Top News:
David Smiley / Miami Herald:
A Miami Herald reporter was barred from Florida governor's COVID-19 briefing on Saturday; a Herald editorial last week was critical of the governor's leadership — A reporter for the state capital bureau operated jointly by two of Florida's largest newspapers was denied access Saturday …
Discussion:
@maryellenklas, Tampa Bay Times, @evanasmith, @suzannenossel, @bgrueskin, @jeffreyguterman, @jkennedyreport, Law & Crime and @jbenton
Ken Doctor / Nieman Lab:
Even as the pandemic spurs newfound value in local news, boosting digital subscriptions, publishers are uncertain they can overcome the collapse in ad revenue — The coronavirus pandemic is proving the value of local news to millions of readers, driving up subscriptions. But the advertising collapse is knee-buckling.
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Rick Edmonds / Poynter:
CEOs of News Media Alliance and the Local Media Association say they expect devastating revenue loss for members but say small publishers can still survive — ‘Our members have gone from a weak financial position to a horrible financial condition’ — Leaders of associations that represent …
Discussion:
@itsren, @altweeklies and @hollyanndoan
Matt Wilstein / The Daily Beast:
Fox Business “parted ways” with Trish Regan; the move comes after Regan's on-air dismissal in early March of COVID-19 concerns as an attempt to impeach Trump — The Fox Business host was officially let go on Friday more than two weeks after she ranted against the “coronavirus impeachment scam.”
Discussion:
New York Times, @jeremymbarr, The Wrap, @aravosis, @davidfolkenflik, @gadyepstein, @dandrezner, @jayrosen_nyu, @dylanbyers, @davidfrum, Newser, @mikegrunwald, @marlownyc, @dellcam, @brianstelter, @mmasnick, @brianstelter, @walshfreedom, @amandacarpenter, @swin24, @dylanbyers, CNN, Breitbart, Broadcasting & Cable, Talking Biz News, TVNewser and Variety
Committee to Protect Journalists:
The Philippines' COVID-19 state of emergency includes up to two months prison time, and fines of up to $19,500 for spreading “false news” — The Philippine Congress should repeal a recently enacted regulation that imposes criminal penalties for spreading 'false news …
Discussion:
cnn, RAPPLER, @pressfreedom, @pressfreedom, philstar.com and Slate
Eriq Gardner / Hollywood Reporter:
NY federal judge allows PEN America's suit against Trump to proceed over claims he violated First Amendment by revoking press badges, clearances in retaliation — A judge allows a limited lawsuit from PEN America. — A New York federal judge on Tuesday ruled that PEN America may proceed on some of its claims against Donald Trump.
Discussion:
PEN America, courthousenews.com, @rsf_en, MediaPost, @rubesqueue and @eriqgardner
Jill Goldsmith / Deadline:
ViacomCBS announces a $2.5B debt sale amid COVID-19-related economic uncertainty, following similar raises by Disney and Comcast; sale expected to close April 1 — ViacomCBS is the latest media conglom to tap the debt market, announcing plans to raise $2.5 billion by selling notes.
Discussion:
Seeking Alpha, MarketWatch, Hollywood Reporter, Broadcasting & Cable, Wall Street Journal, ViacomCBS Inc., The Wrap and Variety
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
NBC cedes primetime slot usually reserved for dramas to air hourlong coronavirus special reports on Tuesdays for at least three weeks, as viewership surges — NBC News will kick off a new show next week that's scheduled to appear for the next three Tuesdays.
Discussion:
TVNewser, @tvgrimreaper, @bristei, Deadline and Broadcasting & Cable
Kali Hays / WWD:
Podtrac: podcast downloads in the US have fallen ~10% and total unique listeners are down ~20% since the start of March, with true crime podcasts down the most — It seems everyone just wants the news, on TV and online, not a true crime podcast. — Since early March, when concerns around …
Discussion:
@whatthebit, @fortelabs, @genepark, @sherwoodstrauss, @iamgmjohnson, @sonnybunch, @aleyda, @carnage4life, Podtrac Measurement Blog and @eshap, more at Techmeme »
Lucinda Southern / Digiday:
Q&A with the CEO of Bloomberg Media, which saw new subs in March grow by 86% month-over-month and the week ending March 20 as its highest since paywall's debut — During these nerve-wracking times, for public health as well as economic health, people's appetite for trusted news has sky rocketed.
Discussion:
@bmorrissey, @raju and Editor & Publisher Magazine
Lily Hay Newman / Wired:
Google removes Infowars app from Play Store, citing misinformation, after a video posted in the app disputed the need for measures to contain the coronavirus — Apple kicked Alex Jones out of the App Store in 2018. The Google Play Store has finally followed suit.
Discussion:
Daily Mail, Variety, @reflectingman, @lilyhnewman, @zackwhittaker, @oliverdarcy, Newsweek, Gizmodo, The Verge, 9to5Google and Matt's Newsletter
Ken Doctor / Nieman Lab:
Under the CARES Act, outlets with under 1,000 staff can apply to a $300B fund, while bigger chains compete with retailers and others for money from a $454B fund — The multi-trillion-dollar CARES Act should extend a lifeline to many small local publishers.
Discussion:
Washington Post, @kdoctor, @jaredrutecki, @lucasgrindley, @niemanlab and @jbenton