Top News:


Bustle closes The Outline a year after acquiring it, amid broader layoffs of 24 people and pay cuts; Josh Topolsky to explore “alternative paths” for the site — YouTube Beauty Guru James Charles on Launching His ‘Instant Influencer’ Reality Show and Coping During COVID-19
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, Business Insider, Adweek, @rachelmillman, @joshuatopolsky, @travelfish, @jessesingal, @mathewi, @michaelbjordan, @niemanlab, @jbenton, @kerrymflynn, @leahfinnegan, @benjaminnorton, @vincemancini, @gaufre, @casseylottman, @blanketboat, @gbrotman, @jeremypgordon, @shujaxhaider, @max_read, MediaPost, TechCrunch and New York Post
RELATED:


G/O Media, parent of Gizmodo, Kotaku, Jalopnik, Deadspin, and Lifehacker, has laid off 14 people, or less than 5% of its staff — It's not the first media company to announce layoffs today — G/O Media laid off 14 people—less than 5% of its staff—today in what it characterized as a “small restructuring.”
Discussion:
Digiday, @gmgunion, @megreenwell, @bmorrissey, @timmarchman, @benmullin, @joshsternberg, @maxwelltani, The Wrap and @ericmgarcia


Canadian fast-food chain Mary Brown's Chicken & Taters partners with Postmedia to drop newspaper paywalls in April, part of an effort to serve the public — Fried chicken chain partnership lets newspaper company drop paywall in April — We live in unprecedented times.
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, National Post, @perreaux, @laurahowellsnl, @benjaminmillar, @briandijkema, @mountroyalaudio, @graemedmoffat, @hg_watson, @michellemanafy and @jbenton


The daily TV appearances of Chris Cuomo with Gov. Cuomo have become compelling viewing but critics question the journalistic propriety of the familial episodes — A month ago, it would have seemed unlikely — ridiculous, even — that the most riveting duo in America would be the Empire …

Report on the values and practices of online conservative news orgs in the US, based on interviews with 22 journalists and editors at 14 conservative news sites — EXECUTIVE SUMMARY — Through much of the 20th century, the US news diet was dominated by journalism outlets that professed …
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, @samthielman, @cjr, @niemanlab, @gabby_hoffman, @cjr, @jbenton, @cjr, @cjr, @ajbauer, @towcenter, @cjr and @samthielman


Variety launches Variety Intelligence Platform, a subscription product offering analysis to high-level media professionals, for $399.99/year or $39.99/month — The entertainment trade Variety has launched a digital subscription offering. Aimed at media industry professionals …
Discussion:
Talking Biz News, @awallenstein, @awallenstein, @awallenstein, @awallenstein, @awallenstein, Variety and Variety


How Mexican journalists are covering COVID-19, in a climate where the government presents contradictory messaging and the president accuses the press of bias — Reporters are looking to each other for support while covering these contradictory messages — More than one Mexican journalist found themselves perplexed.
Discussion:
@niemanreports, @jamesgeary and @niemanreports


Ampere: unscripted projects in development across 160 streamers grew from 24% in December 2018 to 51% a year later — Against the backdrop of a global pandemic, during which millions of self-isolating individuals are tuning into home entertainment, the trends shaping global content have never been more evident.


Bauer Media New Zealand, publisher of some of the country's most popular magazine titles, shuts down; about 300 people have lost their jobs — New Zealand's biggest newsstand magazines have folded, as Bauer Media NZ abruptly closed its doors permanently as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.
Discussion:
RNZ Business Headlines, @meljbunce, @judithcollinsmp, @helenclarknz, @theproject_nz, @rudemrlang and Newshub


Pew: 92% of MSNBC viewers said the media covered COVID-19 at least somewhat well vs. 58% of Fox News viewers; the former were likelier to know the virus' origin — Coverage of COVID-19 has dominated the news and resulted in skyrocketing ratings for the nation's cable news networks.
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, @_cingraham, @pewresearch, @rezendi and @conradhackett


ViacomCBS closes its purchase of 49% of Miramax from beIN Media Group, which retains 51%; ViacomCBS paid $150M at closing, will invest $225M more over 5 years — ViacomCBS said Friday it's closed on the acquistion of a 49% stake in Miramax from owner beIN Media Group, whih will retain 51% in the company.
Discussion:
The Wrap, The Wrap and Broadcasting & Cable

Global online music streaming grew 32% YoY in 2019, reaching 358M total subs; Spotify led with 31% market share of paid subs, followed by Apple Music at 19% — - Spotify continues to be the market leader and recorded a 23% YoY growth in total revenue during CY 2019.
Discussion:
@neiltwitz and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »