Mediagazer: Source: Valence Media plans staffing cuts of up to $10M at The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard next week, as the media company's losses are ~$18M-$19M a year (The Wrap)

11:20 AM ET, April 13, 2020

Top News:

Sources: after handing over to the new CEO, Bob Iger effectively returned to run Disney in March, as the pandemic decimated its most profitable businesses — The former C.E.O. thought he was riding into the sunset. Now he's reasserting control and reimagining Disney as a company with fewer employees and more thermometers.

Andrew Bucholtz / Awful Announcing:

Sports Illustrated owner Maven has fired longtime soccer journalist Grant Wahl, following Wahl's public criticism of company plans for a permanent staff pay cut — Grant Wahl is far from the only person to criticize Maven's operation of Sports Illustrated, but he may be the first to lose his job after offering those criticisms.

Discussion: The Ringer, Columbia Journalism Review, @byianthomas, @grantwahl, @si_union, Poynter, @dcaraviello, @adamzagoria, @awfulannouncing, @osasuo, @joebanner13, @dcsportsbog, @jeffmacke, @nytimesguild, @bobbyburton247, @woodywhitehurst, @griffinporter97, @rwilliams1947, @dmccomasob, @dave_schilling, @thesagerbomb, @mark_j_boyle, @grantwahl, @dannyoneil, @awfulannouncing, @maggiegray, @liam_twomey, @citizen_kay, @alex_kirshner, @grantwahl, @grantwahl, @rohannadkarni, @conororr, @jessica_smetana, @jennyvrentas, @chrischavez, @lmechegaray, @jmkliegman, @grantwahl, @dave_schilling, @lfcny, @jduffyrice, @ollieholt22, @nickcarboniwcnc, @rohannadkarni, @seidelumbc, @larsanderson71, @davisjsn, @c_stillitano, @annkillion, @nwbaird, @dylanbyers, @jasongay, @itsmeglinehan, @timmarchman, @kami, @nicoleauerbach, @luisomartapia, @dyoungrivals, @lacrimes, @jasonschreier, @slmandel, @lizroscher, @pacificpdx, @gabepirlo, @bydavidgardner, @jeremymbarr, @kylecoche, @bykevinclark, @molly_knight, @maxwelltani, @jasonschwartz and @richarddeitsch

Peter Kafka / Vox:

In some early COVID-19 coverage by the US media, conflicting and sometimes inaccurate information from experts and officials resulted in muddled messages — President Trump speaks during a news conference with members of his Coronavirus Task Force on March 19. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Discussion: @sarthakgh, @ssdai, @jerylbier, @drjoehanson, @benyt, @pkafka, @dylanlscott, @robdet and @djcdiem

New York Times:

Condé Nast announces pay cuts of 10%-20% for those earning over $100K and expects “some role eliminations” as it seeks government assistance in the UK and EU — The glossy magazine publisher says it is experiencing “significant financial pressure” and imposing cost-saving measures across the globe.

Discussion: Variety, @nytimes, @kerrymflynn, @hamiltonnolan, @edmundlee, @brokenbottleboy, @annaknicolaou, @eiffeltyler, @sapna, @kerrymflynn and @maxwelltani

Chris Stokel-Walker / OneZero:

As some YouTube advertising rates drop by as much as 50% while viewership rates are up, YouTubers say their pay has declined dramatically — Advertising rates on the platform have dropped significantly during the coronavirus pandemic — Newspapers, websites, and TV channels have all been decimated by the coronavirus.

Discussion: Business Insider, @therevmountain, @baekdal and @stokel, more at Techmeme »

Daniel Chang / Miami Herald:

The Miami Herald says FL governor's aide pressured its law firm into not filing a public records lawsuit to disclose COVID-19 data; Herald to file with new firm — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' general counsel called a representative of the Miami Herald's law firm seeking to quash …

Marc Tracy / New York Times:

An estimated 28,000 workers at US news companies have been laid off, furloughed, or had their pay reduced since the COVID-19 crisis began — Roughly 28,000 workers at news companies nationwide have been laid off, furloughed or had their pay reduced. Some publications that rely on ads have shut down.

New York Times:

Hospital administrators in the US are warning doctors and nurses to not speak to the media or post online about workplace concerns, or risk suspension or firing — Hospitals have warned, disciplined and even fired staff members who went public with workplace concerns about coronavirus precautions.

Discussion: @kenroth, @brianmrosenthal, @bradlander, @cascellaclair, @gabrieldane, @jbarab, @troywb, @tseday, @bymikebaker, @skneipp1, Freedom of the Press and Columbia Journalism Review

Renée DiResta / The Atlantic:

Chinese state media is amplifying conspiracies from the internet, aimed at muddying the origin of COVID-19, through official channels, paid ads, and diplomats — The coronavirus that became a global pandemic first surfaced late last year in Wuhan, China. But according to one common narrative making …

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, Fox News, VICE, Breitbart and @alexstamos

The Wrap:

Source: Valence Media plans staffing cuts of up to $10M at The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard next week, as the media company's losses are ~$18M-$19M a year — The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard are set for deep staffing cuts next week by parent Valence Media in an effort to reduce personnel …

Discussion: Talking Biz News, @ashleyyspencer, @benjamingoggin and MediaPost

Mia Galuppo / Hollywood Reporter:

SXSW filmmakers voice concerns over SXSW's Amazon Prime Video free streaming offer, saying it may hurt their film's distribution chances and future sales — “Showing things for free isn't going to make a dent,” says one producer of a project that has opted out of the tech giant's festival collection.

Discussion: @thr, @sarahmegant, @thr, @kimmasters, @thr, @filmcollab and @tatianasiegel27

Brent Lang / Variety:

Cinemark, the third largest theater chain in the US, launches a $250M debt sale as cinemas close indefinitely due to the pandemic — Cinemark is launching an offering of $250 million in senior secured notes. The theater chain said the debt securities will be used for “general corporate purposes …

Discussion: The Wrap

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