Top News:
Andrew Beaujon / @abeaujon:
Washingtonian editorial staff won't publish today after their CEO implied in a WaPo op-ed that management should categorize remote staff as contractors — As members of the Washingtonian editorial staff, we want our CEO to understand the risks of not valuing our labor. We are dismayed by Cathy Merrill's public threat to our livelihoods. We will not be publishing today.
Discussion:
Washington Post, @benjaminja, @jhweissmann, @sopandeb, @lukeoneil47, @j_zimms, @jamieson, @m_delamerced, @jeffjarvis, @kendrawrites, @mattgertz and @mattgertz
Discussion:
Cathy Merrill / Washington Post: As a CEO, I worry about the erosion of office culture with more remote work
Benjamin Armbruster / @benjaminja: .@washingtonian editorial staff respond in unison to CEO Cathy Merrill's WaPo op-ed (via @MarisaKashino) https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
@jhweissmann: Lol, WaPo gave the owner of Washingtonian a platform to just threaten her staff with completely transparent labor law violations gtfo lady https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
Sopan Deb / @sopandeb: I am *floored* by this op-ed by a media CEO. But the particularly awful part is the second screenshot here. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
Jess Zimmerman / @j_zimms: Let it never be said that op-eds don't create change https://twitter.com/...
Dave Jamieson / @jamieson: Having representatives and lawyers helps, but this is a good reminder that employees do not need a union to act as one https://twitter.com/...
Michael de la Merced / @m_delamerced: This is probably not the reaction that Merrill wanted to get from this https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
Jeff Jarvis / @jeffjarvis: And good for them. That first day back at the office is going to be mighty awk. https://twitter.com/...
@kendrawrites: The office environments that are most militaristic about employees returning to in office employment have IME toxic work cultures that are hard to maintain at a distance https://twitter.com/...
Esther Crawford / Twitter:
Twitter introduces Tip Jar, allowing everyone using Twitter in English to send tips, and a limited group, including journalists and experts, to accept tips — We $ee you - sharing your PayPal link after your Tweet goes viral, adding your $Cashtag to your profile so people can support your work …
Discussion:
@twitter, @racheltobac, @twittersupport, @kayvz, ScreenRant, @taylorlorenz, MediaNama, The Verge, @lfc_rv, @luulubuu, @sacramentokings, @wbm312, @prsarahevans, @racheltobac, @blackamazon, @elizableu, @racheltobac, 90 Second News, @caseyjohnston, @racheltobac, @chrisdancy, @thisisnfts, @kozza, @slpng_giants, @jaylabrenae, @kurtisconner, @chuckwendig, @mark_t_gray, @nonlinearnotes, @jayjurden, @tahk0, dexerto.com, Transistori, @tomwarren, @susanlitv, @jack, @darrenrovell, @lollardfish, @racheltobac, @its_willyu, @michellehux, musically.com, 9to5Mac, TechCrunch, CNBC, Engadget and Whats New On The Net Podcast, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
@twitter: show your love, leave a tip now testing Tip Jar, a new way to give and receive money on Twitter 💸 more coming soon... https://twitter.com/...
Rachel Tobac / @racheltobac: Huge heads up on PayPal Twitter Tip Jar. If you send a person a tip using PayPal, when the receiver opens up the receipt from the tip you sent, they get your *address*. Just tested to confirm by tipping @yashar on Twitter w/ PayPal and he did in fact get my address I tipped him. https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@twittersupport: Now you can do more to support the many amazing voices who add to the conversation on Twitter — send them tips. You can send someone a tip through several payment services by tapping the new Tip Jar icon on their profile, testing on Android and iOS. https://twitter.com/...
Kayvon Beykpour / @kayvz: @RachelTobac @yashar this is a good catch, thank you. we can't control the revealing of the address on Paypal's side but we will add a warning for people giving tips via Paypal so that they are aware of this.
Taylor Lorenz / @taylorlorenz: Twitter introduces a “tip jar” on user profiles which allows the following services" Bandcamp, Cash App, Patreon, PayPal, Venmo. Twitter takes no cut. On Android, tips can also be sent within Spaces. https://blog.twitter.com/...
Sarvesh Mathi / MediaNama: Twitter launches new tipping feature, but privacy concerns loom
Chaim Gartenberg / The Verge: Twitter is testing a new Tip Jar feature for sending money to your favorite accounts
Roopa / @lfc_rv: I really don't understand why anyone would want to tip someone for their tweets 😂 https://twitter.com/...
Sacramento Kings / @sacramentokings: Remember when all you said we should get raises? Well.... https://twitter.com/...
Whitney Merrill / @wbm312: On Tip Jar privacy and PayPal: Chatted with the lovely head of privacy at Twitter, and they're working on making this more clear in the UI, since it's just the way PayPal works and not something Twitter can control. https://twitter.com/...
