Top News:


A look at the growing role of news unions, now with more diverse leaders and class consciousness, and their potential to shape publisher-platform relationships — Cheered on by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others, a new generation is making gains on everything from layoff protections to gender-neutral pronouns.
Discussion:
@nytmedia, @rafiletzter, @dominicholden, @timmarchman, @katienotopoulos, @mattdpearce, @rkgwork, @lainnafader, @benmullin, @greenhousenyt, @tobin_tweets, @matthewstoller, @nicknehamas, @kerrymflynn, @daveyalba, @mikeelk, @hannahlebovits, @freedaaron, @mattyglesias, @mikeelk, @apantazi, @cshea4, @dbrauer, @gaufre, @benyt, @sammcooney, @sammy_roth, @kerrymflynn, @annehelen, @rkgwork, @freedaaron, @sokane1, @theprospect, @rkgwork, @mikeelk, @economistmeg, @sarahljaffe, @mgafni, @haileybranson, @felixsalmon and @thebenbergman


How Politico, NYT, NBC's Nightly News, and a freelance journalist in SF are producing projects that inform kids about the pandemic without scaring them — “Grownups, we have our various coping mechanisms and ways of processing this strange new reality. We have our Zoom calls and our alcohol and our memes.
Discussion:
Digiday, American Press Institute, @nytimespr, @hanaatameez, @niemanlab, @saffronhowden and @tracischweikert


Sources: Elliott Management is financing a patent lawsuit by interactive-video company Eko, which it will take an equity stake in, against Quibi — Elliott, run by billionaire Paul Singer, will fund the suit by interactive-video company Eko and take an equity stake
Discussion:
Axios, Multichannel News, The Streamable, @benmullin, Variety, Deadline, MediaPost, New York Post, @wsj, @raju, @benmullin and The Verge, more at Techmeme »


The economic fallout of the pandemic on news orgs worldwide makes global efforts like the $1B/year International Fund for Public Interest Media even more vital — It's hard to think of a time in recent history when access to trustworthy information has been more important.
Discussion:
@luminategroup, @antelava, @bbcmediaaction and @jennymedina


Ireland's National Union of Journalists releases a rescue plan for embattled Irish media industry, including calls for a 6% “windfall tax” on tech giants — Media firms getting public cash should have 25% employee representation on board - NUJ — Technology giants should be subject …
Discussion:
@mathewi, @kenfoxe and @ciananbrennan


Amnesty International says journalism in Egypt has effectively become a crime with at least 12 journalists detained in crackdowns in the wake of COVID-19 — Egyptian government using pandemic to tighten control of media and quash dissent, rights group reports
Discussion:
The Guardian


Pop artists are embracing a future where TikTok, Twitter, and Twitch dictate what's memeable and successful, with Lil Nas X, Drake, and Lizzo leading the pack — The fate of a pop artist now belongs in the hands of Twitch, Twitter, and Tik Tok — You may barely remember the Harlem Shake videos …


Reporters covering the COVID-19 crisis may be more exposed to “anticipatory grief” that comes with unpredictable and prolonged stories with mounting losses — “We are anticipating the unknown losses. Will they be our friends?" — Covering tragedy is in every reporter's job description …
Discussion:
@davidclinchnews, Agence France-Presse, @cartercenter, @itsren, @kristenhare, @poynter, @cathjsweeney, @poynter and @editorpublisher


ESPN, scrambling to fill its programming grid, strikes a deal to show six live regular-season games per week from KBO League, S. Korea's baseball organization — With U.S. sports shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic, ESPN is turning to interational options.
Discussion:
The Wrap and Seeking Alpha


PewDiePie signs an exclusive livestreaming deal with YouTube, following similar deals between YouTube and other stars in recent months — YouTube will become the exclusive live streaming home for Felix Kjellberg, better known as PewDiePie to his millions of fans.
Discussion:
Hollywood Reporter, @pshanley88 and The Verge


Investigation by BBC and ISD think tank into the COVID-19 “infodemic” on Facebook finds right-wing misinformation had far more interactions than the WHO and CDC — “What if [they] are trying to kill off as many people as possible” reads one Facebook post.


Study of UK's flagship TV and radio news programmes in March shows 2.7 male experts were interviewed for every female expert, a three-year high imbalance — Study shows imbalance of 2.7 men for every woman on radio and TV programmes in March — Almost three times as many male …
Discussion:
@deeyah_khan and @rogerkline