Top News:
Nicole Sperling / New York Times:
Jeffery Katzenberg and Meg Whitman's Quibi short-video streaming service launches with $1.8B in funding amid the COVID-19 pandemic — Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman had to cancel a starry Hollywood party for their short-video platform because of the virus. But Quibi is still going live.
Discussion:
AgencySpy, @chrismichel, @larardavid, TechCrunch, @ryankadro, Fast Company, @markharrisnyc, @fangsbites and @davidehrlich, more at Techmeme »
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Adam Epstein / Quartz:
To succeed, Quibi should lean into the unscripted content that works well on the platform, and not mimic prestige television
To succeed, Quibi should lean into the unscripted content that works well on the platform, and not mimic prestige television
Discussion:
Engadget, @joshconstine, @devindra, @devindra, @davidpoland, @scottfeinberg, @devindra and @pierce
Chris Welch / The Verge:
Quibi app review: works reliably, auto-flips between landscape and portrait, but no tablet-optimized mode, no family member profiles, and lacks a TV experience
Quibi app review: works reliably, auto-flips between landscape and portrait, but no tablet-optimized mode, no family member profiles, and lacks a TV experience
Discussion:
Bloomberg, VentureBeat, @chriswelch, @joshconstine, Washington Post, @imbrettbowman and @brotractor, more at Techmeme »
Washington Post:
Trump stopped US medical expert Anthony Fauci from answering a question about a drug Trump is touting during a daily COVID-19 briefing, an extraordinary moment — President Trump spent a portion of Sunday's press briefing yet again promoting an unproven treatment for the novel coronavirus, repeatedly asking, “What do we have to lose?”
Discussion:
Axios, @atrupar, New York Times, Washington Post, @atrupar, @philiprucker, @yamiche, @mkraju, @philiprucker, @ddale8, @afreedma, The Guardian, @hshaban and INSIDER
Mark Sweney / The Guardian:
UK publisher Reach, which operates the Daily Mirror, Daily Express, and Daily Star, says it will furlough almost 1,000 employees and enact pay cuts — Reach, which also owns Daily Express and Daily Star, makes decision because of Covid-19 — The publisher of the Daily Mirror …
Discussion:
Press Gazette, Reuters, @simonnread, @liamthorpecho and CityAM
Margaret Sullivan / Washington Post:
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 …
Washington Post:
Health risks and privacy issues prevent journalists from reporting inside hospitals, leading to conspiracy theories as some cast doubts about lack of visuals — The coronavirus pandemic has been likened to a war. But journalists are largely absent from the harrowing, heartbreaking front line of this crisis: hospitals.
Discussion:
Poynter, CNN, @ooikokhin, @ap_corpcomm, @cassvinograd, @cnn, @pwgphoto, @sdulai, @yunghi, @ruthservensmith, @rweingarten, @kellymcb, @kerrymflynn, @liaeustach, @ianshapira, @undarkmag, @jadeswilson, @farhip, @davidheinzmann, @sarahellison and @sulliview
Sarah Scire / Nieman Lab:
NYT is growing its in-house book development program to expand on its reporters' journalism and extend its brand, with another 10 books planned for this year — “Reporters leave a ton in their notebooks. The book form really gives us a chance to expand the journalism."
Discussion:
@niemanlab and @niemanlab
KQED:
A San Francisco Examiner reporter reflects on the impact of the paper's 40% cut in hours and pay for all staff, even as its news site gets more views — On Tuesday, all staffers at the San Francisco Examiner and SF Weekly were notified that they'll be taking a 40 percent cut in hours and salary …
Discussion:
@kqednews, @sfexaminer, @slpng_giants, @niemanlab, @idamoj, @alanmontecillo, @kqednews, @notoriousecg, @editorpublisher and The San Francisco Examiner
Alex Sherman / CNBC:
Streaming services should thrive during the pandemic but severe job losses will tighten wallets and social media platforms offer compelling free alternatives — - Quarantines have boosted streaming video usage but spiking job losses may not bode well for subscription video services.
Anthony Ha / TechCrunch:
Apptopia and Braze study: with 59M global installs, Netflix led rivals YouTube, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ in Q1, but more time was spent on YouTube Kids — Netflix may still dominate global streaming, but Disney+ has made a huge splash in the United States, where it launched in November.
Discussion:
MediaPost and @masasoncap
Tiffany Hsu / New York Times:
IAB: digital ad spending for March and April is down 38% from what was expected, TV ad spending is down 41%, 45% on radio, 43% for print, and 51% on billboards — Blank billboards and canceled online ads signal an industry in crisis as the coronavirus spreads.
Discussion:
@nytimesbusiness, @nytimesbusiness, @nytmedia, @mccann_mw and @tiffkhsu
Rebecca Rubin / Variety:
Some independent movie theaters are launching “virtual cinemas” to let patrons stream first-tier films from home as a temporary revenue source amid the pandemic — Greg Laemmle never thought he'd recommend anyone to stream a movie at home. The best way to watch a film …
Discussion:
@variety, more at Techmeme »
Julie Reynolds / DFM Workers:
Sources: Alden Global Capital's MNG has quietly laid off or furloughed staff across its local newspapers this past week, including 13 layoffs at the Denver Post — At the Denver Post, the newsroom staff has shrunk by 70 percent in just a few years. But on Friday, when those remaining believed …