Rachel Tobac / @racheltobac: Current Twitter Tip Jar warnings focus on tip receiver set up flow and the risk of “revealing real name” (should also include email address risk). Would love to also see a warning at time of giving for tipper that indicates risk of revealing address when using PayPal in Tip Jar. https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@blackamazon: This habit of only answering product questions from certain folks especially around safety is part of the damn problem https://twitter.com/...
Eliza / @elizableu: Can you please remove 💯% of the child porn from Twitter? https://twitter.com/...
Rachel Tobac / @racheltobac: This is EXACTLY what I was concerned to test when Twitter announced Tip Jar. PayPal needs to make it crystal clear which data is given to money receivers and stop sharing that data, & Twitter needs to educate users who don't realize what info tip receivers get when using PayPal. https://twitter.com/...
90 Second News: ⏱All chips, no dip — Good morning everyone, and congrats on making it to Friday! You did it!
Casey Johnston / @caseyjohnston: i take my lack of tip jar to mean i'm not adding to the conversation https://twitter.com/...
Rachel Tobac / @racheltobac: Above you can see the receipt @yashar sent me when I did this test with him. Be careful using PayPal Twitter Tip Jar — this is a hallmark of PayPal rather than Twitter of course but it impacts Twitter users who may not know that their address is leaked by PayPal to tip receivers.
@chrisdancy: It took a decade but I was right. #tipjar https://blog.twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@kozza: Jack, Imma send you a dollar. After you get it, go on and hit me back with something. Then I do the same. Tip Jar Tennis https://twitter.com/...
@slpng_giants: This right here is what incentivizes the very worst behavior on social platforms. Sure, some good people with good content will earn some cash, but mostly what it will do is inspire users to get more extreme and pump out more disinformation to get more engagement and more tips. https://twitter.com/...
Mama Jay / @jaylabrenae: I love this because when I donate to GoFundMes I always add extra cash since I know they take a percentage! https://twitter.com/...
Kurtis Conner / @kurtisconner: gonna end every tweet of mine with “will delete for $100” 🤑 https://twitter.com/...
Mark Gray / @mark_t_gray: Worth noting that Apple says that devs “may” use in-app purchases for tipping, so Twitter may not be violating Apple's rules But with App Store, you never really know. https://developer.apple.com/ ... https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Jason / @nonlinearnotes: twitter is gonna look a lot more like onlyfans very soon https://twitter.com/...
May Murden / @jayjurden: People are about to get even more insufferable on here https://blog.twitter.com/...
Robert / Transistori: Googlen tiedonkeräysilmoitus, Twitter tippaaminen ja Tencentin pelisijoitukset
Tom Warren / @tomwarren: time to start paying for all my terrible tweets guys 💰 https://twitter.com/...
Darren Rovell / @darrenrovell: We want an edit button... We want premium tools... We want an easier way to upload longer video... Twitter ⬇️ https://twitter.com/...
David M. Perry / @lollardfish: I see a lot of skepticism, but as a freelancer putting together an income through a lot of small revenue streams, I am wildly in favor of this and want to be added to the program ASAP. https://twitter.com/...
Rachel Tobac / @racheltobac: Thank you @Twitter @kayvz for paying attention, welcoming security researcher's feedback, and taking responsibility to take steps to warn and protect your users within an hour of me releasing these findings (even though you don't control PayPal's address leaking flow). https://twitter.com/...
@its_willyu: For those that want to use the Twitter Tip Jar, be careful what service you sign up with! It seems like Venmo (which PayPal owns) doesn't share this info in a transaction, but if there are any issues like this for it, please call it out and I will RT ASAP. https://twitter.com/...
Lauren Chanel / @michellehux: tip jar through paypal takes 33%? and... gives your home address to the person you tip? https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Filipe Espósito / 9to5Mac: Twitter begins rolling out new ‘Tip Jar’ feature for paying other users directly
Brian Heater / TechCrunch: Twitter Tip Jar lets you pay people for good tweetin'
Salvador Rodriguez / CNBC: Twitter introduces Tip Jar, allowing users to send money to their favorite tweeters
Karissa Bell / Engadget: Twitter makes in-app tipping official with ‘Tip Jar’
Washington Post:
While Alden pledged $375M in cash for Tribune, one clause would let Alden finance the cash with debt or equity financing, possibly raising Tribune's debt burden — Experts say Alden Global Capital's offer to invest in the Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun and other newspapers isn't what it seems
Discussion:
@lenfestinst, @sarahellison, @jenwsheehan, @amyargetsinger, @mattlaslo, @saragregory, @hopnotes, @johnannese, @mcallguild, @ppvsrb, @whet, @cerconejeff, @elaheizadi, @os_guild and @baekdal
Discussion:
Lenfest Institute / @lenfestinst: This is why local newspapers need responsible local ownership that values community-focused journalism https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
Sarah Ellison / @sarahellison: What's in the fine print in Alden's offer to takeover Tribune? The great @jocwapo and I found some risk hiding in plain sight https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Jennifer W. Sheehan / @jenwsheehan: “They haven't got the money they're claiming to have.” Alden is lying again. #savelocalnews https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Amy Argetsinger / @amyargetsinger: For those who care about local newspapers, a stunning and sobering story about Tribune from @sarahellison and @jocwapo https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Matt Laslo / @mattlaslo: Maybe hedge funds are really bad at owning newspapers? https://twitter.com/...
