Top News:
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Memo: Vox Media to furlough 9% of staff and cut pay 15%+ for staff making $130K+ from May 1 to July 31, freeze wages and stop 401k match until the end of 2020 — Vox Media is furloughing 9% of its staff from May 1 through July 31, with health insurance premiums being fully covered, a source familiar with the moves tells Axios.
Discussion:
@nymagunion, CNN, TechCrunch, @jayasax, @vox_union, Adweek, @maxwelltani, @mchenryjd, @freeblackgirl, @margotroosevelt, @srfreund, @allisonpdavis, @daniellesmitle, @kerrymflynn, @newyorkerunion, @freeblackgirl, @brittabrow, @onesarahjones, @megh_wright, @law360union, @vox_union, @marcatracy, @marcatracy, @lakerfilmroom, @marcatracy, @susandecarava, @mdudas, @bafeldman, @kerrymflynn, @4evrmalone, @jayasax, @rj_writes, @tommytomlinson, @alex_abads, @rj_writes, @rysimmons, @csymrl, @kerrymflynn, @kerrymflynn, @futterish, CNBC, Awful Announcing, @joepompeo, The Wrap, MediaPost and AgencySpy
Jason Washing / The Keyword:
Google says it's waiving ad serving fees for news publishers globally on Ad Manager for five months — During times of global crisis, people rely on quality journalism to stay informed and safe. And the ads that appear alongside news coverage help fund the journalists who write breaking news stories …
Discussion:
Press Gazette, @petercronau, @jeffjarvis, @peretti, @localmediarocks, 9to5Google, @pressgazette, Engadget, AdExchanger, Axios, What's New in Publishing and MediaPost
Kevin G. Hall / McClatchy Washington Bureau:
McClatchy's two largest creditors, Chatham Asset Management and Brigade Capital Management, offer to buy the company, setting a price “well in excess” of $300M — McClatchy's largest creditors offered to buy the company Thursday, a move that, if approved, would kick off …
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, @tmorris504, Wall Street Journal, @janetpattonhl, @mathewi, @dannagal, @murphindc and @clarencehilljr
Benjamin Mullin / Wall Street Journal:
In memo, NPR CEO says NPR is facing a $30M to $45M budget deficit for FY 2021 as sponsorship money, which made up 33% of revenue from 2015 to 2019, dries up — National Public Radio sponsorship revenue shrinks in economic environment reeling from the coronavirus crisis
Discussion:
@benyt, @nspector4, @lpeterson830, @penamerica, @cardiffgarcia, @wsj, @dicktofel, Newser and @benmullin
Meg James / Los Angeles Times:
The LA Times' parent company is closing three community newspapers, the Glendale News-Press, Burbank Leader, and La Cañada Valley Sun, laying off 14 staffers — The Los Angeles Times' parent company, California Times, is folding three award-winning community newspapers that serve …
Discussion:
@jefftsports, Nieman Lab, @manoukakopyan, @coachbill44, @carmengeorge, @avillanueva3rd, @joalryan, @carolnbc4, @myburbanksports, @alainegriffin, @kevinhefner17, @niemanlab, @robertdos, @krisvancleave, @daveanthony, Publishers Weekly, @bcmerchant, @junecasagrande, @inafried, @mattdpearce, @sarahmillerdc, @adamgrosbard, @coachcolman4, @toriimacdaddy, @sherlyholmes, @yashalevine, @sduncovered, @megjameslat, @jimschachter, @dangillmor, Poynter and The Wrap
Rick Edmonds / Poynter:
Ad sales are down 27% for local TV news stations; National Association of Broadcasters is working with News Media Alliance to lobby for federal stimulus help — A trade publication reported Wednesday that ad sales are down 27% for local broadcast news stations — Political campaigns are on hiatus.
Discussion:
@pilhofer, @wfederman, @tracygosson and @itsren
The Guardian:
UK analysts say the shock of the pandemic will permanently reshape habits for consuming news and entertainment, as media revenue and production of TV shows fall — TV and news website audiences are sky-high but, with few ads or new shows, future looks fraught
CNN:
Twitter pulls funding for BuzzFeed's AM to DM due to the business impact of COVID-19, forcing BuzzFeed to suspend the show, with staffers' last day on April 28 — Some right-wing media personalities are encouraging Americans to protest stay-at-home orders, arguing it is time to start to re-open the economy.
