Top News:
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, Axios, 9to5Google, Engadget, @localmediarocks, What's New in Publishing, @pressgazette, AdExchanger and The Drum
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:
TechCrunch, @nymagunion, @jayasax, CNN, Adweek, Variety, @vox_union, Awful Announcing, AgencySpy, The Wrap, MediaPost, CNBC, @jamesbradyisme, @bafeldman, @4evrmalone, @jayasax, @rj_writes, @tommytomlinson, @alex_abads, @rj_writes, @rysimmons, @vox_union, @csymrl, Thinknum Media, @kerrymflynn, @joepompeo, @kerrymflynn, @kerrymflynn and @futterish
RELATED:
Variety:
Organizers cancel San Diego's Comic-Con, which draws 130K+ attendees each year and is a key promotional tool for film and TV; the event will return in July 2021 — The 2020 San Diego Comic-Con, the largest fan convention in North America and one of the biggest promotional events of the year …
Discussion:
/Film, @iamtimsheridan, @showbizsimon, San Diego Comic-Con … and Boing Boing
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:
Nieman Lab, @jefftsports, Publishers Weekly, @kevinhefner17, @niemanlab, The Wrap, @junecasagrande, Poynter, @robertdos, @sduncovered, @inafried, @mattdpearce, @sarahmillerdc, @adamgrosbard, @bcmerchant, @coachcolman4, @krisvancleave, @toriimacdaddy, @sherlyholmes, @daveanthony, @megjameslat, @jimschachter, @yashalevine and @dangillmor
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) …
Discussion:
The NewsGuild - CWA
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, The Hill, @nspector4, @wsj, @cardiffgarcia, @benmullin and @dicktofel
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:
@rogerwcheng, Seeking Alpha, Bloomberg and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »
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:
American Press Institute, @itsren and Broadcasting & Cable
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
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.
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Columbus Dispatch, @dascruggs, @_brian_ict, @garyhe, @dascruggs, @niemanstory, @dascruggs and @annehelen
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 …
Discussion:
National Union of Journalists, The Guardian, @santhiegoundar, @timkarr and HoldtheFrontPage
Mary Emily O'Hara / Adweek:
Sources: ViacomCBS laid off “almost all” of the company's contract workers and seven of the eleven people working for Logo and NewNowNext — MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Comedy Central, TV Land, Showtime and Paramount Pictures all see cuts — Key insights:
Discussion:
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