Sara Gregory / @saragregory: VOTE NO. It's the only reasonable vote if you care about local journalism and democracy. https://twitter.com/...
Josh Noel / @hopnotes: “The board of directors should have known to investigate and confirm the financial resources of a prospective buyer that would be paying all equity cash. The fact that they didn't is frankly stunning.” Alden Global Capital has no business buying the Chicago Tribune or @tribpub. https://twitter.com/...
John Annese / @johnannese: Sure looks like Alden Global Capital — whose co-founder Randall Smith bought 16 (!) Palm Beach mansions — wants to saddle Tribune with $375 million in debt and strip its newspapers like the Daily News for parts. Fancy mansions don't come cheap, I guess. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
@mcallguild: Alden has mislead everyone, including shareholders, about how they will ACTUALLY do this sale. They will shovel debt on top of us so they can bleed out the profits. This after they claimed to have all cash to do the deal. #savelocalnews https://twitter.com/...
Stephen Brown / @ppvsrb: “Alden is still on the hook for the $375 million commitment, which means Tribune's shareholders (and board members) will be taken care of, even if its employees and readers are not.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Whet Moser / @whet: “The board of directors should have known to investigate and confirm the financial resources of a prospective buyer that would be paying all equity cash. The fact that they didn't is frankly stunning.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Jeff Cercone / @cerconejeff: The devil is at our door and, as one would expect of the devil, isn't being honest about his intentions. @tribpub shareholders, vote no on Alden's plan to destroy this company. https://twitter.com/...
Elahe Izadi / @elaheizadi: “The real tragedy at the end of the day is that no one showed up to buy these things. ... There was no one in Chicago. All these stand-up, wealthy people in Chicago, and no one showed up,” he said. “Very disappointing.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
@os_guild: 🧐 Alden vowed to provide $375 million to acquire @tribpub, but experts told @washingtonpost that the hedge fund has “already signaled that it plans to saddle Tribune with debt that could further hollow out the company, and it may not have $375 million available to begin with.” https://twitter.com/...
RELATED:
Keith J. Kelly / New York Post:
Tribune Publishing Q1: net income of $6.1M on revenue of $173.6M; ad revenue fell 26.4% YoY, compensation expenses fell 35.8% YoY, and cash balance was $250.7M — Tribune Publishing posted a first-quarter profit but canceled its earnings call, citing the imminent completion of a deal to take the newspaper giant private.
Discussion:
Tribune Publishing Company, @jimfriedlich, @jimfriedlich, @saragregory, @jimfriedlich, @jimfriedlich and @lalpert1
Discussion:
Jim Friedlich / @jimfriedlich: 2/ @davidaxelrod: “When I was covering City Hall (for @chicagotribune) I knew management had my back if the story was righteous. I'm afraid this crowd (Alden) won't do that. I stand with you,” he said addressing the journalists and communities of Chicago...
Jim Friedlich / @jimfriedlich: 3/ Fifty-six Chicago Tribune journalists have been sacked since January 2020 under Alden's influence, reports the @ChiNewsGuild. @davidaxelrod: “Tribune Tower where I worked is now condominiums. The Chicago @Suntimes building is now @Trump Tower...”
Sara Gregory / @saragregory: Your regular reminder that @tribpub was profitable before it/Alden started cutting — notably thru payroll (buyouts, attrition & furloughs) but also reneging on leases & shutting down newsrooms. It's been Alden's playbook from day 1 —precisely why we oppose their full ownership. https://twitter.com/...
Jim Friedlich / @jimfriedlich: @lalpert1 From last night's Chicago community meeting about Alden and @tribpub https://twitter.com/...
Jim Friedlich / @jimfriedlich: 1/ “We know what Alden is. They are SCAVENGERS.” @davvidaxelrod told a gathering of @chicagotribune reporters & community activists tonight. The former @tribpub political reporter & @BarackObama official: “I can't imagine a great city like Chicago won't have a great newspaper...”
Lukas I. Alpert / @lalpert1: In Tribune Publishing's earnings today, the company says it cut operating expenses by over $100 million since the 1st quarter last year. Of that, $35 million came from payroll, a 36% reduction. Sort of feels like Alden has been running the place all along https://investor.tribpub.com/ ...
