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China requires American NYT, WSJ, and WaPo reporters whose press passes expire in 2020 to return them, bans them from working as journalists in China, HK, Macau — The announcement comes weeks after President Trump limited the number of Chinese citizens who could work in the United States …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Talking Biz News, Talking Biz News, @aaschapiro, @ezracheungtoto, @melissakchan, @murraymatt, Washington Post, @repjimbanks, @chinadaily, @cliffordcoonan, @laurie_garrett, @cdeloire, @stephenmcdonell, @mims, @rachel_cheung1, @sentomcotton, @ryn_writes, @riegerreport, @katies, @onlyyoontv, New York Post and Rehak/Stuebing Mostly Media
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China Takes Countermeasures Against Restrictive Measures on Chinese Media Agencies in the US — In recent years, the US government has placed unwarranted restrictions on Chinese media agencies and personnel in the US, purposely made things difficult for their normal reporting assignments …
Discussion:
Washington Post, CNN, @kriscoratti, The Wrap, The Guardian, TechCrunch, Mediaite, Fox News, NPR, @thewanreport, @ajitxsingh, @donmoyn, Politico, The Week, @gadyepstein, @ewong, @sam_vinograd, @ryanl_hass, @melissakchan and @ceciliakang


Facebook, Lenfest, Local Media Association partner to offer a total of $1M in grants of up to $5K for local newsrooms in US, Canada for costs linked to COVID-19 — Today, the Facebook Journalism Project is partnering with the Lenfest Institute for Journalism and the Local Media Association …
Discussion:
Variety, Facebook Announces $1 Million …, @lenfestinst, @leahktodd, @cthompsonmorton, @juliemmoos, @ckrewson, @melaniesill and @nppa, more at Techmeme »
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Conservative outlet The Dispatch says it has ~10K paying subscribers and $1M+ in annual revenue, plans to join Google's Play Me The News program for Google Home — Is there an audience for a center-right news publication focused on original reporting and analysis?
Discussion:
Nieman Lab


AMC Theaters, the largest theater chain in the US, to close for 6-12 weeks, following in the footsteps of Regal, Landmark, Alamo Drafthouse, and others — Following the worst box office weekend in 20 years — AMC Theaters, the largest theater chain in the United States, will shut its doors nationwide for between six to 12 weeks.
Discussion:
Business Wire, Variety, TechCrunch, ComingSoon.net and Eater
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Universal Pictures to make digital rentals of some new movies now in theaters available for $20 from March 20, and upcoming Trolls World Tour on its release day
Discussion:
Variety, Hollywood Reporter, New York Times, @awallenstein, @kylebuchanan, Hollywood Reporter, @brooksbarnesnyt, @thr, Shelly Palmer, @shujaxhaider, Business Insider, Deadline, @thr, Slate, @davidmullings, @htranbui, @richdemuro, @larryowenslive, @lucas_shaw, @mattgoldberg, @aaronsagers, @louispeitzman, @alexmonney, MediaPost, Multichannel News, /Film and Broadcasting & Cable, more at Techmeme »

North American box office plunged to around $55.3M this weekend, its worst weekend since sales of $54.5M from September 15 to 17 in 2000
Discussion:
The Wrap, Hollywood Reporter, /Film, Jacob's Letter, Jezebel, The Daily Beast, Hollywood Reporter, @ecareyo, @variety, @ewagmeister, @ecnalhanid, Mumbrella, Fortune, The Verge, The Guardian, CNN, The Playlist, MediaPost, Wired and Vanity Fair


Fox News hosts have quickly shifted their tone on the COVID-19 pandemic from media conspiracy to crisis, after Trump declared it a national emergency on Friday — For weeks, some of Fox News's most popular hosts downplayed the threat of the coronavirus, characterizing it as a conspiracy …


UK news audiences grow significantly due to COVID-19 for the BBC, Channel 4, and ITV with BBC News recording its biggest weekly audience since 2015 — The BBC News Channel has recorded its biggest weekly audience since 2015 as a result of its coronavirus coverage, while Channel 4 News' audience has “effectively doubled” in ten days.


WHCA enforces social distancing in the White House briefing room, limiting the number of correspondents to 25, and TV networks have agreed to pool their cameras — The White House took enhanced precautions Monday against an invisible threat — the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Discussion:
@rtcacapitolhill, The Hill and Fox News


A look at some of the collaborative efforts by independent newsrooms in states like Oregon, North Carolina, and New Jersey to cover the COVID-19 pandemic — Having access to accurate information can mean the difference between life and death during a crisis.
Discussion:
American Press Institute, @thenewsan, @edercampuzano, @jtierney6, @johnupton, @niemanlab, @niemanfdn and Oregonian


Some Spider Studios, a publisher that owns parenting sites Scary Mommy and The Dad, acquires media startup Fatherly — Some Spider Studios, a profitable social-focused publisher that owns parenting sites Scary Mommy and The Dad and employs close to 100 people, has acquired Fatherly …
Discussion:
Adweek


Genvid, the interactive streaming platform that enables users to monetize livestreams via sponsorships, raises additional $6M, unveils five games using its tech — Genvid Technologies has expanded its latest round of funding with additional funding from strategic investors NTT Docomo Ventures, Samsung Ventures, and Huya.


Acorn TV, AMC's film and TV streaming service with a focus on British content, extends its free trial from 7 days to 30 days for a limited time — The streaming service Acorn TV is giving new members a 30-day free trial, up from its usual 7-day free trial so you can start binge-watching new shows while you're cooped up inside.
Discussion:
ComingSoon.net