Top News:
Marc Tracy / New York Times:
A look at COVID-19's effect on bigger newsrooms, as journalists work remotely and ad sales fall, even as traffic nearly doubles at sites like NYT, LAT, and WSJ — Many journalists are covering a once-in-a-lifetime story from home, thanks to Zoom and Slack. But as readers flock to large news outlets, ads are starting to disappear.
Discussion:
Digiday, Wall Street Journal, Ad Age, @seungminkim, @amandahess, @caseynewton, @maxwellstrachan, @katie_rayford, @aripap, @nxthompson, @marcatracy, @melisscooke, @jimwindolf and Fortune
Paul Farhi / Washington Post:
The White House beat, one of the most prestigious jobs in journalism, becomes one of the most anxiety-provoking, while the ranks thin due to social distancing — The White House beat is one of the most prominent assignments in journalism, and one of the most prestigious.
Discussion:
Mediaite, @kevinmkruse, @peteralexander, Deadline, @atrupar, @atrupar, Mediaite, Multichannel News, CNN, Newser, @farhip, @3setsoften, @susan_hennessey, @arashmarkazi, @ericmgarcia, @atrupar, @atrupar, @oliverdarcy, @w7voa, @atompkins, @catherine_lucey and @amyargetsinger
Foo Yun Chee / Reuters:
Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video say they will reduce their streaming quality in EU to reduce traffic on the network, as millions are confined at home — BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) YouTube said on Friday it will reduce its streaming quality in the European Union …
Discussion:
Ad Age, TechCrunch, Multichannel News, The Streamable, Variety, @astiksinha, Gizmodo, @internetthought, Wccftech, Engadget, Cord Cutters News, 9to5Mac, 9to5Google, Softpedia News and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
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Financial Times:
EU calls on streaming services such as Netflix and YouTube to limit broadband use and offer programs only in standard, rather than high, definition
EU calls on streaming services such as Netflix and YouTube to limit broadband use and offer programs only in standard, rather than high, definition
Discussion:
CNN, CNN, The Playlist, VentureBeat, @adamchodak, @joebeone, @sedyst, @jmakamba, @financialtimes, @realjdittmer, Engadget, CNBC, CNET, Reuters and Fast Company, more at Techmeme »
Lara O'Reilly / Digiday:
Children's linear TV ratings rise with COVID-19: Cartoon Network's total day viewing grew 58% this week, Disney Channel 43%, Boomerang 31%, and Nickelodeon 25% — Children's linear TV ratings have been in a slump for years as children's viewing habits shifted to online streaming, social and gaming platforms.
Discussion:
Deadline and @mulvihill79
Julia Alexander / The Verge:
YouTube unveils a COVID-19 “news shelf” on its homepage in 16 countries with verified content from authoritative news sources and health officials — Pulling from authoritative sources — YouTube will introduce a new row of verified videos to its homepage for anyone trying …
Discussion:
First Draft, 9to5Google, The Next Web, TechCrunch and Gizmodo, more at Techmeme »
Robert Channick / Chicago Tribune:
SEC filing: Mason Slaine, former CEO of Thomson Financial, takes a 6.9% stake in Tribune Publishing, becoming its third largest shareholder — Mason Slaine, an investor and the former CEO of business information publisher Thomson Financial, has acquired a 7% stake in Tribune Publishing …
Discussion:
@skylerswisher, @poolcar4 and @nina_metz
Variety:
China's main state-owned distributor to re-release eleven films, from which cinemas will keep all income to help reignite the sector, starting March 20 — China's main state-owned distributor plans to issue a batch of half a dozen films, from which cinemas will keep all income …
Discussion:
Hollywood Reporter, @thr, @sonnybunch, @dfriend, Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, io9, IndieWire, The Playlist and ComingSoon.net
Jill Goldsmith / Deadline:
ViacomCBS launches Noggin, its interactive learning subscription for preschoolers, on Apple TV in 25 territories with a free seven-day trial — Noggin, Nick Jr.'s interactive learning subscription service for preschoolers, is now available on Apple TV channels on the Apple TV app in 25 territories …
Discussion:
The Streamable
Jason Leopold / BuzzFeed News:
FBI says FOIA requests must now be made via standard mail, not email, because of coronavirus; the office handling requests is closed “at least until March 30” — The bureau said that the global health crisis makes it impossible to process email requests. People are told to use snail mail instead.
Discussion:
@freedomofpress, @natlseccnslrs, @davelevinthal, @fredabrahams and @jasonleopold
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Ampere Analysis study of Disney+ US subscriptions finds 50% of households with kids under 10, 42% with kids under 18, and 41% of 18-24-year-olds are subscribers — Disney Plus is one of the few bright spots in the Mouse House's business portfolio amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
Discussion:
Forbes
Melynda Fuller / MediaPost:
The Week Junior, aimed at kids ages 8-14, launches in the US with the first four issues available for free as PDFs, says it now has 25K paid subscriptions — This weekend, Dennis Publishing delivers the first issue of its kids spinoff magazine from The Week, The Week Junior, in-home.
Jazmine Hughes / New York Times:
Profile of WNYC radio host Brian Lehrer and his thirty year-old-show, whose mix of sophistication and accessibility fosters a sense of community in New York — New York's beloved radio host is part Mister Rogers, part policy wonk. And he's doing his best to help a city in a pandemic keep its cool.
Discussion:
@brihreed, @traciehunte, @shubasu, @golisheik, @jo_tovey, @jimschachter and @bbcnuala