Olivia Messer / Study Hall:
The trauma of covering the pandemic has battered journalists, and the industry is losing a generation of reporters and editors to despair and moral injury — When I told my editors at The Daily Beast that I needed to quit my job as the newsroom's lead COVID reporter, I couldn't even say the word “quit.”
Discussion:
@oliviamesser, @walldo, @oliviamesser, @maiamajumder, @haleighhoffman, @bwdbwdbwd, @4lisaguerrero, @oliviamesser, @feliciasonmez, @jensabella, @steeletalk, @patriciamazzei, @oliviamesser, @tonyromm, @jyangstar, @charlesornstein, @dbcalabrese, @evaholland, @kocochristine, @joshsternberg, @brandyzadrozny, @apoorva_nyc, @jeremyadamross, @oliviamesser, @oliviamesser, @oliviamesser, @alanalevinson, @alexlaughs, @bgirledukate, @adamweinstein, @deborahblum, @oliviamesser, @oliviamesser, @oliviamesser, @danielleiat, @mtracey, @oliviamesser, @jmsummers, @oliviamesser, @annehelen, @scottnover, @oliviamesser, @paigepfleger, @avitalrachel, @danielleiat, @jerrydunleavy, @emilyakopp, @oliviamesser, @milesperhoward, @oliviamesser, @oliviamesser, @jacoker2, @moorehn, @oliviamesser, @j__velasquez, @kerrymflynn, @kerrymflynn, @oliviamesser, @studyhallxyz, @brosandprose and @elenaiswriting
Discussion:
@oliviamesser: “Companies can do a lot more to help retain their journalists and keep them from burning out,” said the Seattle-based journalist. “They need hazard pay, more time off, and more employees hired in the newsroom. Keep squeezing people, and they'll keep leaving.”
Brandon Wall / @walldo: Ghoulish behavior to shoot down someone's PTO request to GET VACCINATED. You're the boss, figure it out how to make it work!!!! https://studyhall.xyz/... https://twitter.com/...
@oliviamesser: Reporters said they also blamed themselves at times for the intensity of the pandemic. “The worst-case scenario was repeating... Why hadn't Texas and Arizona learned from New York and New Jersey? Was that partly the media's fault? Should we have written stories a different way?”
Dr. Maimuna Majumder / @maiamajumder: Over the last 15 months, I've been lucky enough to be a source for @OliviaMesser & many other incredible #COVID19 reporters. Their work is, in my view, essential to pandemic response — and like other responders, their work has come at great personal cost: https://studyhall.xyz/...
Haleigh Hoffman / @haleighhoffman: “she began to see individual deaths as evidence of falling short in my duties.” This really struck me. It's personal in local news. Our daily task is to both inform and protect as many people as we can. And it's just been so endless you feel like you're screaming into a void. https://twitter.com/...
Bradford William Davis / @bwdbwdbwd: not *quite* me — having a loving family and many friends outside of my industry has helped — but could have been me: https://studyhall.xyz/...
Lisa Guerrero / @4lisaguerrero: Thanks @OliviaMesser - I talk about this in my keynote: The very thing that makes someone a great reporter - EMPATHY - can also be exhausting and debilitating when covering a crisis like the pandemic. You become a sponge for pain. Please step back if u can & practice self care. https://twitter.com/...
@oliviamesser: A local journalist—whose coverage area included one of the first cases of COVID-19 in the US—told me that after interviewing grieving families, she began to see individual deaths she covered as evidence of “falling short in my duties” to prevent them.
Felicia Sonmez / @feliciasonmez: Really important story by @OliviaMesser about the ways our industry is failing to support reporters covering the coronavirus pandemic: https://twitter.com/...
Jen Sabella / @jensabella: This piece. SPOT ON. “At some point, I just turned into a sponge, taking on all this sadness and anger that I was surrounded by.” https://twitter.com/...
Lynda Steele / @steeletalk: THIS. Is real. To all the journalists, broadcasters, producers, camera people out there covering this never-ending pandemic. I see you - I share your pain. https://studyhall.xyz/...
Patricia Mazzei / @patriciamazzei: Reporters “described feeling like they had, at some point, failed at an impossible task: reporting clear, accurate public health information at a time when even the experts knew very little, information was rapidly changing, and the CDC was fumbling the ball.” https://twitter.com/...
@oliviamesser: If we can agree that the coronavirus is a mass casualty event rife with trauma at every level—and that the reporters seeing the piles of bodies and interviewing grieving families every day will be affected by it, then we must conclude that pandemic reporting is trauma reporting.
Tony Romm / @tonyromm: I didn't cover the pandemic in the same way others here did. But holy shit this one hit me hard and felt far too familiar. Olivia deserves so much credit for vocalizing this on behalf of the profession writ large. I hope people are listening. https://twitter.com/...
