Top News:
George P. Slefo / Ad Age:
Despite increased traffic, publishers' ad revenue is down partially because ad tech companies blacklist coronavirus content in the name of brand safety — The inability to monetize pandemic coverage is thwarting publishers' ability to fund the news, media outlets say
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Digiday, @aripap, @rypauley and Beet.TV
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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.
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, Deadline, Mediaite, @atrupar, @atrupar, CNN, Newser, Multichannel News, MediaPost, @peteralexander, @helenkennedy, @kevinmkruse, @mehdirhasan, @farhip, @atrupar, @w7voa, @3setsoften, @oliverdarcy, @susan_hennessey, @atrupar, @atompkins, @catherine_lucey, @ericmgarcia, @arashmarkazi and @amyargetsinger
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Brent Lang / Variety:
Netflix creates a $100M fund to support cast and crew members laid off from Netflix projects, with $15M to go to third parties and nonprofits — Netflix has created a $100 million relief fund to help members of the creative community who have been left unemployed and without a way to earn an income during the coronavirus crisis.
Discussion:
Netflix Media Center, /Film, Observer, Business Insider, Deadline, Boing Boing, Vanity Fair, The Playlist and @lizgarbus, more at Techmeme »
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, Breitbart, TechCrunch, Variety, Multichannel News, @internetthought, Gizmodo, Cord Cutters News, @astiksinha, 9to5Mac, 9to5Google, VentureBeat, Wccftech, The Verge, The Streamable, Engadget and MediaNama, 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
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:
@poolcar4, @skylerswisher and @nina_metz
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:
9to5Google, The Next Web, First Draft, TechCrunch and Gizmodo, more at Techmeme »
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
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Italian government has classified newspapers as a basic necessity and allowed kiosks to remain open; some dailies have seen increased sales despite the lockdown — Newspapers in Northern Italy and Hong Kong have no plans to stop printing despite a dip in advertising revenues brought on by coronavirus …