Top News:
New York Times:
Sources: Facebook's data-sharing deals under federal criminal investigation; an NY grand jury subpoenaed at least two device-makers who partnered with Facebook — Federal prosecutors are conducting a criminal investigation into data deals Facebook struck with some of the world's largest …
Tiffany Hsu / New York Times:
Amazon has delisted two books that claimed to hold cures for autism, following a letter from Rep. Schiff criticizing anti-vaccine misinformation on the platform — Amazon has removed the online listings for two books that claim to contain cures for autism, a move that follows recent efforts …
Discussion:
NBC News, Melville House Books, TechCrunch, @tcarmody, @allicatmeowmeow, @boblonsberry, CBS News, Observer and CNBC, more at Techmeme »
Stuart Dredge / Music Ally:
Spotify files an anti-trust complaint against Apple with the European Commission, claiming App Store rules limit choice and stifle competition — Spotify is filing a complaint against Apple with the European Commission, accusing the latter company of anticompetitive behaviour in the way it manages …
Jeremy Barr / Hollywood Reporter:
Disclosures of Trump staffers give a glimpse of opaque Fox News contributor salaries: for eight people, salaries averaged ~$141,000; John Bolton earned $569,423 — At least 10 members of the Trump administration have served as on-air contributors for the network.
Discussion:
@mattgertz, @vabvox, @spencerdailey, @mollyjongfast, @davidjoachim, @dandrezner, @brendannyhan, Mediaite and TVWeek.com
Gaurav Shukla / NDTV Gadgets 360:
YouTube Music, YouTube Music Premium, and YouTube Premium launch in India, joining Google Play Music and Google Play Movies as well as Spotify — YouTube Music (ad-supported), YouTube Music Premium (ad-free), YouTube Premium (ad-free) have been launched in India.
Discussion:
Official Google India Blog, Music Business Worldwide, TechCrunch and Music Ally
Maxwell Tani / The Daily Beast:
Internal emails: First Look Media plans to let go ~4% of staff; Laura Poitras said the move cuts the research team, which has overseen the Snowden archive — Laura Poitras—the Citizenfour director and award-winning filmmaker who helped start The Intercept's parent company First Look Media …
Discussion:
@maxwelltani, The Daily Beast, @yashalevine, @ggreenwald, @dangillmor and @maxblumenthal
Bloomberg:
Sources: Apple's video service will feature mostly content from partners at launch, with the first slew of its own shows coming later in the year — - IPhone maker is said to push for HBO, Showtime and Starz deals — Magazine bundle, Apple Pay upgrades are also coming this month
Discussion:
The Verge, Business Insider, @lucas_shaw, @julieverhage, @markgurman, USA Today, Fast Company, Fortune, VentureBeat, Engadget, MacRumors, TechCrunch and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
Kristen Hare / Poynter:
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is finding new audiences online by turning its popular print feature Random Acts of Kindness into a weekly newsletter — A bin of letters sits on Kevin Flowers desk at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The envelopes aren't stuffed with red-pen grammar lessons from retired English teachers.
Discussion:
@kristenhare and @meagenfekos
The Atlantic:
Adrienne LaFrance, top editor of TheAtlantic.com since 2017, is named executive editor of The Atlantic; Swati Sharma and Sarah Yager are named managing editors — Swati Sharma and Sarah Yager are promoted to managing editors. — Adrienne LaFrance, who has been the top editor …
Discussion:
@adriennelaf, @yayitsrob, @elanazak, @swatigauri, @katiezez, @wajahatali and @theatlanticpr
Caroline O'Donovan / BuzzFeed News:
Gimlet Media, the podcasting startup with 83 staff that Spotify acquired for a reported $230M in February, is unionizing with the Writers Guild of America — The 83-person staff of Gimlet Media, a podcasting startup acquired by music streaming service Spotify for $230 million in February …
Discussion:
@gimletunion, Fast Company, Variety, @mattdpearce, The Verge, TechCrunch, RAIN News and Boing Boing
Christine Schmidt / Nieman Lab:
Capitol News Illinois, an Illinois Press Foundation service, provides state newspapers with statehouse coverage, joining similar initiatives in OR, FL, and PA — Serving the thousand or so people of Roseville, Illinois, the Roseville Independent is an “occasional” newspaper with 143 subscribers …
Discussion:
@niemanlab and IllinoisPress
Janko Roettgers / Variety:
Google is shutting down its Spotlight Stories VR film studio, part of Google's ATAP group, according to an email from the studio's executive producer — Google is shutting down its Spotlight Stories immersive entertainment unit, according to an email sent out by Spotlight Stories executive producer Karen Dufilho Wednesday evening.
Discussion:
@jank0 and @russellholly
Mary Pflum / NBC News:
After the AT&T/Time Warner merger, signs point to the end of the Turner media brand, even after AT&T executives told Ted Turner his legacy would live on — This latest casualty of the AT&T/Time Warner media merger comes a year after top executives flew to Atlanta to meet in person …
Discussion:
Variety