Top News:


Facebook confirms it is testing LOL, a feed of funny videos and GIF-like clips pulled from News Feed posts by top meme Pages — How do you do, fellow kids? After Facebook Watch, Lasso, and IGTV failed to become hits with teens, the company has been quietly developing another youthful video product.
Discussion:
Adweek, SlashGear, Engadget, Business Insider, Gizmodo, 9to5Mac, @caseynewton, @ajchavar, @sapere_vivere, @taylorlorenz, The Verge and @mathewi, more at Techmeme »


Gizmodo Media Group settles defamation suits from clients of Charles Harder; no money changes hands and two articles stay online, with explanatory notes — Blog publisher claimed the litigation was meant to harass journalists, which Mr. Harder denied. — Gizmodo Media Group …
Discussion:
@annamerlan and @benmullin


Pixar's Lee Unkrich, who directed Toy Story 3 and Coco, is leaving the company after 25 years; sources say the departure is amicable — The move marks an end of an era. — Lee Unkrich, the Oscar-winning director behind Toy Story 3 and Coco, is leaving Pixar Animation Studios.
Discussion:
@leeunkrich, Deadline, /Film, The Wrap, TVWeek.com and CinemaBlend


BuzzFeed UK Editor-in-Chief Janine Gibson is leaving at the end of January after more than three years as its head — Buzzfeed UK editor-in-chief Janine Gibson has announced she is leaving the news website after more than three years in the top job. — Gibson will leave at the end of January …
Discussion:
The Guardian, @markdistef, Financial Times, @davidtpegg, @ninabernstein1, @bradctucker, @jeffjarvis and The Drum


US nonprofit media funding: biggest three members of the Institute for Nonprofit News received 40% of donations; the least-funded 20 outlets got less than 2% — I analyzed the IRS returns of 60 Institute for Nonprofit News members, about half of the institute's membership at the time.
Discussion:
@billbirnbauer and Editor & Publisher


Disney rearranges business segments for earnings reports to reflect income from streaming operations, will present its streaming investment plans on April 11 — Disney has rejiggered its business segments for earnings reporting to make room for the new unit housing its global streaming operations.
Discussion:
MediaPost and Multichannel News


Sources: Spotify plans to launch a ~$100 voice-controlled in-car music player with preset buttons that correspond to Spotify playlists, later this year — Spotify has a new target as it makes a break for independence from devices made by Apple, Google and Amazon: the car dashboard.
Discussion:
The Verge, Mashable, Android Police, Music Business Worldwide, SlashGear, Voicebot and Engadget, more at Techmeme »


AT&T to resume advertising on YouTube after pulling the ads in 2017 because the brand was appearing alongside the offensive videos — AT&T, one of the nation's biggest marketers, yanked its advertising dollars from YouTube in 2017 because the brand was appearing alongside offensive videos.

EU's copyright reform with “link tax” and “upload filters” suffers a setback as 11 member states vote against the proposal, making adoption in May less likely — Today, Council firmly rejected the negotiating mandate that was supposed to set out Member States' position ahead …
Discussion:
Boing Boing, @ambermac, @senficon, @eff, Techdirt and The Verge, more at Techmeme »


A disorienting interview with Jack Dorsey on his Myanmar tweets, right-wing extremism, and what he'd do if Trump called on his followers to murder journalists — A Q&A with Twitter's CEO on right-wing extremism, Candace Owens, and what he'd do if the president called on his followers to murder journalists.


Irish publisher Independent News and Media, owner of the Irish Independent and the Belfast Telegraph, expects to cut 30 jobs as circulation and ad revenue fall — Thirty jobs are at risk after a major Irish news publisher outlined a three-year strategic plan aimed at growing digital revenues …
Discussion:
Independent.ie


Cuts at Conde Nast continue: Glamour cuts “a handful” of staffers, GQ and Wired together cut ~10 people, and Allure is said to be losing a couple of positions — Condé Nast is still doling out changes to staff, real estate and operations as a whole.
Discussion:
Fashionista