Mediagazer: Erroneously unredacted court docs reveal Google ran a secret program called “Project Bernanke” that used past bid data to boost its win rate in ad auctions (Wall Street Journal)

6:10 AM ET, April 12, 2021

Top News:

Substack strikes deals with trans writers, amid claims it supports allegedly anti-trans writers and is a kind of lucrative off ramp for “cancel culture” victims — A company that makes it easy to charge for newsletters has captivated an anxious industry because it embodies larger forces and contradictions.

Discussion: The Guardian, @benyt, Inkcap, @hunterw, @anthony, @benyt, @kittypurrzog, @mccarthyryanj, @caseynewton, @crtejada, @seamushughes, @mattyglesias, @karaswisher, @athertonkd, @dlind, @clairlemon, @sethamandel, @nicktagliaferro, @harrysiegel, @ggreenwald, @katienotopoulos, @taylorlorenz, @leahfinnegan, @mattyglesias, @jamesfdennin, @jordanzakarin, @espiers, @espiers, @chrisalbon, @joshsternberg, @lwoodhouse, @dnvolz, @lindseyadler, @benjamingoggin, @alicefromqueens, @lisatozzi, @eisingerj, @will_bunch, @bernybelvedere, @davidsirota, @jmrivera02, @davidgross_man, @taylorlorenz, @digiphile, @joshconstine, @parkermolloy, @waxpancake, @nytimes, @nbashaw, Sunday Snapshots, @karaswisher, @noonanjo, @sorayaroberts, @sarthakgh, @blgtylr, @bro_pair, @davidyelland, @lukeplunkett, @oneunderscore__, bookforum.com and The Wazzock's Review, more at Techmeme »

Charlie Warzel / Galaxy Brain:

Charlie Warzel announces he is leaving NYT Opinion to launch a new Substack called Galaxy Brain, aiming to forge a deeper relationship with readers — Why I'm leaving (The) New York (Times). — 3 hr ago — Hello! Hi! I have a new job — you're looking at it. Welcome to Galaxy Brain, my humble internet outpost.

Discussion: @cwarzel, @apompliano, @lukeoneil47, @jayrosen_nyu, @rachaelrad, @taylorlorenz, @taylorlorenz, @joannastern, @anniemurphypaul, @annehelen, @joshconstine, @chrislhayes, @kimzetter, @ljin18, @cwarzel, @glennf, @__aston__ and @slpng_giants

Edmund Lee / New York Times:

Inside a power struggle at WSJ between editor Matt Murray and publisher Almar Latour over how the paper should remake itself to attract new digital readers — A special team led by a high-level manager says Rupert Murdoch's paper must evolve to survive. But a rivalry between editor and publisher stands in the way.

Discussion: @edmundlee, @raju, @mylesudland, @samhaselby, @danielleiat, Sree's Sunday Note, @jayrosen_nyu, @nickkristof, @briannawu, @jbarro, @margotpatrick, @knottmatthew, @niubi, @markberman, @davecbenoit, @karaswisher, @karaswisher, @fvogelstein, @jayrosen_nyu, @janemayernyer, @matthewstoller, @ryanchittum, @sdkstl, @tonyromm, @fenitn, @kvox, @janebsinger, @jenrossa, @jswatz, @moorehn, @krmaher, @adrianweckler, @sherman4949, @nytimes, @picardonhealth, @andreasharsono, @brianstelter, @bradleyhope, @bradleyhope, @tomgara, @edmundlee, @edmundlee, @edmundlee, @edmundlee, @edmundlee, @edmundlee, @edmundlee, @mattietk, @gorskon, @thirdwaykessler, @matinastevis, @nancook, @waltmossberg, @bakerluke, @crtejada, @iansalisbury, @lionelbarber, @raju, @batess, @davidclinchnews, @mccarthyryanj, @raju, @rafat, @ourand_sbj, @sridharpappu, @johngapper, @joshsternberg, @dicktofel, @robinwigg, @rafat, @retheauditors, @dkiesow, @benyt, @kenli729, @jeffjarvis, Talking Biz News and Cleverly Painted Mules

Edmund Lee / New York Times:

A look at WSJ's internal study, The Content Review, which recommended ways for WSJ to attract new readers, specifically, women, POC, and younger professionals — A look at what the newsroom's internal study — The Content Review — concluded about the paper's faults.

