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, @jayasax, TechCrunch, @vox_union, @maxwelltani, Adweek, Variety, @mchenryjd, @allisonpdavis, @freeblackgirl, @margotroosevelt, @srfreund, @daniellesmitle, @newyorkerunion, @freeblackgirl, @brittabrow, @onesarahjones, @megh_wright, @law360union, @jamesbradyisme, @kerrymflynn, @marcatracy, @marcatracy, @lakerfilmroom, @marcatracy, @susandecarava, @mdudas, @bafeldman, @vox_union, @kerrymflynn, @4evrmalone, @jayasax, @rj_writes, @tommytomlinson, @alex_abads, @rj_writes, @rysimmons, @csymrl, @kerrymflynn, @kerrymflynn, @futterish, CNBC, Awful Announcing, Thinknum Media, The Wrap, MediaPost, AgencySpy and @joepompeo
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
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
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:
@bobbyallyn, @luisferre, @jenmercieca, @chrisjollyhale, @blakehounshell, @brittanys, @asteadwesley and American Press Institute
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
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
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 …
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, @peretti, @localmediarocks, @pressgazette, 9to5Google, Engadget, AdExchanger, MediaPost, Axios and What's New in Publishing
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
Dade Hayes / Deadline:
Memo: STX Entertainment to merge with Indian studio Eros International, which owns streaming platform Eros Now, to create publicly traded Eros STX Global Corp. — STX Entertainment, founded in 2014 as a star-driven movie operation, is merging with India's Eros International to form a new …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Business Wire, Los Angeles Times and Variety
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 and Engadget
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:
@iamtimsheridan, @showbizsimon, San Diego Comic-Con …, /Film and Boing Boing