momentum, the last few days have proved otherwise — Hours before the cornerstone …

Discussion: Melville House Books

New York Times:
Writer Zinzi Clemmons accuses novelist Junot Díaz of forcibly kissing her and of writing an autobiographical essay in the New Yorker to pre-empt accusations

Discussion: Washington Post, The Guardian, Crikey, @andreagonram, CNN, @aminatou, @doctoryasmin, @benbirchall, @irin, @evacox, @stephharmon, @cathyyoung63, @lkherman, @azania_ and @quinncy

Brian Steinberg / Variety:

Former MTV and Vice executive, Lauren Dolgen named Head of BuzzFeed Studios, will oversee BuzzFeed's original content for TV, VOD, film, and digital — Lauren Dolgen, the veteran MTV producer who had a strong hand in that network's “Teen Mom” and “16 and Pregnant” franchises …

Discussion: Multichannel News, Broadcasting & Cable, Deadline, BuzzFeed, VideoInk and Tubefilter

Peter Kafka / Recode:

YouTube reached an agreement with Vevo last year, in an unannounced deal, to sell Vevo's clips directly to advertisers as part of Google Preferred — Good for YouTube and for the music labels. What about for Vevo? — The world's biggest video site is also the world's biggest music video site.

Discussion: Fast Company and Engadget, more at Techmeme »

Nicholas Kristof / New York Times:

Coverage of Donald Trump has become part of the media's business model in 2018, leaving too little room for coverage of issues like the opiod crisis — We in the commentariat complain about President Trump, but we're locked in a symbiotic relationship with him.

Discussion: @katrinanation, @ayresalyssa, @nrowthorniu, @sunnyright, @paulkrugman, @brianstelter and @mlcalderone

Jacqueline Alemany / CBS News:

Sources: Trump personally booked his first TV interview in months, on Fox News show “Fox and Friends”, in an unusual move for a President — Last week, on his wife's birthday, President Donald Trump appeared on Fox News' “Fox and Friends” for a freewheeling phone interview …

Discussion: @saradannerdukic, @aynrandpaulryan and @juliabhaber

Peter Kafka / Recode:

Warner Music Group has sold 75% of its stake in Spotify for ~$400M; Sony said last week it sold about half of its Spotify shares for ~$750M — First Sony, now Warner Music Group. — As Spotify was getting its subscription music service off the ground, the world's biggest music labels took equity stakes in the company.

Discussion: RAIN News, Ad Age, 9to5Mac and @lucas_shaw

Sara Fischer / Axios:

Cheddar, the streaming video network dubbed the “CNBC for millennials”, is launching its own business-focused news channel for Snapchat Discover — Cheddar, the streaming video network dubbed the “CNBC for millennials” is launching its own business-focused news channel for Snapchat Discover.

Discussion: Seeking Alpha and Multichannel News

Natalie Jarvey / Hollywood Reporter:

The Interactive Advertising Bureau, organiser of the Digital Content NewFronts, is bringing the event to LA in October this year for two days — NewFronts organizer the Interactive Advertising Bureau will hold the two-day event at NeueHouse in Hollywood. — The Digital Content NewFronts are headed west.

Reah Bravo / The New York Review of Books:

Essay by former Charlie Rose intern and producer on why she put up with sexual harassment from Rose despite advance knowledge that his behavior was well-known — Of all my assignments for Charlie Rose, the one that came with the oddest sense of happiness was when he asked that I unclog …

Discussion: Poynter, @postroz, @irin, CNNMoney and TVNewser