Top News:
Oliver Darcy / CNN:
Fox News anchors, from its supposedly hard-hitting news division, failed to challenge Trump as he repeatedly misled viewers during the coronavirus town hall — New York (CNN Business)Anchors at Fox News failed to meaningfully challenge President Trump as he repeatedly misled …
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Analyst estimates Facebook and Google could lose $44B+ in 2020 global ad revenue due to COVID-19; Facebook says its ad business has weakened in affected places — Ad spending is falling off a cliff amid the COVID-19 pandemic — and Facebook and Google, the two heavyweights in digital advertising …
Discussion:
Ad Age, @dcnorg, @bobbycblanchard, @pkafka, @loudmouthjulia, @pkafka, The Verge and Hollywood Reporter, more at Techmeme »
Joyce Gannon / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pittsburgh-area newspapers cut staff, suspend or combine print editions, and launch fundraising appeals, as a 175-year old weekly permanently closes — The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a harsh toll on news media in the Pittsburgh region including layoffs, suspension of print editions and, in at least one case, permanent closure.
Discussion:
@timcast, @elysetoribio, @brianstelter, @pittsburghpg, @joyce_gannon, @charliedee71 and Fox News
Elaine Low / Variety:
Discovery withdraws its previous outlook for FY 2020 and will borrow $500M to “increase its cash position and maximize flexibility” during the pandemic — Discovery will borrow $500 million under its credit facility to boost its cash position the latest media company to scramble to deal the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Discussion:
ir.corporate.discovery.com, @benmullin and The Wrap
Anjuli Patil / CBC News:
Atlantic Canada's largest newspaper chain SaltWire Network says it is temporarily laying off 40% of its staff and shutting down all its weekly publications — All SaltWire weeklies temporarily shutting down amid loss of ads due to COVID-19 — Atlantic Canada's largest newspaper chain …
Discussion:
CBC News, Twelve Thirty Six, @johngushue, @robertmmahoney, @mathewi and @jbenton
Brian Heater / TechCrunch:
Google brings its Podcasts app to iOS and unveils a redesign of Android app, with users' listening habits syncable across platforms via Google Podcasts for Web — Just in time for our collective house arrests, Google has unveiled a redesigned version of Podcasts.
Jim Waterson / The Guardian:
Some major towns in the UK lose their only print newspaper, leaving self-isolating older people without trusted news sources, as JPI Media suspends 12 titles — Many self-isolating older people left without trusted news source as presses stop rolling — Major towns including Milton Keynes …
Discussion:
Press Gazette, @craigsilverman, @pressgazette, @jimwaterson, @owen_g and @pressgazette
RELATED:
BBC:
BBC News has suspended plans, announced in January, to cut 450 jobs as it faces the demands of covering the coronavirus pandemic — BBC News has suspended plans to cut 450 jobs as it faces the demands of covering the coronavirus pandemic. — The job losses were announced in January …
Discussion:
Press Gazette, @gazettepaul, @franklangfitt, @andycomfort and @jimwaterson
Michael McCarthy / Front Office Sports:
Newsrooms adjust to the absence of sports with suspended or diminished sports sections, reporters redeployed to new beats, and creative story ideas — - Washington Post redeploying some sports reporters to Coronavirus coverage, while Boston Globe goes to the well for story ideas.
Discussion:
@mmccarthyrev, @mmccarthyrev and @frntofficesport
Alex Ritman / Hollywood Reporter:
UK's public service broadcasters call on the government to financially support freelancers working in the industry “as a matter of urgency” — The BBC, ITV and Channel 4 are among the signatories of a letter calling for income support to a beleaguered freelance community “as a matter of urgency.”
Maxwell Tani / The Daily Beast:
With some lawmakers testing positive for COVID-19, congressional reporters risk exposure to cover Congress passing one of the most expensive bills in US history — “The job is by definition high-risk for transmission of COVID-19. We bunch up around each other... and pile into press galleries," said one reporter.
Discussion:
@maxwelltani, @maxwelltani, @maxwelltani and @politicsreid
Patricia Nilsson / Financial Times:
The Athletic COO says readership numbers fell in recent days and revenue growth is expected to slow but it still has a “clear line of sight to profitability” — US website valued at $500m drops paywall after loss of big events challenges its purpose
Discussion:
@muradahmed and @dcnorg
ProPublica:
In the last two weeks, several US conservative radio hosts were telling millions of listeners that the coronavirus furor is a politically motivated overreaction — More than 160 million Americans have been urged to stay home in what the World Health Organization has declared a global pandemic.
Discussion:
@doctoryasmin, @jackgillum, @jackgillum, @wendellpierce and Vox