Top News:
Janelle Irwin Taylor / Florida Politics:
Layoffs hit the Tampa Bay Times, including longtime environmental reporter Craig Pittman; source says 11 employees were laid off — Tuesday saw the Tampa Bay Times newsroom gutted of essential staff in a series of layoffs that rocked the Tampa Bay media landscape. Wednesday followed with another gut punch.
Discussion:
@craigtimes, @danuscripts, @johncutter, @gabriellecalise, @newsbysmiley, @evesamples, @tamaralush, @jeffweineros, @davidovalle305, @neeneinnyetno, @bobbyhometeam, @roslehtinen, @jbenton, @mikesherman, @mikegrunwald, @mikesherman, @dianamoskovitz, @fitz_ly, @fineout, @fahrenthold, @stevebousquet and @lisalsong
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Jeremy Kohler / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
The Riverfront Times, an alt-weekly founded in 1977 in St. Louis, lays off most of its editorial staff and suspends publication of its weekly print edition — ST. LOUIS — The Riverfront Times laid off most of its editorial staff on Wednesday and was suspending publication of its weekly print edition, its editor said.
Discussion:
News + Opinion …, @goldsbie, @d_towski, @d_towski and News Blog, Riverfront Times
Jeff vonKaenel / SN&R Extra:
The Sacramento News & Review will suspend publication of its print edition next week and lay off nearly all of its staff, but will continue to post online — Over the last 30 years, we have financed SN&R with advertising, mainly from local businesses promoting social gatherings at concerts …
Creative Loafing:
The alt-weekly Creative Loafing of Tampa Bay, owned by Euclid Media Group, lays off seven staff members in response to ad cutbacks due to COVID-19
Discussion:
@koltenparker, @forrest4trees, @maryrduan, @nakedfoul, @monivettec, @peterschorschfl, @rlynch_obj and Florida Politics
Detroit Metro Times:
Detroit Metro Times lays off eight as most advertisers cease operation with quarantine measures going into effect; remaining staffers are taking pay cuts
Discussion:
Plain Dealer, @jeffjarvis, @lexkuhne, @davidshepardson, @jerilynjordanc, @chadlivengood, @paulegan4, @leedevito, Detroit Metro Times, @ckrewson and Scene and Heard
Erik Hayden / Hollywood Reporter:
Fox Corp. says it is making Fox News Channel and its 29 local TV stations available for streaming free, without requiring a cable provider sign-in — While CNN and MSNBC offer full online viewing via sign-in through a cable provider, Fox Corp. properties will be made available free.
Discussion:
Deadline, Fox News, Mediaite, @whatthebit, Raw Story and Los Angeles Times
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Brian Steinberg / Variety:
The @FoxNews account begins tweeting again, after stopping in November 2018, promoting COVID-19 news on its website and Fox News Channel — Fox News is making a return to Twitter, more than a year after going silent on the social-media platform. — At 2:18 p.m. on Nov. 8, 2018 …
Discussion:
The Hill, Radio & Television …, Broadcasting & Cable and Always Be Watching
Sarah Scire / Nieman Lab:
Google News Initiative teams up with LION Publishers, UNC, others to launch Project Oasis, with the aim of helping local news startups at key stages of growth — So you want to start a digital news organization for your community. Where would you go to look up the ownership structure of your favorite local outlet?
Discussion:
The Keyword, MediaPost, @lionpubs, @ckrewson, LION Publishers, @deansusanking, @googlenewsinit, @phillipadsmith, Engadget, TechCrunch, @mediatwit and Center for Innovation …
Manish Singh / TechCrunch:
WhatsApp announces two initiatives to combat COVID-19 misinformation: an Information Hub in partnership with WHO and others, and a $1M grant to IFCN — Grappling with the spread of misinformation on the platform, WhatsApp today announced two initiatives to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discussion:
CNN, @facebook, Adweek, The Guardian, Engadget, Washington Post and About Facebook, more at Techmeme »
Freddy Mayhew / Press Gazette:
BBC announces new COVID-19 measures including making local radio stations hubs for helping the elderly, more educational content, pausing cuts to CBBC, more — The BBC has set out new changes to its output during the coronavirus pandemic, which include turning the One Show into a consumer programme for “all aspects of the crisis”.
Discussion:
bbc.co.uk, @dcms, @maitlis, @jkcorden, @whatsfsaid, @klmorgan_2, @thestephmerritt, @phelpsiesarah, @neilperkin, @jimwaterson, @scottygb, @ethanz, @scottygb, @stephenkb, @janemartinson, @jamesaalongman, @westminsterwag, @marinahyde, @jimwaterson, @katebevan, @sarahludford, @scottygb, @scottygb, @scottygb, @shahidhabari, @adamfleming, @iaindale and @djskelton
Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab:
LA Times publishes a video series on COVID-19, hosted by owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, without noting his role as CEO and owner of a company working on treatment — It's not unusual for newspaper owners to have, well, other interests. In the old days of family ownership …
Discussion:
@sammy_roth, Los Angeles Times, @jbenton, @jbenton, @pkafka, @jbenton and YouTube
Margaret Harding McGill / Axios:
TikTok announces the first members of its US content moderation committee, including experts in child safety, hate speech, and misinformation — TikTok on Wednesday unveiled a group of outside advisers with expertise in child safety, hate speech, misinformation and other areas that will help guide its content moderation policies.
Discussion:
Newsroom | TikTok, Engadget, @cuteater and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »
Karlene Lukovitz / MediaPost:
Sling introduces Stay in & Sling!, a free service with access to streaming news channel ABC News Live alongside movies and shows for kids and families — Sling TV is looking to win some goodwill and attract new prospects for its paid streaming services by introducing a free …
Discussion:
Broadcasting & Cable
Reuters:
Sources: Gray Television withdrew its $8.5B offer to acquire Tegna because of concerns about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on US regional TV station operators — (Reuters) - Gray Television Inc (GTN.N) has withdrawn its offer to acquire larger peer Tegna Inc (TGNA.N) …
Discussion:
The Streamable
Jay Peters / The Verge:
Facebook says it has fixed a bug in its anti-spam system that marked some legitimate COVID-19 news articles and information as spam on Tuesday — The company is fixing the posts and bringing them back — Facebook started marking some posts linking to information and articles about the coronavirus …
Discussion:
@guyro, @guyro, Wired, @sfmnemonic, Fast Company, One Man & His Blog, Adweek, @kathrynw5, New York Post, TechCrunch, Techdirt, BuzzFeed News, Business Insider, ZDNet, Breitbart, Engadget, MediaNama, @saksithcna, The Daily Beast, Variety, @alexstamos, @craigsilverman, @yascha_mounk, @arielbogle, @brandyzadrozny, @monteiro, @joshconstine, @cherijacobus, @harrymccracken, @kavehmadani, @aprilaser, @jason_kint, @nlinphoto, @schottey, @mikkoalanne, @alexstamos, @andreakuszewski, @cschrader, @alexstamos, @alexstamos, @pwnallthethings, @alexstamos, @sdkstl, @siempreseattle, @joejhoyt, @brooklynmarie, @culturejedi, @jaypeters, Dallas Morning News, @alexstamos, @professorshaw, @kegill, @tombiro, @lavendricks, @razarumi, @digiphile, @digiphile, Vox, Reuters and Business Insider, more at Techmeme »
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