Top News:
Wall Street Journal:
Visualizations show the stark divide between a handful of national newspapers that have managed to make the digital transition, and the struggling local outlets — After suffering a historic meltdown a decade ago in the financial crisis, American newspapers began racing to transform into digital businesses …
Discussion:
@alecmacgillis, Media Nation, @wsj, @jasonalcorn, @mathewi, @emilybell, @waltmossberg, @kenwardjr, @melaniesill, @ben_baby, @keachhagey, @anncurry, @michaelluo, @charlesornstein, @institute_trust, @cdcarter13, @seamushughes, @dnvolz, @chick_in_kiev, @jonahshai, @chrisjollyhale, @charlesornstein, @lenfestinst, @mattdpearce, @asharma, @markianhawryluk, @markberman and Dan Kennedy
CNN:
After Facebook bans seven extremists, Trump, in a series of tweets, complains about the ban, retweeting extremists' tweets, and issuing vague threats — New York (CNN)Facebook barred seven users from its services earlier this week, citing its policies against “dangerous individuals and organizations.”
RELATED:
Jack Shafer / Politico:
Facebook could have limited the reach of Alex Jones and other “dangerous” figures without outright bans, which erode the US' strong free speech traditions — Free speech took a whacking Thursday as Facebook cited its policies against “dangerous individuals and organizations” …
Discussion:
New York Times, Reason, @politico, @nickgillespie, NPR, Wired and The Week
Keith J. Kelly / New York Post:
Recently acquired Times-Picayune will lay off all of its 161 staff, including 65 reporters and editors, a notice filed with Louisiana Workforce Commission says — The Newhouse family sold the 182-year-old daily The Times-Picayune and its website, nola.com, to a scrappy New Orleans competitor, and the entire staff is being laid off.
Discussion:
The Wrap, @petesibley, @mfosmoe, @seungminkim, @sebastiansings, @studentactivism, @textfiles, @abigaildisney, @rachelholliday, @keithroysdon and @tmorris504
Teresa Mioli / Journalism in the Americas:
Journalists and press freedom advocates are highlighting a theme of media for democracy in times of disinformation for the 26th World Press Freedom Day — Each May 3 is a global celebration of press freedom and its importance to society. For this year's World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) …
RELATED:
Amelia Nitz / The Reporters Committee …:
US Press Freedom Tracker: in 2018, US journalists were targets of 35 physical attacks, 5 cases of prior restraint, 13 instances of access denial, and 11 arrests
Discussion:
@klasfeldreports, @acosta, @rcfp, Reporters Committee … and RTDNA Recent Articles
Alexandria Neason / Columbia Journalism Review:
Media Matters study of 2,000 tweets by major news outlets shows they amplified false or misleading Trump claims 19 times/day on average, without disputing them — When a president speaks, what he says is, by journalistic norms, inherently newsworthy. But when a president lies—on social media …
Discussion:
Media Matters for America, @laurahelmuth, @mepfuller, @terawhunter, @parkermolloy, @lexalexander, @mattgertz, The Week, Engadget and Boing Boing
Ruth Graham / Slate:
Rachel Held Evans, an influential progressive Christian writer and speaker who challenged the evangelical establishment, is dead at age 37 — Rachel Held Evans, an influential progressive Christian writer and speaker who cheerfully challenged American evangelical culture, died on Saturday at a hospital in Nashville.
Discussion:
Religion News Service, Washington Post, New York Times, NPR, @saraschaefer1, @mikemchargue, @abellejm, @berniceking, @jonah_ven, @shannonrwatts, @sarahbessey, @annehelen, @shannonrwatts, @jamilsmith, John Pavlovitz, Rachel Held Evans, @jacobbrenton, @jackmjenkins, @pixieauthoress and @jackmjenkins
Jason Del Rey / Vox:
In an oral history of Amazon Prime, current and former Amazon executives discuss the pivotal role of Prime Video in driving the membership program's success — An oral history of the subscription service that changed online shopping forever. — It's easy to forget now, but Amazon wasn't always the king of online shopping.
Discussion:
@delrey, @sarthakgh, @recode, @voxdotcom and kottke.org, more at Techmeme »
New York Times:
Sinclair Broadcast announces it will buy 21 regional sports networks from Disney in a deal valued at $10.6B; deal does not include YES Network — Sinclair Broadcast Group said Friday that it had agreed to acquire 21 regional sports networks from Walt Disney Company in a deal worth $10.6 billion …
Discussion:
Variety, @jgsiegel, @nytmedia, PR Newswire, @andrewgreif, Hollywood Reporter, CNBC and Los Angeles Times
Chavie Lieber / Vox:
Heather Armstrong, “queen of the mommy bloggers” who had 8.5M monthly readers on dooce.com in 2009, is blogging again and promoting her book on mental health — Where Dooce.com founder Heather Armstrong is today. — It wasn't long ago that millions of people knew every detail of Heather Armstrong's life.
Discussion:
@anildash
Kurt Badenhausen / Forbes:
A profile of sports streaming company DAZN, which is paying well over $1B for media rights annually and is using boxing to drive subscriber growth in the US — The first Saturday in May is one of the biggest sports days of the year. In addition to the gambling-friendly Kentucky Derby …
Discussion:
@forbes, @kbadenhausen, @forbes, @forbes and @forbessports
Lillian Rizzo / Wall Street Journal:
Vice Media says it has raised $250M in debt from a group of investors; sources: the group is led by 23 Capital and includes George Soros' investment fund — Once-hot new media company had been looking to raise additional capital amid stalling growth — Vice Media said it has raised $250 million …
Discussion:
Politico, @jrreed, @lilliannnn and Deadline
Nicholas Thompson / Wired:
Fifteen months after the paywall launch, Wired EIC discusses the effectiveness of newsletters, gifts, phrasing in turning readers into subscribers — A LITTLE OVER a year ago, we introduced a paywall at WIRED. The idea, as I wrote back then, was largely about us.
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, @elanazak, @techjournalist, @mathewi and @dlberes
Output Producer, CA — 
China Markets Correspondent, Shanghai — 
Senior Assignment Editor, DC — 
Breaking News Editor, Tokyo — 
Senior Correspondent - Wealth, NY — 
Reporter - Ottawa Bureau — 
Local Government Reporter, IA — 
Research Director, CA — 
Immigration Enforcement Reporter — 
Presque Island Reporter, ME — 
Contributing Parks Ed. - SW, CA — 
AI Content Editor, WA — 
Legislative Reporter, TN — 
Editorial Assistant, Remote US — 
Elon Musk Reporter, NY or CA — 
Government & Politics Editor, WA — 
Business & GA Reporter. VT — 
Sports Reporter, WA — 
Energy Reporter, TX — 
Senior Reporter, SC — 
Trade & Climate Correspondent, DC — 
Reporter, WI — 
Political Newsletter Writer, CO — 
Jackson Reporter, MS — 
Music Editor, AZ — 
Breaking News Reporter, NV — 
Fearless Reporter/Producer, IA — 
Reporter II - Technology, Remote — 
Editor, Remote US — 
City Reporter, WA — 
Executive Editor, OR — 
Education & Budget Reporter, CA — 
Senior Writer/Editor, FL — 
Media Editor, Remote — 
