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, TechCrunch, CNN, @jayasax, Adweek, @vox_union, Variety, Awful Announcing, @freeblackgirl, @brittabrow, @onesarahjones, @megh_wright, @law360union, @marcatracy, @marcatracy, @lakerfilmroom, @marcatracy, @susandecarava, @mdudas, CNBC, @bafeldman, @kerrymflynn, @jamesbradyisme, @4evrmalone, AgencySpy, MediaPost, @jayasax, @rj_writes, @tommytomlinson, @alex_abads, @rj_writes, @rysimmons, @kerrymflynn, @vox_union, @joepompeo, @kerrymflynn, The Wrap, @kerrymflynn, @csymrl, @futterish and Thinknum Media
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, MediaPost, Axios, 9to5Google, @localmediarocks, What's New in Publishing, @pressgazette, Engadget, AdExchanger and The Drum
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, Newser, The Hill, @wsj, @nspector4, @cardiffgarcia, @lpeterson830, @benmullin, @penamerica and @dicktofel
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:
Corporation for Public Broadcasting and @currentpubmedia
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
Discussion:
@greg_jenner, @jasminedotiwala, @thesolcinema, @samkellyproof and Variety
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, Publishers Weekly, Los Angeles Times, @junecasagrande, Poynter, @robertdos, @niemanlab, @kevinhefner17, @bcmerchant, @krisvancleave, @daveanthony, @inafried, @mattdpearce, @sarahmillerdc, @adamgrosbard, @coachcolman4, @toriimacdaddy, @sherlyholmes, @yashalevine, @sduncovered, @megjameslat, @jimschachter, @dangillmor and The Wrap
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, @santhiegoundar, @jimwaterson, @timkarr and HoldtheFrontPage
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
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:
Engadget, @rogerwcheng, Seeking Alpha, Bloomberg, TechCrunch and Gizmodo, more at Techmeme »
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 …
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:
@tracygosson, 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