Discussion:
@bfnewsunion, Variety, Nieman Lab, @benyt, @rachelysanders, @rmac18, @morganjerkins, Talking Biz News, Ad Age, @alannabennett, @juliareinstein, @hshaban, @theferocity, pltfrms and @jbenton
Julian Wyllie / Current:
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting's board approves a plan to give half of its $75M federal relief funds to public TV and the other half to public radio — CPB's board of directors unanimously approved a plan to divide the corporation's $75 million in federal emergency relief funds between public television and radio stations.
Discussion:
@currentpubmedia and Corporation for Public Broadcasting
David Carnoy / CNET:
Apple Music head Oliver Schusser will take over Beats, replacing its president, Luke Wood, who's leaving the company on April 30 — Apple Music head Oliver Schusser will be taking the top post at Beats, replacing Luke Wood, who's leaving the company on April 30. — Enlarge Image
Discussion:
@natisho, @rogerwcheng, Bloomberg and Engadget
Aditya Kalra / Reuters:
Indian Newspaper Society, which represents ~1,000 publishers, estimates $2B loss for the industry in the next half year, seeks a 50% increase in gov't ad rates — NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's vibrant newspaper industry that reaches tens of millions of readers daily has been ravaged …
Discussion:
@nehakoppula, @adityakalra, @reuters and @sidljon
Tim Ryan / Tim Ryan:
Lawmakers urge Pelosi to include the Protect Local Media Act, which would direct 50% of gov't ads to local media until end of 2020, in the next stimulus bill — Washington, DC — Today, Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) was joined by Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC) …
Jim Waterson / The Guardian:
NUJ calls on UK to confer “asset of community value” status on local papers so they can be preserved via community ownership, among ideas to save the industry — Local and national titles could close without support, says journalists' union — National newspapers could close unless …
Ann Cooper / Journalist's ResourceJournalist's Resource:
Q&A with CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon on recent press restrictions from governments over COVID-19 coverage and the lack of pushback from western leaders — As political leaders around the globe battle the coronavirus, a growing number of national governments are using the crisis …
Discussion:
@niemanreports
Marc Tracy / New York Times:
Photojournalists, many of whom are freelancers facing fewer assignments, struggle through the pandemic, using masks, long lenses, and disinfecting routines — Assignments have dried up for many photographers. Others risk going into the fray to capture images of a changed world.
Pew Research Center:
Pew study of open-ended responses to a survey in early March reveals significant confusion and suspicion about information on the risks and origins of COVID-19 — During the early days of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, about half of Americans (48%) said they had encountered …
Discussion:
@pewresearch, @facttank, @pewjournalism, @facttank and @pewresearch
Hanaa' Tameez / Nieman Lab:
The Guardian and Kaiser Health News partner on Lost on the Frontline, a crowdsourced project documenting the lives of health care workers who died from COVID-19 — The joint Guardian-Kaiser Health News project also wants to include other hospital staff, home health aides, and nursing home workers.
Discussion:
@e_b_neil, @sarahscire, @darlin, @niemanlab, @jimmacmillan, @ona, @cnnladavid, @niemanlab and Kaiser Health News
Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:
Reporters grounded from the political campaign trail worry about missing swing-state voters' voices, after outlets pledged to avoid the same mistakes from 2016 — The boys (and girls) aren't on the bus. That means no face-to-face interviews with swing-state voters, no hotel-bar meetings …
Discussion:
@adamsmithtimes, @michaelkruse, @elienyc, @nickehli, @grynbaum, @tonyromm, @nytnational, @emarvelous, @melbournecoal, @nytpolitics, @rachellarris, @jmsummers, @michaelbierut, @bobbyallyn, @luisferre, @jenmercieca, @chrisjollyhale, @blakehounshell, @brittanys, @asteadwesley and American Press Institute
Etan Vlessing / Hollywood Reporter:
Starz reports new subscribers increased 142% and viewership on the Starz streaming app rose 44% in the US since stay-at-home orders began on March 14 — The ‘Outlander’ channel has seen new customer adds jump 142 percent and viewership on Starz App rise 44 percent since Americans started to shelter at home.
Discussion:
@thr, CNBC and The Streamable
Press Gazette:
News UK staff must take a third of their remaining annual leave plus two days and are asked to volunteer for unpaid leave or to reduce working hours — News UK, publisher of the Sun and Times newspapers, has asked staff to volunteer for unpaid leave or to reduce their working hours in new measures to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Discussion:
@markdistef
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