Mediagazer: 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 (Mia Galuppo/Hollywood Reporter)

8:50 PM ET, April 12, 2020

Top News:

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: @byianthomas, @si_union, @grantwahl, The Ringer, @grantwahl, @dave_schilling, @dcaraviello, @bobbyburton247, @thesagerbomb, @adamzagoria, @awfulannouncing, @woodywhitehurst, @mark_j_boyle, @osasuo, @joebanner13, @rwilliams1947, @dannyoneil, @awfulannouncing, @griffinporter97, @dmccomasob, @nytimesguild, @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, @enswelljones, @kylecoche, @bykevinclark, @molly_knight, @maxwelltani, @jasonschwartz, @richarddeitsch, GeekWire and The Big Lead

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.

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 …

Discussion: @jkbjournalist, @davidcorndc, @jpanzer, @weinsteinlaw, @jkbjournalist, @brfreed, @billybaldwin, The Hill, @bruno_j_navarro, @shawnboburg, @joparkerbear, @jason_kint, @jasonleopold, @radleybalko, @miamiherald and Raw Story

Rachel Nuwer / New York Times:

Netflix's Tiger King is a product of a changing film industry in which the lines between documentary and reality TV are blurring — Critics say the popular Netflix series and its directors lost sight of the conservation and animal welfare problems at the heart of the story of Joe Exotic.

Discussion: Tampa Bay Times, @markkatches, @laurenbeukes, @nytimes, @nytscience, @nytimes, @nytimes, @pamelacolloff, NME and Tiffany's Newsletter

Carrie Sheffield / Just The News:

Voice of America EIC defends its coverage of China after WH newsletter accuses it of speaking for “America's adversaries” by calling Wuhan lockdown a success — VOA chief fires back after official White House newsletter declares: “VOA too often speaks for America's adversaries—not its citizens.”

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, @tatianasiegel27 and The Playlist

New York Times:

In response to the pandemic, fashion magazines adjust to reduced ads, no photoshoots, and walking the line between selling fantasy and reflecting the crisis — Glossy magazines sell fantasy. Now they have to reckon with reality. It's complicated. — Last week, Vanity Fair Italy's cover star …

Discussion: @kerrymflynn, @laurasnapes, @maxapotter, @steve_salter and @lizziepaton

Ariel Zirulnick / The Membership Puzzle Project:

How 15+ news orgs adjusted their membership programs to respond to the pandemic by making membership appeals, recreating in-person events online, and more — The world has changed dramatically since we published our case study on Zetland's successful member ambassador campaign in mid-March.

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

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: @ashleyyspencer, @benjamingoggin and MediaPost

Sara Guaglione / MediaPost:

CNBC Digital unique visitors in March doubled since Feb., CNBC site reached 1B monthly page views for the first time, while CNBC Pro subs were up 189% since Jan — CNBC Digital hit a record number of unique visitors in March, more than doubling its February record.

Discussion: @christinawilkie, @laurenthomas, @sherman4949 and Talking Biz News

Luke Mullins / Washingtonian:

Memo: Washington Post local government and politics reporter Darran Simon was found dead in his apartment Thursday; Simon joined WaPo last month from CNN — No cause of death has been announced. — Washington Post reporter Darran Simon was found dead in his apartment on Thursday …

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Todd Bishop / GeekWire:
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Jason Lynch / Adweek:
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Joe Mandese / MediaPost:
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Discussion: Trendslates eCommerce …, @ashkan, @jason_kint and @ericjhonsa

David Bauder / Associated Press:
Liberty University pressed charges for trespassing against a ProPublica reporter and NYT photographer; a magistrate has signed misdemeanor warrants against them

Discussion: @amy_siskind, @amandamarcotte, @vanitaguptacr, @c_stroop, @dellcam, @shahidforchange, @grace_panetta, @erickleefeld, @jzfriedman, @craigsilverman, Reason and Techdirt

Earlier Picks:

Todd Spangler / Variety:
Amazon opens up Watch Parties to its top US Twitch creators with Prime memberships who can now livestream and comment on a selection of Prime Video content

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Issie Lapowsky / Protocol:
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Pew: between 2008 and 2018, the number of newsroom employees aged 35-54 fell 42%, from 52.9K to 30.8K, as share of those aged 55+ rose 31% from 16.4K to 21.4K

Discussion: @rossdawson

Kerry Flynn / CNN:
Memo: McClatchy will furlough 4.4% of employees, lay off 4 executives, and reduce some executive pay; CEO Craig Forman will take a 50% cut to total compensation

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Barbara Allen / Poynter:
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From Techmeme:

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Eighteen US states, led by Kentucky, sue the SEC and its commissioners, including Chairman Gary Gensler, over its crackdown on the crypto industry

Financial Times:
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