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:
The Daily Beast, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, New York Times, @edmundlee, @thrmattbelloni, @maxwelltani, Variety, @oliverdarcy, @kevinmdraper, @billsimmons, @maxwelltani, @jayrosen_nyu, @dylanbyers, @alyssarosenberg, @scottfeinberg, @matthewkadish, @thedailybeast, @marcmalkin, @bubbaprog, @maxwelltani, @noahshachtman, @edmundlee, @lucas_shaw, @harrymccracken, @benyt, @elainaplott, @tomgara, @benmullin, @erik_hayden, @laura_nelson, @dylanbyers, @maxwelltani, @mimiturner01, @jayshams, @brentalang, @akstanwyck, MediaPost, Talking Biz News and Los Angeles Times
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, CNBC, Adweek, Broadcasting & Cable, @jboorstin, @whatthebit, @crupicrupicrupi and @tiffkhsu
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, @bwwmatt, @geoffreyfowler, @waxpancake, @hemantmehta, @jackallisonlol, @joshsternberg and The Verge
RELATED:
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, @nataliamazotte, @annacbross, @adriennelaf and @elanazak
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 …
Discussion:
@realdonaldtrump, @toddzwillich, @jdawsey1, @brianklaas, @atrupar, @mjfree, @goldietaylor, @andrewglazer, @gregpmiller, @mdornic, @adamwren, @susandelacourt, @jessefferguson, @gladys4congress, @jimrutenberg, @johnwhuey, @joyannreid, @jbenton, @johnfugelsang, @johniadarola, The Wrap and The Hill
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, Billboard, Forbes, MTV, Mediaite, The Week, Engadget and The A.V. Club
Variety:
Sources: AMI exec Dylan Howard, who was embroiled in scandals involving Weinstein and Trump, is out, after his March 31 contract was not renewed — American Media Inc. executive Dylan Howard is out after more than a decade at the publishing company, Variety has learned exclusively.
Discussion:
@ewagmeister and The Wrap
Poynter:
News orgs' removal of paywalls for pandemic coverage is noble, but makes no sense, and the industry seems to think public service can't coexist with revenue — Food is essential, but grocery stores aren't giving it away. Police are being paid during the crisis. So why are we making our journalism free?
Discussion:
@mikeorren, @scott_maxwell, @e_vb_, @thesarahkelly and @dkiesow
Janko Roettgers / Protocol:
Hollywood is working from home to meet streaming demand as animation, which can be done remotely, is seeing a boom in the number of shows greenlit to series — With productions shuttered, work on visual effects and animation has shifted to the home office. — Hollywood has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
Adam Rowe / Forbes:
Readly has seen users' magazine reading habits shift under lockdown with readership of the categories comics, kids, home, and gardening rising sharply in the US — As more and more people around the globe adapt to a new normal under lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 crisis …
Poynter:
News orgs applying for federal coronavirus relief loans to stem the decline in local journalism will require a new set of ethics regarding government assistance — Local newsrooms are so pressed for cash that historic taboos on asking for government assistance seem to have melted away.
Discussion:
@zachami, @brooklynmarie, @jackshafer, @rasmus_kleis, @kellymcb, @itsren and @widlore
J. Clara Chan / The Wrap:
Two former 21st Century Fox executives, including Wondery CEO Hernan Lopez, charged with bribing soccer officials in exchange for broadcasting rights — Two former 21st Century Fox sports marketing executives were charged on Monday in the U.S. government's long-running FIFA corruption investigation …
Discussion:
@kadhim, Bloomberg, Associated Press and Awful Announcing
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, @froomkin, @benmullin, @kellymcb, @johnlansing, @deggans, @froomkin and @davidfolkenflik