Top News:
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
AT&T's Xandr says AMC Networks, WarnerMedia, and Disney joined Xandr Invest, its self-serve ad-buying platform, which will be available for 2020 “upfronts” — Battle lines are being drawn in the ongoing quest to lure advertisers to new kinds of TV commercials.
Discussion:
AdExchanger, MediaPost, Multichannel News, @simonjharris, Ad Age, Adweek, Reuters, Business Wire and @bristei
RELATED:
Reuters:
Source: Brian Lesser, the CEO of AT&T's ad-tech unit Xandr, has resigned — (Reuters) - Brian Lesser, chief executive of AT&T Inc (T.N) advertising unit Xandr, has resigned, according to a source familiar with the matter. — A spokesman for AT&T declined to comment.
Doug Haddix / IRE:
An attendee of IRE's NICAR conference in New Orleans has tested presumptively positive for COVID-19, has mild symptoms, and is self-quarantining for 14 days — UPDATES: — NICAR20 attendee tests presumptively positive for coronavirus — FAQ — NICAR20 attendee tests presumptively positive for coronavirus
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, @ire_nicar, New York Post, @alancshaw, New Orleans Times-Picayune, @brianstelter, @juliangillmusic, @danahull, @conarck, @nlinphoto, @katereports, @miyashay, @a_l, @mtdukes, @carla_astudi, @lisasorg, @mtdukes, @corbettsmithdmn, @jenny8lee, @ddpan, @rw_briggs, @doughaddix, @doughaddix, @ryanfamuliner, @dataeditor and @joeleastwood
Andrew Beaujon / Washingtonian:
In a memo to staff, WaPo is encouraging all of its employees to work from home until the end of the month, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak — The arrangement is in response to the coronavirus crisis. — The Washington Post has sent a memo to all its employees encouraging them to work …
Discussion:
Adweek, New York Post, @timaeppel, @abtran, @donnacassata, @dataeditor, @hcjewell, @bcrodriguez, @abeaujon, @oliverdarcy, Washington Post, The Hill, @abeaujon, @abeaujon and @abarnardnyt
Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab:
While ad and event revenue declines due to COVID-19 may wound the news industry, choices by hedge funds and private equity in a recession could be catastrophic — Declines in ad revenue and all those canceled events might prove manageable. But the real risk would come with a virus-inspired recession …
Discussion:
Poynter, @ylichterman, American Press Institute, @ssuttell, @ellenroseman, @darrendcarroll, @rickedmonds, @netaustin, @jbenton and CNN
Zach Montellaro / Politico:
Due to COVID-19, Sunday's debate between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders will be held without an in-person audience, and CNN won't host a press center or spin room — The debate will still be held, though there won't be a “spin room” or filing center for the press.
Discussion:
@cnnpr, Mediaite, USA Today, @yashar, @connieschultz, @jeneps, @jonlovett, @jbarro, @carloslozadawp, @rachelnpr, @kiminsley, @kellyaucoin77, Newser, TVNewser, Variety and Wall Street Journal
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Recount Media, the short-form political video startup founded by journalists John Battelle and John Heilemann, raises $13M Series A — Recount Media, a short-form political video startup created by veteran journalists John Battelle and John Heilemann, has raised $13 million its Series A funding round, executives tell Axios.
Discussion:
@fredwilson and @sarafischer
Max Boot / Washington Post:
Never has conservative media's contempt for facts and science been more dangerous, as Fox News puts lives at risk by minimizing the danger from coronavirus — President Trump has been widely and correctly excoriated for the way he is dealing with the novel coronavirus. By minimizing the danger, he heightens it.
Discussion:
@walshfreedom, @johnupton, @maxboot, The Daily Beast, The Guardian, The Week and New York Times
Shayna Jacobs / Washington Post:
Harvey Weinstein is sentenced to 23 years in prison for sexually assaulting two women — NEW YORK — The once-powerful movie producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison Wednesday for sexually assaulting two women. — In its landmark verdict on Feb. 24 …
Discussion:
Variety, Observer, Vox, Breitbart, @megangarber, Boing Boing, @ashleyattimes, @authorkimberley, Wall Street Journal, CNBC, @jodikantor, @oliverdarcy, @damonbruce, @viviennechow, @mega2e and @maggienyt
Manish Singh / TechCrunch:
Disney launches Disney+ in India, weeks ahead of its scheduled launch date, through Hotstar; Hotstar gets rebranded to Disney+ Hotstar with a new logo — Disney+ has arrived in India — weeks ahead of its scheduled launch date. The American giant revamped Hotstar app and populated …
Discussion:
The Financial Express, XDA Developers, Livemint, Hindustan Times, YourStory.com, NDTV Gadgets 360 and The Next Web
Todd Spangler / Variety:
YouTube cancels its annual Brandcast marketing presentation scheduled for April 30 in NYC, citing COVID-19 concerns, and will instead stream the event online — YouTube will not host its annual in-person Brandcast marketing presentation in New York City this year, citing concerns about the coronovirus epidemic.
Discussion:
MediaPost
Gretchen A. Peck / Editor & Publisher Magazine:
How local journalism is surviving under family-owned media companies, like Arizona-based Wick Communications, and newspapers like Charleston's Post and Courier — The stories are familiar now. A longtime newspaper family decides to sell off their publications to a larger public corporation …
Discussion:
@jayrosen_nyu, @raju, @mattderienzo and @editorpublisher
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