Top News:
Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg / Wall Street Journal:
Memo: Condé Nast will lay off about 100 US employees, with a similar number temporarily furloughed and a small number of staff getting reduced work schedules — Similar number to be temporarily furloughed as advertising slowdown takes a bite — Condé Nast …
Discussion:
@parismartineau, The Wrap, The Wrap, Folio, @tsimonite, @jeffreyvc, @mathewi, Axios, @laurengoode, @jeremypgordon, @kerrymflynn, @agoldmund, @maxwelltani, @edmundlee, @jessiwrites, @edmundlee, @payoletter, @mims, @mekosoff, @edmundlee, @nitashatiku, @loudmouthjulia, Mediaite, @grahamstarr, @jeffreyt1, Adweek, @jetjocko, @jakeswearingen, @taylorlorenz, @caitlin__kelly and Talking Biz News
Mark Sweney / The Guardian:
BuzzFeed to end news operations in the UK and Australia and furlough ten in UK and four in Australia; sources: those furloughed are “highly unlikely” to return — Website says it will focus on news that ‘hits big’ in US after advertising revenue dried up
Discussion:
@amolrajan, Press Gazette, CNN, @darrylmason, @david_dobbs, @emilybell, @dailekelleher, @doctoryasmin, @crimegiri, @hasanpatel, @liamthorpecho, @joshgnosis, @marinahyde, Mumbrella, @cstross, @hannahalothman, @janinegibson, @simoncrerar, @jo_tovey, @matthewchampion, @alexwickham, @andywigmore, @farrellpf, @paleofuture, @matinastevis, @katebevan, @jonwalker121, @ashkan, @catrinnye, @fionakatauskas, @ppantsdown, @arusbridger, @simoncrerar, @drfrancesryan, @hannahalothman, @andyjey, @jacquelinemaley, @grogsgamut, @wblau, @miriamelder, @maxwelltani, @shirazmaher, @louiseridley, @pilhofer, @tompeck, @matthewwells, @joshbutler and The Hill
Allegra Hobbs / Study Hall:
Civil, which began with the intent to launch dozens of sites supported by a blockchain-based platform and the CVL token, fell short of fixing media funding woes — In the summer of 2017, cryptocurrency seemed like the future. The price of Bitcoin was spiking, doubling from $2,500 in June to $5,000 by the beginning of September.
Discussion:
@allegraehobbs, @studyhallxyz, @donnydonny, @rickpaulas, @jason_pontin, @webschwartz, @niemanlab, @jcassano, @harrysiegel, @jenniferbrandel, @ckrewson, @studyhallxyz and @studyhallxyz
Max Willens / Digiday:
Sources: Apple is asking the publishers participating in Apple News+ for permission to produce audio versions of stories, with Apple handling production costs — Apple News+ is pivoting to audio. — Over the past several months, Apple has been asking the publishers participating …
Discussion:
@johnpaczkowski, @brianroemmele, @rstephens, 9to5Mac, @chrismessina, @alexhern, @kerrymflynn, @chrismoranuk, @reneritchie, @mattnavarra, @marklittlenews, The Verge and Cuvit, more at Techmeme »
Brian Stelter / CNN:
A Fox Corp memo extends the company's work from home directive through June 15, as Fox News stars echo Trump's call to “reopen the country” — New York (CNN Business)A version of this article first appeared in the “Reliable Sources” newsletter. You can sign up for free right here.
Discussion:
@poniewozik, @brianstelter, The Wrap and MediaPost
North Carolina Community Foundation:
The NC Local News Lab Fund has established the NC Local News Workshop with a $180,000 grant to Elon University, led by interim Executive Director Melanie Sill — Home / News / NC Local News Lab Fund establishes NC Local News Workshop at Elon University — The North Carolina Local News Lab Fund …
Discussion:
@melaniesill, @eloncomm, @ericaperel, @melaniesill and @melaniesill
Matt McKinney / Star Tribune:
Media analyst Owen Van Essen, president of a newspaper industry M&A firm, predicts 200 to 300 small weekly newspapers will not be around by the end of the year — Solid local reporting, regular coverage of business openings and ribbon cuttings, a trusted presence for decades in Washington County …
Discussion:
@kellystrib
Adam Gabbatt / The Guardian:
Save our Sun, a campaign backed by Baltimore-based philanthropists, is hoping to buy The Baltimore Sun and turn it into a non-profit to avoid further cuts — The Baltimore Sun has just won the Pulitzer prize for local reporting, despite years of job cuts and as the coronavirus pandemic appears set …
Discussion:
@damian_odoherty, @vwpickard, @rasmus_kleis, @jayrosen_nyu, @coreyhutchins, @scottshanenyt, @gabrieljr and @colindabkowski
Katie Kilkenny / Hollywood Reporter:
People magazine's digital team announces its intention to form a union with the NewsGuild, joining its print division, which unionized in the 1970s — Ninety-six percent of the brand's digital group employees nationwide who are eligible have signed cards indicating their interest in organizing.
Discussion:
@peoplemagunion, @sgillette7, @mcorriston, @ninedaves, @thr, @wear_a_helmet, @katiekilkenny7 and @katiekilkenny7
Bloomberg:
Sources: Luminary Media raised $30M+ at a level below last year's $200M valuation, bringing its total raised to $160M, and is seeking more funding — - Startup raises more than $30 million in round, looks for more — Luminary Media, the money-losing podcasting startup …
Discussion:
@lucas_shaw, @barondavis, @lucas_shaw, @pkafka, @subes01, @mikerugnetta, @niubi and @thekendallbaker
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Some European Netflix users say video quality throttling is still in place, angering those who pay more for higher-quality plans — Facebook to Pay $52 Million to Settle Lawsuit Over Moderators' Exposure to Graphic, Disturbing Content — Almost two months ago, Netflix …
Discussion:
The Streamable, more at Techmeme »
Bijan Stephen / The Verge:
Reports: live-streaming grew 45% between March and April, and 99% YoY; Twitch saw the highest growth, as hours watched rose 50% from March to April and 101% YoY — Every platform grew, but Twitch is still the biggest — We finally have numbers to back up the wild view counts we've seen …
Discussion:
@joeljohnson, more at Techmeme »
Justin Baragona / The Daily Beast:
Fox News has launched a new series called COVID Contrarian on Fox Nation with notorious coronavirus skeptic and one-time NYT reporter Alex Berenson — Public-health experts have taken issue with the former reporter's militantly contrarian takes on the pandemic, but he's found a home in the right-wing media ecosystem.
Discussion:
@oliverdarcy, @alexberenson, @mollyjongfast, @noahshachtman, @justinbaragona, @thedailybeast, @pblest, @oneunderscore__ and @mollyjongfast