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 set of layoffs that rocked the local media landscape. — Wednesday followed with another gut punch.
Discussion:
@craigtimes, @danuscripts, @gabriellecalise, @octaviojones, @johncutter, @gabriellecalise, @newsbysmiley, @tamaralush, @jeffweineros, @davidovalle305, @neeneinnyetno, @bobbyhometeam, @roslehtinen, @jbenton, @evesamples, @mikesherman, @mikegrunwald, @mikesherman, @dianamoskovitz, @fitz_ly, @fineout, @fahrenthold, @stevebousquet and @lisalsong
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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 — In light of the unprecedented economic catastrophe brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, Metro Times is heartbroken to tell you we temporarily laid off 8 employees today.
Discussion:
Plain Dealer, @jeffjarvis, @lexkuhne, @davidshepardson, @jerilynjordanc, Scene and Heard, @paulegan4, @chadlivengood, @leedevito, @ckrewson and Detroit Metro Times
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 …, @d_towski, @goldsbie, @d_towski and News Blog, Riverfront Times
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:
Florida Politics, @koltenparker, @forrest4trees, @maryrduan, @nakedfoul, @monivettec, @peterschorschfl, @rlynch_obj and Florida Politics
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, Los Angeles Times, Raw Story and @whatthebit
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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 …, Always Be Watching and Broadcasting & Cable
Pew Research Center:
Pew study: 70% of Americans say the news media are doing fairly well covering the COVID-19 pandemic, while 37% say news media have greatly exaggerated the risks — About half say they have seen at least some made-up news about the coronavirus; 29% think it was created in a lab
Discussion:
@gelliottmorris, CNN, Pew Research Center, Fox News and The American Independent
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, @lionpubs, @ckrewson, LION Publishers, MediaPost, @phillipadsmith, @googlenewsinit, Engadget, @deansusanking, @mediatwit, TechCrunch and Center for Innovation …
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:
Los Angeles Times, @jbenton, @sammy_roth, @jbenton, @pkafka, @jbenton and YouTube
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, @thestephmerritt, @jkcorden, @phelpsiesarah, @neilperkin, @jimwaterson, @whatsfsaid, @scottygb, @ethanz, @scottygb, @stephenkb, @janemartinson, @jamesaalongman, @westminsterwag, @marinahyde, @jimwaterson, @katebevan, @sarahludford, @scottygb, @scottygb, @scottygb, @shahidhabari, @klmorgan_2, @adamfleming, @iaindale and @djskelton
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, Engadget, The Guardian and Washington Post, more at Techmeme »
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, TechCrunch, @cuteater and Engadget, 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) …
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