Discussion: @edmundlee, @edmundlee, @derjarjour, @jbflint, @tomnamako, @cristymsilva, @cristymsilva, @cristymsilva, @tomcritchlow, @edmundlee, @edmundlee, @edmundlee, @edmundlee, @edmundlee, @edmundlee and Talking Biz News

Benjamin Mullin / Wall Street Journal:

Vox Media says it's buying Cafe Studios Inc., which publishes podcasts including one hosted by ex-US attorney Preet Bharara; Café Studios will remain as a brand — Bharara, a former Manhattan U.S. attorney, will join Vox Media as a host and creative director

Discussion: Vox Media, Variety, @matthewkeyslive, @jayshams, @karaswisher, @preetbharara, @preetbharara, @yashar, @joycewhitevance, RAIN News and The Wrap

Nicholas Kulish / New York Times:

Across the US, billionaires have decided that a newspaper is an essential part of the civic fabric and are buying local papers, often with mixed results — Billionaires aren't usually cast as saviors of democracy. But one way they are winning plaudits for civic-minded endeavors is by funding the Fourth Estate.

Lukas I. Alpert / Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Bainum had a side arrangement with Alden CEO Heath Freeman to buy Baltimore Sun, but made his own Tribune bid after suspecting Alden changed terms

Discussion: @katerinareports, @timafranklin, @jowens510, @bangebguild, @stevedaniels27, @bgrueskin, @justingeorge, @roncharles, @ltaford, @lalpert1, @ssdance and @ianbassin

Richard J. Tofel / Second Rough Draft:
The potential rescuers of individual Tribune newspapers should stop printing the papers and go all digital, right away, to cut major costs of standalone outlets

Discussion: @underoak, @scmitchp, @mikeorren, @mikeorren, @scmitchp, @mikeorren, @scmitchp, @mikeorren, @chaseneil, @mikeorren, @stephjantzen, @dicktofel, @cleonardnews, @tom_mallory, @peterhimler, @ckrewson, @ckrewson and @joegermuska

Wall Street Journal:

Erroneously unredacted court docs reveal Google ran a secret program called “Project Bernanke” that used past bid data to boost its win rate in ad auctions — Program used past bid data to boost tech giant's win rate in advertising auctions, according to court filing

Clayton Davis / Variety:

In 2020 Oscar nominations, only 4 of the 23 categories had any form of Latino representation; 2021 is likely to have more Latino nominations — Rosie Perez hasn't been invited back to the Oscars since she attended the ceremony as a nominee in 1994 for “Fearless,” where she played a plane crash survivor crippled by grief.

Discussion: @ms_lizc, @analydiamonaco, @dennsgonzalez, @josemolinatv, @ashkan, @awardscircuit, @chrissiefit, @anantlife, @antonionegret, @rosasreviews, @seranzoategui and @variety

Christopher Cadelago / Politico:

How a gamer calling themselves Kacey Montagu posed as a reporter for fictitious White House News and managed to fool journalists and the Biden administration — Four times in recent weeks, members of the White House press corps have relayed questions to press secretary Jen Psaki …

Discussion: @isavage_pi, @kennerly, @mrtegdif, Mashable, @evandonovan, New York Post, @mikebarnicle, @emilcdc, @nycsouthpaw, @nycsouthpaw, @secmontagu, @anthony, @mattzeitlin, @ositanwanevu, @blakehounshell, @samstein, @svdate, @seanspicer, @ccadelago, @samstein, Insider and Mediaite

Pranav Dixit / BuzzFeed News:

Reporting on tech from India “feels like having a front-row seat to the country's rapid slide into authoritarianism”, as Big Tech companies remain silent — I love writing about tech. But covering how a Hindu nationalist government is using it to destroy a secular democracy isn't what I signed up for.

more at Techmeme »

Priya Sippy / Rest of World:

Tanzania's late president limited broadcasters' political coverage and revoked newspapers' licenses; activists hope his successor restores their digital rights — Late president John Magufuli tried to control the internet with threats, legal actions and expensive licenses.

Discussion: @yinkawrites, @mvzelenks and @rasmus_kleis

The Guardian:

TV ratings plummeted in UK on Friday and BBC was flooded with complaints after broadcasters cleared schedules to air blanket coverage of Prince Philip's death — Corporation opened dedicated complaints form on its website to deal with high volume of comments

Discussion: Washington Post, @mrsnickyclark, @shibleytelhami, The Sun, @gregmoodie, @jamesrbuk, @rajeshthind, @variety, martinbelam.com, Conquest of the Useless, The Irish Times, @thattimwalker, New York Post and Variety

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