Jennifer Yang / @jyangstar: Love to everyone who feels seen by this piece, with ++empathy for those with tiny kids. I came back from mat leave to cover COVID the 1st week of lockdown. I was unprepared for how to be a new mom & a reporter; I was *really* unprepared for how to be a new mom & a COVID reporter https://twitter.com/...
Charles Ornstein / @charlesornstein: Covering covid has been a bruising experience for many journalists. We owe them our gratitude, and more than that, we need to be there for them as they struggle. Thank you @OliviaMesser for giving voice to the issue. https://twitter.com/...
Darren Calabrese / @dbcalabrese: Such an important read for those working in journalism. Honest, truthful and heartbreakingly poignant. Thank you to @OliviaMesser The COVID Reporters Are Not Okay. Extremely Not Okay. - Study Hall https://twitter.com/...
Eva Holland / @evaholland: Really important work from @OliviaMesser here. I hope folks in the industry, especially those with newsroom leadership roles or influence, will give it a close read. https://studyhall.xyz/...
Christine Stanwood / @kocochristine: “Some said they are still finding themselves sobbing after meetings, between meetings, on calls during work, or when the day ends.” Journalists: If this resonates with you, like it did with me, know you're not alone. https://twitter.com/...
@joshsternberg: Between reporters traumatized from covering COVID and the tens of thousands of reporters laid off because of COVID, it's a wonder journalism even continues. https://studyhall.xyz/...
Brandy Zadrozny / @brandyzadrozny: Our industry is going to have to reckon with the toll that reporting and just living through Covid has taken on reporters. Such a strong story from @OliviaMesser. https://twitter.com/...
Apoorva Mandavilli / @apoorva_nyc: Many prominent journalists have left their positions in the last few weeks, burned out and buckling under the pace, stress and trauma of their work. This fantastic article and 🧵 explains why https://twitter.com/...
Jeremy Ross / @jeremyadamross: Hi everyone. This. Read this. “They do not feel supported by newsroom leaders; that they do not have the tools they need to handle the trauma they are absorbing; and that most of their bosses don't seem to care about how bad it has gotten.” https://twitter.com/...
@oliviamesser: For mass shootings and natural disasters, most people get that these are traumatic for the victims, first responders, witnesses, and survivors. It's less acknowledged inside and outside of the news industry that this is also true for the journalists who tell the stories.
@oliviamesser: With that in mind, here's my advice: Whether you're a newsroom leader or a reporter or an intern—even if you feel like you're admitting defeat—please ask for help on this issue. That's how I found solidarity and support, and it's how I was able to write this story.
@oliviamesser: The pandemic completely changed the weight of the job, said one reporter who currently works at a national outlet and has repeatedly broken exclusive stories this year. Many of us felt, as she explained, that “people could literally die if we did our jobs wrong.”
@alanalevinson: It's not just that we're covering traumatic topics like covid. We are also human beings — living through that same trauma — and being asked to work at an unhealthy pace in an industry that fires us constantly. This is a labor issue. https://studyhall.xyz/...
Alex Sujong Laughlin / @alexlaughs: i also started hitting an impenetrable wall in january, and my work doesn't remotely touch current events or covid. everyone i know who works in news and journalism is on the cusp of broken or there already. what. do. we. do!!! https://studyhall.xyz/...
Kate Morrissey / @bgirledukate: Relating pretty hard to this one as an immigration reporter & thankful for coping skills I've developed so far w/help of therapy. All of you reporters out there putting yourselves in physical and mental danger to do your work, I see you. I'm here for you https://studyhall.xyz/...
Adam Weinstein / @adamweinstein: A massively important piece here by @OliviaMesser. I've found a lot of emotional similarities between my journalism colleagues and veterans of hard military deployments. And in both worlds, a stigma against their common injuries is still too common. https://studyhall.xyz/...
Deborah Blum / @deborahblum: Important story. And thread. https://twitter.com/...
@oliviamesser: If you can agree that COVID reporting is trauma reporting—which ample research has shown can cause or worsen the mental health of the journalists doing the job—then trauma itself becomes a work hazard. And reimbursement for mental health services starts making a lot more sense.
@oliviamesser: Per Bruce Shapiro, of the @DartCenter, reporters who covered the front lines and the big-picture numbers spent the year “closer both to the loss, the grief, the suffering of COVID patients” and to “the full reality which most of us can keep at the fringes of our consciousness.”
@oliviamesser: Journalists at the most widely read news sites in the nation told me they're sobbing after meetings, on calls during work, when the day ends. “Work very hard and be miserable and not complain about it,” said one former reporter. “I just know I had to leave for my mental health.”
Danielle Tcholakian / @danielleiat: a really crucial story by @OliviaMesser https://twitter.com/...
