Top News:
Hamish McKenzie / Substack Blog:
Substack announces Substack Local, a $1M initiative to help up to 30 independent writers build local subscription news outlets via a cash advance, advice, more — A panel of independent judges will work with Substack to select up to 30 local news writers to participate in the program.
Discussion:
@wongmjane and @dicktofel
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Sources: three media veterans are launching a subscription media company with funding led by 40 North Media and TPG Growth, to bundle journalists and resources — Joe Purzycki, Jon Kelly and Max Tcheyan are striking off on their own.
Discussion:
New York Times, @benyt, Columbia Journalism Review, @kimmasters, @katie_robertson, @jmrivera02, @silviakillings, @edmundlee, @michelledean, @albertburneko, @nbj914, @lpolgreen, @michellemanafy, @loudmouthjulia, @atrubek, @film_girl, @tomgara, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, @kimmaicutler, @eliotwb, @chaykak, @edmundlee, @bigblackjacobin, @doree, @loudmouthjulia, @jayrosen_nyu, @sarthakgh, @lkmcgann, @nickconfessore, @kantrowitz, @axios, @tomgara, @dylanbyers, @nbashaw, @peterhamby, @mikeallen, @sarafischer and The Hill
Wall Street Journal:
Sources detail how Amazon uses its power across markets to compel companies like WarnerMedia, Viacom, and AMC Networks to accept its terms — A heavyweight in retail, cloud computing, digital advertising, streaming and smart speakers, the tech giant compels vendors in one market to engage with it in others
Discussion:
@hawleymo, @danamattioli, @danamattioli, @wsj and Insider, more at Techmeme »
Justin Baragona / The Daily Beast:
Tucker Carlson used the J&J vaccine pause to suggest the US government knows that COVID-19 vaccines don't work but is purposely “not telling you that” — “Well, you'd hate to think that especially if you've gotten two shots but what's the other potential explanation?
Discussion:
@jesselehrich, @mattgertz, Columbia Journalism Review, @mattnegrin, Today's Edition Newsletter, @vermontgmg, @davidfrum, @chelseaclinton, @aravosis, @rschooley, @drkomanduri, @oliverdarcy, @patterico, @parkermolloy, @ericboehlert, Media Matters for America, New Republic, Discourse Blog, @mattgertz, Washington Post, Fox News, The Hill and Mediaite
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
In TikTok's first-ever funding of an episodic series by a publisher, the company is backing VIRAL from NowThis, featuring health experts and a live pandemic Q&A — TikTok is taking another step towards directly funding publishers' content with today's announcement that it's financially backing …
Discussion:
MediaPost
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Disney confirms that Kim Godwin will be the next president of ABC News, taking over the role most recently held by James Goldston — Kim Godwin, a veteran of local and national TV-news operations, will be the next president of ABC News — and the first Black executive to run a broadcast-network news operation.
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, @bristei, CNN, New York Times, Poynter, @deannafrytv, @enrique_acevedo, @yamiche, @soledadobrien, @errolbarnett, @jonathanblakely, @kathleencarrll, Adweek, New York Post, The Week and The Wrap
Morgan Chalfant / The Hill:
The White House Correspondents' Association dinner has been canceled for a second year due to the pandemic; the next dinner is set for April 30, 2022 — The annual White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner has been canceled for the second year in a row due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, Politico, @ameshiacross, @rtyson82, @jayrosen_nyu, Newser, Washingtonian and TVNewser
Max Willens / Digiday:
The New York Post says it is testing a personalized shopping widget after its affiliate commerce revenues grew 94% YoY in 2020 — The New York Post is one of many publishers that's recently learned its audience trusts their shopping recommendations. It's trying to get more mileage …
Jim Prosser / Medium:
Shifts driving a16z and others to start their own media: business has more trust than press, consumption changes devalue news orgs, PR reps outnumber reporters — Earlier this year, venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz set off a shockwave through the technology, tech investing …
Discussion:
The Rebooting, @kvox, @nataliekerris and @jimprosser
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
TrillerNet, parent of TikTok competitor Triller, acquires customer engagement platform Amplify.AI and combat sports streaming and events service FITE TV — Would be TikTok competitor Triller, operated by parent company TrillerNet, is gaining a new CEO, the company announced today.
Karlene Lukovitz / MediaPost:
Ampere Analysis: there were nearly 340M subscriptions to streaming services in the US in Q1, with the average consumer reporting subscribing to 4+ services — There are now nearly 340 million subscription contracts to OTT streaming services in the U.S., exceeding the country's 330-million population …
Freddy Mayhew / Press Gazette:
Facebook rolls out a local news section for UK users of Facebook News, after launching a similar section in the US last year — Facebook has rolled out a local news section for UK users of Facebook News. — The social network said in a blog post that the new feature will help …
Discussion:
The Drum, One Man & His Blog and Facebook Journalism Project
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