Top News:
The Wrap:
THR editor Matt Belloni to resign; source: Belloni opposed Valence Media co-CEOs' direction not to publish stories that would negatively impact their interests — Hollywood Reporter Editorial Director Matt Belloni announced Monday he is abruptly stepping down after 14 years at the publication …
Discussion:
Variety, Hollywood Reporter, The Daily Beast, @edmundlee, @thrmattbelloni, MediaPost, @maxwelltani, @oliverdarcy, @kevinmdraper, @billsimmons, @maxwelltani, @jayrosen_nyu, @dylanbyers, @alyssarosenberg, @scottfeinberg, @matthewkadish, @marcmalkin, @maxwelltani, @noahshachtman, @edmundlee, @lucas_shaw, @harrymccracken, @benyt, @elainaplott, @tomgara, @benmullin, @erik_hayden, @laura_nelson, @dylanbyers, @maxwelltani, @mimiturner01, @jayshams, @brentalang, @akstanwyck, Talking Biz News and Los Angeles Times
Hank Stuever / Washington Post:
Review of Quibi's launch shows: most are entertaining and the formats feel spot-on for casual smartphone viewing, but the selection needs work — Quibi? Well, if you insist . . . — It's yet another subscription service, launching Monday with two dozen TV shows (to start) …
Discussion:
Vox, @dylanmatt, @geoffreyfowler, New York Post, PAPER, @bwwmatt, @waxpancake, @jackallisonlol and The Verge
RELATED:
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 — A mobile-only video app was always going to be a hard sell — After months of publicity, Quibi — the mobile phone app that's centered …
Discussion:
Engadget, Variety, The Streamable, CNN, TechCrunch, @johnkoetsier, VentureBeat, @joshconstine, @devindra, @imbrettbowman, @brotractor, @chriswelch, Broadcasting & Cable and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »
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
Jeffery Katzenberg and Meg Whitman's Quibi short-video streaming service launches with $1.8B in funding amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Discussion:
TechCrunch, AgencySpy, @larardavid, @jbflint, @dorseyshaw, @markharrisnyc, @fangsbites, @joshsternberg, @davidehrlich, @chrismichel, Adweek, @ryankadro and Fast Company, more at Techmeme »
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:
The Verge, @aepstein, Business Insider, Mediaite, @joshconstine, @devindra, IndieWire, @davidpoland, @scottfeinberg, @steven_aquino, @devindra and @pierce
The New York Times Company:
The New York Times Company partners with Verizon to offer all students and teachers in US high schools free access to nytimes.com from April 6 to July 6 — The New York Times Company and Verizon today joined forces to offer all students and teachers in high schools within the U.S. free digital access to NYTimes.com.
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, New York Times, @alanblinder, @jbenton, @niemanlab and Multichannel News
Lesley Goldberg / Hollywood Reporter:
NBC, ABC, and CBS to team up for a fundraiser curated by Lady Gaga on April 18, with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert hosting the broadcast — Lady Gaga will curate the fundraiser, which will be hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert.
Discussion:
@brianstelter, Deadline, Variety, Mediaite, Billboard, The Streamable, MTV, The Week and The A.V. Club
Washington Post:
How Trump's obsession with TV news and focus on himself has fueled a chaotic COVID-19 response, with each day becoming an attempt to win the news cycle — President Trump began the seven-day stretch threatening — and then reneging on — a quarantine of the New York region.
Discussion:
Axios, @philiprucker, @afreedma, Law & Crime, @philiprucker, @yabutaleb7, @jonlemire, @ashleyrparker and Washington Post
Ken Meyer / Mediaite:
In a tweet, Trump says ad revenue is down at NYT and Wapo and wonders if it is because they are “fake news” or “the Virus is just plain beating them up” — President Donald Trump took shots at The New York Times and the Washington Post on Twitter Monday …
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, @journomiket, @simonnread, @thattimwalker, @michael_o_regan, @aidanpwhite, @hilary_w, @liamthorpecho, @shentonstage, Reuters and CityAM
Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:
NBCUniversal says it will reduce ad loads across its networks to make room for more programming and add more entertainment and news content during the lockdown — On news broadcasts and cable news channels, the company will reduce commercial loads to allow for more programming.
Discussion:
NBCUniversal Together, Adweek, Ad Age, @whatthebit, @jboorstin, @crupicrupicrupi and @tiffkhsu
Zaineb Mohammed / Borealis Philanthropy:
The Racial Equity in Journalism Fund at Borealis Philanthropy awards $2.3M in grants to 16 news organizations led by and serving US communities of color — The Racial Equity in Journalism (REJ) Fund at Borealis Philanthropy has awarded $2.3 million in grants to 16 news organizations serving communities of color across the country.
Discussion:
@tmpowell, @jcstearns, @sahanjournal and @craignewmark
Sarah Scire / Nieman Lab:
The Atlantic says it gained 36,000 new subscribers over the past four weeks, with a third of them subscribing to both digital and print — The Atlantic had a very good March. — In an email to his staff, editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg announced: — Those traffic numbers are very impressive.
Discussion:
@kerrymflynn, @adriennelaf and @elanazak
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.
Discussion:
MediaPost, @sherman4949 and @sherman4949
Tina Dyakon / Poynter:
The Poynter Institute announces a new partnership with NPR in which Poynter's Kelly McBride will serve as NPR's new public editor — The Poynter Institute announces a pioneering new partnership with NPR in which Poynter's Kelly McBride serves as public editor, strengthening NPR's mission …
Discussion:
NPR, @benmullin, @davidfolkenflik, @deggans and @froomkin