Top News:
Ben Smith / New York Times:
CNN, MSNBC, and others so far failed to book Biden accuser Tara Reade, while she turned down offers from Hannity; source: Reade is in talks with Chris Wallace — The stakes are high for the media in the case of a sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden.
Discussion:
USA Today, The Wrap, @mlcalderone, Fox News, Politico, @benyt, @benyt, Slate, Washington Post, @bgrueskin, @byronyork, @brithume, @azi, @cyalm, @tianathefirst, @cwarzel, @benyt, @davidfolkenflik, @socialistdogmom, @onesarahjones, New Republic, @onesarahjones, @esaagar, @sonam_sheth, @haleaziz, @joseiswriting, @sophiekleeman, @danielmarans, Politics, Policy …, @jessicagolds, @heminator, @marisakabas, @priaribi, Slate, New York Post and iMediaEthics
Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab:
The NYT is adding David Leonhardt as host of its flagship newsletter The Morning Briefing, to be rebranded as The Morning, which already has 17M+ subscribers — The rise of digital disrupted the news business in countless ways, but one of the most profound was the loss of the publisher's role as curator.
Discussion:
The New York Times Company, @jarroddicker, @mrjohncrowley, @sarahmarshall, @niemanlab, @palewire and New York Times
New York Times:
Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have declined to remove Trump's comments on UV and disinfectants curing COVID-19, despite commitments to removing misinformation — Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have declined to remove the president's statements about unproven coronavirus treatments.
YouGov:
YouGov: COVID-19 hasn't affected trust in the media in the UK as 47% say they trust the BBC; 46% of Labour voters trust upmarket papers vs. 29% of Tories — By Will Jennings (Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, University of Southampton) and Chris Curtis (YouGov)
Discussion:
The Conversation, @stephen_cushion, @amonck, @aljwhite, @yougov, @emilybell, The Guardian, @piersmorgan, @rogermosey, @arron_banks, @schwartzchron and @jimwaterson
Sarah Sluis / AdExchanger:
IAB: 37% of buyers have paused ad campaigns; buyers cut digital spend 29% and traditional media spend 44%; 18% of regular news advertisers suspend spending — Geotargeting has emerged as a popular tactic during the pandemic, with a slight uptick in brands saying they planned to increase both national and local geotargeting.
Discussion:
Ad Age, MediaPost, @iab and Multichannel News
Jim Waterson / The Guardian:
Amazon to cut Kindle ebook prices in UK from Friday as the 20% VAT on online publications is dropped; government to spend £35M on newspaper ads over 3 months — Chancellor drops 20% levy on online news subscriptions and books as industry struggles — Amazon has confirmed it will cut …
Discussion:
GOV.UK, Press Gazette, HoldtheFrontPage, @rishisunak, @jimwaterson, @karenwales66, @the_cwa, @hmtreasury, @rishisunak, @robdelyn, @alcs_uk, @jimwaterson, @essexcanning, @hunterisobel and @halfon4harlowmp
Ben Smith / @benyt:
Alden Global Capital's Heath Freeman is circulating a letter to other newspaper owners suggesting a joint campaign to demand fees from big tech for news outlets — Heath Freeman, who runs newspaper-owning hedge fund Alden Capital, is circulating a letter to other newspaper owners suggesting a campaign to push Google and Facebook to pay them fees https://twitter.com/...
Laura Wagner / VICE:
Tribune Publishing staffers staged a protest in an internal Slack channel, after the company announced furloughs and pay cuts of 2%-10% while paying dividends — More than 100 Tribune Publishing employees told off their bosses in an internal Slack channel yesterday, calling out executives …
Discussion:
@hopnotes, @nyguild, @laurawags, @hopnotes, @emilyrnunn, @hopnotes, @hopnotes, @imleor, @lillyafowler, @jen_dev, @lgriffinct, @raqzal, @hopnotes, @hopnotes, @derektmead and @sammy_roth
Melynda Fuller / MediaPost:
McClatchy rolls out a text-to-speech feature, which creates audio versions of articles with ad inserts; its pilot program saw story page views rise 89% — Readers of McClatchy's 30 news outlets can now access stories through a new text-to-speech audio feature.
Discussion:
The Hill and @kolbemarket
Sara Fischer / Axios:
The Hollywood Reporter names AP's Nekesa Mumbi Moody editorial director, replacing Matthew Belloni, who quit over reported disputes with owners on news coverage — Nekesa Mumbi Moody has been named editorial director of The Hollywood Reporter, joining the publication after more than two decades …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Hollywood Reporter, New York Times, @theinsneider, Deadline, @sarafischer, @sarafischer, Talking Biz News, Variety and The Daily Beast
Reuters:
AT&T says it will bring its advertising unit Xandr under its WarnerMedia label — (Reuters) - AT&T Inc (T.N) said on Thursday it will bring its advertising unit Xandr under its WarnerMedia label, which is set to launch its streaming channel HBO Max in May.
Discussion:
Ad Age, Broadcasting & Cable, MediaPost and AdExchanger
Kerry Flynn / CNN:
Journalists in several newsrooms owned by Gannett have been blocked from hosting union elections because management has yet to agree to mail-in ballots — New York (CNN Business)Journalists at the Idaho Statesman, a McClatchy-owned newspaper in Boise, voted unanimously to form a union on Wednesday.
Discussion:
@cnnbusiness, @sabasile, @swflnewsguild, @kerrymflynn, @maddyinmilford, @kerrymflynn, @swflnewsguild, @kerrymflynn, @jason_garcia, @apantazi, @newshawk and @patjriley
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National Investigative Reporter, NY — 
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