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:
The Wrap, Slate, @rasmus_kleis, @tonyromm, @vwpickard, @elilake, @elizwgreen, @dkahanerules, @nytimes, @amyalex63, @dangillmor, @scmitchp, @sulliview, @journalismproj, @nytimesbusiness, @mattlargey, @jaredrutecki and @jbenton
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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.
Discussion:
Business Insider, @kdoctor, @wyeates, The Colorado Sun, @pdbeth, @craigsilverman, @kdoctor, @jbenton, @jbenton, @jbenton, @jbenton and @itsren
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, Media Nation, @evanasmith, Poynter, @editorreece, @wpjenna, @benmullin, @jennifer__brett, @ac4congress2020, @kagrox, @thelanabanana, @exavierpope, @scott_maxwell, @holderstephen, @jayrosen_nyu, @mikevansickler, @audreycoopersf, @bubbaprog, @therickwilson, @davidfrum, @dmrevans, @peterbakernyt, @suzannenossel, @bgrueskin, @jbenton, @jeffreyguterman, @jkennedyreport and @miamiherald
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.
Discussion:
@realdonaldtrump, The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, Reason, @maggienyt, @pkafka, @jaketapper, @poniewozik and Vox
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:
Business Insider, @rmac18, @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:
Beet.TV, @wexler, The Hill, @jason_kint, @kerrymflynn, @megancgraham, Мы и … and @craigsilverman
Meg James / Los Angeles Times:
TV's annual pilot season, expected to inject $500M into the entertainment economy, has been devastated by COVID-19 with enormous ripple effects — This year's batch of TV pilots included some ominous names: “Triage,” “Wreckage” and “Housebroken.” — Now, those show titles …
Discussion:
@stevensantos, @megjameslat, @aaronflux and Numlock News
Patrick Frater / Variety:
Nine Entertainment says it aims to cut $163M from its cost base in 2020, with savings of $80M in broadcast rights costs if the National Rugby League is canceled — Australian broadcasters see the potential for significant cost savings in the current year, if major sports events are canceled and remain off air.
Ina Fried / Axios:
After changing its rules, Twitter is cracking down on COVID-19 misinformation from prominent accounts, including Brazilian President Bolsonaro and Rudy Giuliani — It's notable that Twitter, like other social networks, has announced stricter rules on virus-related misinformation than other types of false posts.
Discussion:
@hadas_gold and @charlesarthur, more at Techmeme »
Manish Singh / TechCrunch:
MX Player, an ad-supported video streaming service that has 175M MAUs in India, expands to new international markets including the US, UK, and Australia — MX Player, the on-demand video streaming service owned by India's conglomerate Times Internet, is expanding to more than half a dozen …