Top News:
Marc Tracy / New York Times:
Facebook says it will invest $100M to support the news industry during COVID-19: $25M in emergency funding for local news and $75M in additional marketing spend — With grants and marketing spending, the social media giant hopes to support outlets doing essential local reporting but struggling with a drop in advertising.
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Ben Smith / New York Times:
It's time for a painful shift that means abandoning most for-profit local papers with poor business models for a national network of nimble new online newsrooms — The coronavirus is likely to hasten the end of advertising-driven media, our columnist writes. And government should not rescue it.
Discussion:
Slate, Columbia Journalism Review, @sammy_roth, @kimbui, @rasmus_kleis, @sulliview, The Wrap, @cfelsenthal, @dkahanerules, @elilake, @nytimes, @amyalex63, @dangillmor, @scmitchp, @tonyromm, @journalismproj, @vwpickard, @nytimesbusiness, @mattlargey, @elizwgreen, @wyeates, @pdbeth, @jaredrutecki and @jbenton
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Maxwell Tani / The Daily Beast:
Gannett CEO announces furloughs and pay cuts across the company, says other execs will take a 25% pay cut and he won't take a salary until the cuts are reversed — The mass-media company, which owns many large newspapers including USA Today, announced Monday that the coronavirus downturn has forced the company to make deep cuts.
Discussion:
@gregholmannl, Poynter, The Wrap, @rickedmonds, @tednesi, New Jersey Globe, Florida Politics and @maxwelltani
James Poniewozik / New York Times:
Trump has turned his coronavirus briefings into create-your-own-reality TV with the structure, intrigue, drama, rhythm, and characters of a weekly reality show — The coronavirus briefings have given Donald Trump a regularly scheduled reality show again — or, rather, a create-your-own-reality show.
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@realdonaldtrump, @jayrosen_nyu, The Atlantic, @poniewozik, @ericschultz, @kimmasters, @jaketapper, @brianstelter, @oliverdarcy, Reason, @maggienyt, @pkafka, Slate, Politico, Vox, Rolling Stone, The Independent and Mediaite
Tampa Bay Times:
The Tampa Bay Times to temporarily cut print editions to Sunday and Wednesday, says digital subscription gains are not enough to make up for advertising losses — Chairman and CEO Paul Tash says “extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.” — The Tampa Bay Times …
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, Fox News, Tampa Bay Times, Media Nation, @evanasmith, Florida Politics, Tampa Bay Times, Poynter, @editorreece, @benmullin, @thelanabanana, @ac4congress2020, @jennifer__brett, @holderstephen, @exavierpope, @kagrox, @wpjenna, @scott_maxwell, @jayrosen_nyu, @mikevansickler, @audreycoopersf, @bubbaprog, @therickwilson, @davidfrum, @dmrevans, @peterbakernyt, @suzannenossel, @bgrueskin, @jbenton, @jeffreyguterman, @jkennedyreport and @miamiherald
Ryan Parker / Hollywood Reporter:
Disney says senior executives will take temporary pay cuts with Bob Iger forgoing his entire salary and recently named CEO Bob Chapek taking a 50% pay cut — CEO Bob Chapek will take a 50 percent pay cut. — The Walt Disney Co. said on Monday that executive chairman Robert Iger will forgo …
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The Wrap, @brooksbarnesnyt, The Playlist, @bevysmith, @readdanwrite and @theryanparker
New York Times:
Sources: Facebook's security team had disinfo concerns about The Daily Wire's sites in 2019, clashing with the policy team, which prevented action being taken — After spending billions to avoid a repeat of 2016, the tech giants are careening from crisis to crisis as their foes change tactics.
Discussion:
@karlbode, @brooklynmarie, @rmac18, Business Insider, @karaswisher, @donmoyn, @kevinroose, @nytimes, @nytnational, @micahzenko and @tomfitton, more at Techmeme »
Lloyd Grove / The Daily Beast:
Sources: in a memo, David Pecker told staff that AMI is cutting the payroll of National Enquirer and at least nine other publications by 23% starting April 1 — David Pecker sent a memo to staff on Saturday, claiming coronavirus was the reason for slashing their pay by 23 percent.
Discussion:
@thedailybeast, The Daily Beast and @padresj
Megan Graham / CNBC:
Premium publishers like CNBC and NYT, seeing cutbacks in ad spending during COVID-19, ask ad tech companies to exempt them from coronavirus-related filters — - Online publications are seeing huge jumps in traffic, but many advertisers are blocked from appearing near content mentioning coronavirus.
Discussion:
@jason_kint, Beet.TV, @wexler, @kerrymflynn, @megancgraham, The Hill, Мы и … and @craigsilverman
Elahe Izadi / Washington Post:
Gallup survey of 1,020 US adults: just 44% approve of the news media's handling of the COVID-19 crisis, with 61% of Democrats approving vs. 25% of Republicans — The news media have the worst approval rating of all major American institutions grappling with covid-19 …
Discussion:
@zeitchikwapo, @elaheizadi, The Week and @ehananoki
Erik Wemple / Washington Post:
Fox News, which “parted ways” with Trish Regan, should now let go of Sean Hannity who spouted the same harmful nonsense as Regan but to a much bigger audience — Recent personnel actions at Fox just happen to have fallen when people turn away from their phones and laptops.