Top News:
Ben Smith / New York Times:
As Australian and French regulators plan to make tech companies pay publishers for news content, leaders from Ireland to Malaysia say they are paying attention — News organizations have long hoped that tech platforms would pay them for news. Now regulators abroad are moving to make that happen.
Discussion:
@jeffjarvis, @davewiner, @jason_kint, @benjaminbland, @mazmhussain, @ninabernstein1, @benyt, @ewong and @megankstack, more at Techmeme »
Margaret Sullivan / Washington Post:
Trump, devoid of a plan to combat COVID-19, is relying on the media to amplify his lies and spin; instead, the focus should be on experts and personal stories — Comparing the number of deaths from covid-19 to those caused by car crashes never made any sense. But the gimmick caught on anyway.
Discussion:
The Philadelphia Inquirer, @oliverdarcy, @sulliview, @connieschultz, @jayrosen_nyu and @kurtschlichter
Jeffrey M. Jones / Knight Foundation:
Gallup/Knight survey: 65% of US adults favor local news orgs receiving COVID-19 relief money, but their willingness to personally pay for local news remains low — The economic slowdown affecting the U.S. is worsening an already perilous financial situation for local news organizations, especially local newspapers.
Discussion:
@jayrosen_nyu, @knightfdn, @dangainor, @frankwords, @iohnsands, @knightfdn and @knightfdn
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Sarah Scire / Nieman Lab:
Canada's $50M Local Journalism Initiative is funding 168 reporting positions, most at established outlets, as critics ask why more didn't go to smaller outlets — The country's $50 million Local Journalism Initiative is funding more than 160 reporting positions across the country.
Discussion:
@jessebrown and @jbenton
Max Willens / Digiday:
Six months after the glitzy launch of Facebook News, sources at seven publishers say they have seen little impact as the company focuses on other things — Publishers who are used to seeing Facebook launch a new product with much fanfare, then have momentum fizzle, are starting to get a familiar feeling.
Sarah Jones / New York Magazine:
National Labor Relations Board on Friday ruled against every objection raised by Hearst to the bargaining unit proposed by the WGAE and ordered a union election — When the editorial staff of Hearst Magazines decided to form a union with the Writers Guild of America, East, they expected some resistance from their powerful employer.
Discussion:
Business Insider, @sarahljaffe, @kath_krueger, @onesarahjones, @lainnafader, @grimkim, @bdwilliams910, @itsa_talia, @wgaeast, @lainnafader, @haleymlotek and @moorehn
Travis Andrews / Washington Post:
Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo say they are removing a viral 26-minute trailer for “Plandemic”, a conspiracy film that features well-known anti-vaxxers — Social media companies including YouTube, Vimeo and Facebook are removing a viral conspiracy theory video because of its claims regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
Discussion:
New York Times, Erin Gallagher, @3r1ng, ProPublica, @brandyzadrozny, BuzzFeed News, @marshall_allen, BBC, @kevinroose, Business Insider and Los Angeles Times
Patsy Widakuswara / Voice of America:
VOA's semi-independent and sometimes aggressive news coverage has caused tension with the WH for decades that has only escalated with the current administration — For the Voice of America news executive who made the fateful decision, the scoop was too extraordinary and important to pass up.
Discussion:
@kenroth, @brianstelter, @dandrezner, @peterbakernyt, @nytpolitics, @alinebarros2, @inteloperator, @spj_tweets, @pwidakuswara and @navbahor
Bill Birtles / ABC:
China has forced out 19 foreign journalists in 12 months, including Chris Buckley, the respected Australian reporter for NYT who has covered China for 24 years — After 24 years reporting in China, Chris Buckley — a highly regarded and experienced foreign journalist …
Discussion:
@chubailiang, @hongkonghermit, @batesgill1, @shen_shiwei, @chubailiang, @marklandler, @siobhanheanue, @stephenmcdonell, @jonrussell, @williamyang120, @tomgrundy, @graham_euan, @limlouisa, @suilee, @s_rabinovitch, @juliangewirtz, @marcatracy, @zhaoyinfeng, @lindseyhilsum, @bbccarrie, @pekingmike, @gillianwong, @billbirtles, @chubailiang, @hellahueck, @billbirtles, @natashamitchell, @billbirtles and @globalhighered
RELATED:
Erik Wemple / Washington Post:
Vanity Fair quietly updates an article that claimed Trump-aligned investors had “acquired” a stake in OANN, saying the group is “in negotiations” — “Updates” do a lot of work in journalism these days. Sometimes they are used to denote simple amplifications to fast-moving online news stories.
Taylor Lorenz / New York Times:
A look at TikTok's emerging meme culture, as multi-platform meme brands and independent Instagram meme influencers begin investing heavily in the platform — Bombarding a platform known for dance crazes and skits is strategic, and potentially very lucrative.
Discussion:
@taylorlorenz, @taylorlorenz, @taylorlorenz and @cowbellytv
Jon Caramanica / New York Times:
Instagram Live has become the definitive medium of quarantine for rappers, producers, DJs, and other artists, with hip-hop stars leading the way — The pandemic halted in-person gatherings, but a new type of party was born on social media, with rap stars leading the charge.
Discussion:
Music Ally, @joncaramanica, @nytimesarts, @joncaramanica and @mehpatrol, more at Techmeme »
Corey Hutchins / The Colorado Independent:
States Newsroom to launch nonprofit political news site in CO in coming months, as part of its 25-state expansion by 2021; Tennessee Lookout launched this week — A new statewide nonprofit digital news outlet with robust but undisclosed funding will launch in the coming months to cover public affairs in Colorado.
Discussion:
@coreyhutchins and @coreyhutchins