Michael Tracey / @mtracey: Journalists truly cannot stop talking about how traumatized, psychologically crippled, and generally incapacitated they are. It's so weird “By the election last year, I found myself randomly crying during the day, crying between calls” https://studyhall.xyz/...
@oliviamesser: Many said their individual bosses made things more bearable, but an entire industry can't rely on the humanity of a few good editors; it must be accompanied by policies to safeguard workers and address the psychic burden of the work.
Juana Summers / @jmsummers: I have not covered the pandemic with the intensity that @OliviaMesser & others have, but much of this feels familiar. I struggle w. the fact that all of the boundaries I created between my job and my life no longer exist. It's impossible to turn my brain off. This is a must read. https://twitter.com/...
@oliviamesser: Here's what I found: My drowning while COVID reporting wasn't unique. A dozen reporters and editors told me they don't feel supported by their newsroom leaders, don't have the tools they need to handle trauma they're absorbing, and don't think their bosses even really care.
Anne Helen Petersen / @annehelen: “I was finally numb enough to care more about curbing the onslaught of new physiological and mental fire alarms going off in my body than my fear of failure.” https://studyhall.xyz/...
@oliviamesser: And for any media company that would claim these measures might not be economically feasible, I'd ask you to consider the long-term financial benefit of retaining top talent while keeping them healthy and happy enough to produce excellent work.
Paige Southwick Pfleger / @paigepfleger: At my last job, I oscillated between covering COVID deaths, police shooting deaths or overdose deaths. I remember feeling grateful to work from home so I could cry during press conferences and no one would see. Thank you for writing this, @OliviaMesser https://studyhall.xyz/...
Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt / @avitalrachel: “Journalism is a trauma-facing profession. A lot of what counts as news are the worst experiences that happen to people.” Every word, @OliviaMesser here: https://studyhall.xyz/...
Danielle Tcholakian / @danielleiat: “an entire industry can't rely on the humanity of a few good editors” https://studyhall.xyz/...
Jerry Dunleavy / @jerrydunleavy: Just because you're writing about something doesn't mean it is happening to you. Pretty basic thing about being a journalist is to not make yourself the story and to not let the story make you. https://twitter.com/...
Emily Kopp / @emilyakopp: @OliviaMesser I'll have more to say when I have the freedom to, but until then I'll just say this is courageous https://studyhall.xyz/...
@oliviamesser: Take the time to speak to the journalists in your newsroom and you'll find that they're proposing many of the same ideas as experts do. Look at any newsroom union: many have been busy lobbying for more money for mental health services, fairer wages, more time off, more training.
Miles Howard / @milesperhoward: “...an entire industry can't rely on the humanity of a few good editors; it must be accompanied by policies to safeguard workers, including more training to help both management and reporters understand and address the psychological burden of the work.” https://studyhall.xyz/...
@oliviamesser: “By the election last year, I found myself randomly crying during the day, crying between calls,” said another national reporter. “It wasn't until I unexpectedly started crying mid-conversation with a colleague that I thought, gosh, maybe this is not normal.”
@oliviamesser: “Some of the best journalists are the ones where you can hear, in their voice and their story, that they [understand the weight of the trauma they're writing about],” said UCLA's Dr. Vickie Mays. “You have to ask yourself, does this take a toll?”
Jac / @jacoker2: Please read the thread, too. I don't think we have a clue yet how deeply Covid has affected journalists and society as a whole. https://twitter.com/...
Heidi N. Moore / @moorehn: Fantastic thread. https://twitter.com/...
@oliviamesser: Look, this piece was gutting to write, but I have faith that it can do real good. And I feel compelled to actively participate in the discourse on trauma and journalism—and what we can do about it—in order to help make sure there is a humane, sustainable industry to return to.
Josefa Velsquez / @j__velasquez: Welp. This hits close to home. “At some point, I just turned into a sponge, taking on all this sadness and anger that I was surrounded by.” https://twitter.com/...
@kerrymflynn: I love this piece so much. Olivia not only bravely opens up about her own experience but interviewed many other journalists about theirs. And it's not only about what has happened, but she looks at how the media industry can improve. Read it!! https://studyhall.xyz/...
@kerrymflynn: “... here's my advice: Whether you're a newsroom leader or a reporter or an intern — even if you feel like you're admitting defeat — please ask for help when you need it.” Read this incredibly well done piece by @OliviaMesser in @studyhallxyz https://studyhall.xyz/...
Olivia Messer / @oliviamesser: NEW: Despite a mountain of headline-worthy media departures, I believe our industry has failed to properly examine the ways reporters covering the pandemic are struggling—and what can be done about it. This is my attempt to correct that. https://studyhall.xyz/...
