Top News:


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


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:


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


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


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:


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


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


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


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 »


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


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


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


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


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