Top News:
Ben Smith / New York Times:
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:
@rachelysanders, @lmlauramarsh, @nytmedia, @rafiletzter, @dominicholden, @mattdpearce, @rkgwork, @lainnafader, @benmullin, @greenhousenyt, @tobin_tweets, @matthewstoller, @nicknehamas, @kerrymflynn, @daveyalba, @mikeelk, @hannahlebovits, @katienotopoulos, @freedaaron, @mattyglesias, @mikeelk, @apantazi, @cshea4, @dbrauer, @gaufre, @benyt, @sammcooney, @timmarchman, @sammy_roth, @kerrymflynn, @annehelen, @rkgwork, @freedaaron, @sokane1, @theprospect, @rkgwork, @mikeelk, @economistmeg, @sarahljaffe, @mgafni and @haileybranson
Manish Singh / TechCrunch:
Poynter Institute launches a COVID-19 chatbot on WhatsApp that uses information from 100+ independent fact-checkers in 70+ countries to debunk falsehoods — You can now debunk thousands of coronavirus-related hoaxes with a few texts on WhatsApp . — Poynter Institute …
Discussion:
Poynter, TechCrunch and RAPPLER, more at Techmeme »
Hanaa' Tameez / Nieman Lab:
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
Wall Street Journal:
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:
@benmullin, Multichannel News, Axios, The Streamable, Deadline, Variety, MediaPost, New York Post, @wsj, @raju, @benmullin and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Devex:
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
Deborah Netburn / Los Angeles Times:
The EIC of Santa Barbara News-Press leaves after the newspaper published an editorial by owner Wendy McCaw that compared stay-at-home orders to Nazi Germany — UPDATED 4 PM — The Santa Barbara News-Press lost its editor in chief this weekend after the newspaper published an editorial …
Discussion:
@mlcalderone, @craigcalcaterra, @kailijoy and @nycsouthpaw
Conor Gallagher / The Irish Times:
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
Associated Press:
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:
@cairo67unedited, @dannypostel and The Guardian
Meggie Gates / Consequence of Sound:
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 …
Margaret Sullivan / Washington Post:
A reflection on the diminished power of local newspapers, 50 years after Kent State's Akron Beacon Journal chronicled the death of four Vietnam protestors — Robert Giles, the second-in-command at the Akron Beacon Journal during a fateful moment 50 years ago, recalls what his boss said as he left …
Discussion:
@laurahelmuth, @alanmillernlp, @niemanfdn, @larry_irving, @sulliview, @bykenarmstrong and TIME
Catherine Sweeney / Poynter:
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
Billboard:
SoundCloud is launching its own Twitch channel with a slate of original programming that includes panel conversations, music sets, and more — SoundCloud is launching its own channel on livestreaming platform Twitch, with a slate of original programming that includes panel conversations, music sets and more.
Discussion:
RAIN News, SoundCloud Blog, The Verge and Music Business Worldwide