Study Hall / @studyhallxyz: When @OliviaMesser quit her reporter job, it was after after nearly a year of covering the COVID-19 pandemic. She isn't the only one. The COVID beat is breaking journalists. https://studyhall.xyz/... https://twitter.com/...
Ella Dawson / @brosandprose: “We have to name a problem in order to solve it. Covering COVID-19 is trauma reporting.” @OliviaMesser https://studyhall.xyz/...
Elena / @elenaiswriting: “The world is falling apart. How are we supposed to eat a salad at a time like this? More than 500,000 people are dead, including colleagues and friends and loved ones, and we were expected to keep eating lunch?” y'all @OliviaMesser HAS A WORD TODAY. https://studyhall.xyz/...
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Roku beats estimates, with a Q1 net income of $76.3M on revenue of $574.2M, up 79% YoY; new active accounts grew 2.4M, reaching 53.6M, up 35% YoY; stock up ~7% — Roku gained 2.4 million new active accounts for the first quarter of 2021, showing that the pandemic-driven streaming momentum …
Discussion:
Victoria Lewis / WPTV:
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has barred local media from attending the signing of a voting restriction bill; the event is a “Fox News exclusive” — Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed Florida's elections reform bill into law. DeSantis signed SB90, which includes restrictions on voting …
Discussion:
@stevebousquet, Washington Post, Mediaite, Columbia Journalism Review, @svdate, @dcherring, @annaforflorida, Politico, @jonathanchait, @servethe901, @maggienyt, @ariberman, @timothypmurphy, @kevinmkruse, @jamessurowiecki, @wptv, Washington Post, Vanity Fair, CNN, Slate, Mother Jones, ABC News, VICE, Insider and Mediaite
Discussion:
Steve Bousquet / @stevebousquet: NEW: News media is barred from entry at Gov. Ron DeSantis' signing of controversial elections bill, SB 90. DeSantis spokeswoman Taryn Fenske says bill signing is a “Fox exclusive” https://twitter.com/...
Philip Bump / Washington Post: DeSantis enacts voting restrictions touted by Fox News with only Fox News in the room
Leia Idliby / Mediaite: Seth Meyers Tears into Fox News and Ron DeSantis For Election Bill Signing Stunt: All They ‘Care About is Dismantling Democracy’
S.V. Dte / @svdate: It is not just an exclusive. It is literally an official government act being turned into a DeSantis campaign event. https://twitter.com/...
Dennis Foxmania Herring / @dcherring: Who needs state-run media when you've got FOX? https://twitter.com/...
Rep. Anna V. Eskamani / @annaforflorida: Governor DeSantis is signing a voter suppression bill but it's a “Fox exclusive” so other media can't come in. This was never about policy, it was always about making it harder for ppl to vote while catering to a hyper-conservative base of voters. Floridians deserve better! https://twitter.com/...
Gary Fineout / Politico: DeSantis gives Fox ‘exclusive’ of him signing election bill
Jonathan Chait / @jonathanchait: A “news organization” that gets exclusive rights to cover official government business is the definition of state television https://twitter.com/...
Allan Creasy / @servethe901: Looks like DeSantis wants to exclude reporters as much as voters. https://twitter.com/...
Maggie Haberman / @maggienyt: Can't say I've ever heard of an act like a bill signing being treated like a commodity to trade with Fox https://twitter.com/...
Ari Berman / @ariberman: DeSantis is signing bill to roll back voting access after Dems used vote by mail more than Republicans for first time in state history & won't even let media other than Fox cover it. Democracy literally dying in the dark https://twitter.com/...
Tim Murphy / @timothypmurphy: in the current republican ecosystem turning the curtailing of voting rights into a “Fox exclusive” is almost as important as the curtailing of voting rights itself https://twitter.com/...
Kevin M. Kruse / @kevinmkruse: Well, voter suppression sort of *is* their thing. https://twitter.com/...
James Surowiecki / @jamessurowiecki: How is it possibly constitutional to only allow one handpicked news outlet to cover an official govt event? This is not a DeSantis campaign event - he's on govt time and getting paid govt money. https://twitter.com/...
@wptv: .@WPTV and other news media will not be allowed inside as Gov. #DeSantis is expected to sign the elections bill. The event is being called “a Fox News exclusive.” Read more: https://www.wptv.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Washington Post: Florida's DeSantis signs new voting restrictions into law, making the state the latest to add hurdles to the voting process
Kelly Mena / CNN: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs restrictive voting bill
Elliot Hannon / Slate: Florida Is the Latest GOP-Run State to Enact a New Law Making It Harder to Vote
Inae Oh / Mother Jones: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Signs a Voter Suppression Bill, and Fox News Has the Only Camera
Quinn Scanlan / ABC News: GOP Gov. DeSantis signs Florida election bill into law amid new controversy
Cameron Joseph / VICE: DeSantis Just Barred Reporters From Signing of Voter Suppression Bill—Except Fox News
Makena Kelly / The Verge:
NY AG's office says fake comments, including 8.5M funded by largest US ISPs, accounted for ~18M of the 22M+ net neutrality comments received by the FCC in 2017 — The New York attorney general's office released a new report detailing the effort — The New York attorney general's office issued …
Discussion:
Protocol, @newyorkstateag, @froomkin, NY State Attorney General, Ars Technica, @roby_bhatt, Wall Street Journal, @seattlemkh, @johnproctordfs, @stevemk14ebr, @robpegoraro, @shahidforchange, @muckrakery, @democraticags, @gregpinelo, @tonyromm, @clarkvalentine, @mulegirl, @jasoncwarner, @nytimes, @veenadubal, @evan_greer, @nycsouthpaw, @nycsouthpaw, @bo_gardiner, @bostonjoan, @doctorow, @hadro, @hari, @digiphile, @flyosity, @issielapowsky, @can, @justinhendrix, @issielapowsky, @issielapowsky, Free Press, Light Reading, TechCrunch, New York Times, The Hill, Reuters, New York Post, VICE, Techdirt, Engadget, PIX11 and Law & Crime, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Ny Ag / @newyorkstateag: After a multi-year investigation, we found the nation's largest broadband companies funded a secret campaign to influence the FCC's repeal of net neutrality rules — resulting in millions of fake public comments impersonating Americans. These illegal schemes are unacceptable.
Dan Froomkin / @froomkin: “nearly every comment and message the broadband industry submitted to the FCC and Congress was fake, signed using the names and addresses of millions of individuals without their knowledge or consent.” https://ag.ny.gov/... https://twitter.com/...
NY State Attorney General: Attorney General James Issues Report Detailing Millions of Fake Comments, Revealing Secret Campaign to Influence FCC's 2017 Repeal of Net Neutrality Rules
Jon Brodkin / Ars Technica: Biggest ISPs paid for 8.5 million fake FCC comments opposing net neutrality
Roby Bhattacharyya / @roby_bhatt: This whole thread is an infuriating update on the bizarre net neutrality comment period, for anyone else who paid attention to it amidst *everything else*. https://twitter.com/...
James V. Grimaldi / Wall Street Journal: FCC's Net-Neutrality Proposal Marred by Millions of Fake Comments
MK Hamilton / @seattlemkh: This is perfectly believable. In a functioning system Ajit Pai would be getting some quality cell time right now. https://twitter.com/...
John Proctor / @johnproctordfs: It's not a “secret campaign.” It's fraud. But they'll just pay a fine and move on as usual. https://twitter.com/...
Steve Eckels / @stevemk14ebr: As someone who tried to comment on their website and protested publicly, this was so so so so so obvious.The entire comment section was spam and it was infuriating seeing no one care about such obviously exploitative action.Ajit Pai just lying constantly about consumer wants too https://twitter.com/...
Rob Pegoraro / @robpegoraro: Astroturf as a service: Broadband for America wanted to flood the FCC with anti-net-neutrality comments, it paid a lobbying firm to make that happen—and then the lead-gen firms hired by the lobbyists filed 8.5+ million fake comments in real people's names. https://ag.ny.gov/...
Shahid Buttar / @shahidforchange: Corporate influence infects our system in many different ways, making a mockery of our democracy. https://twitter.com/...
Brandon Smith / @muckrakery: OMG The insane flood of anti-net-neutrality comments to FCC were frauds after all. And NY's AG has proved they were funded by telecoms. @AjitPai should be dragged in front of Congress for lying to the public. He lied about this, probably knowingly, over and over and over again https://twitter.com/...
Democratic AGs / @democraticags: 🚨 In a jaw-dropping new report, NY Dem AG @TishJames has found that more than 18 MILLION of the public comments received by the @FCC re: #NetNeutrality were FAKE... ... and MILLIONS of those were funded by the broadband industry itself. READ MORE ⤵️ https://www.protocol.com/...
Greg Pinelo / @gregpinelo: If you want to know how corporate America has used astroturf organizing to game the system in Washington, this investigation by NY AG Tish James is a must read. The press release: https://ag.ny.gov/... The full report: https://ag.ny.gov/...
Tony Romm / @tonyromm: and finally, we have some official answers on the fake net neutrality comments that flooded the FCC via the NY AG's office https://ag.ny.gov/...
Clark Valentine / @clarkvalentine: That sound you hear is a million tech people saying “We told you it was happening” https://twitter.com/...
Jason Warner / @jasoncwarner: Hang on....oooooone sec...Haven't used my ironically shocked face in a bit There, found it I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you! A law so obviously designed to unfairly advantage a set of people naturally threatened by innovation would collude together & then with a crony politician? https://twitter.com/...
@nytimes: Internet service providers spent $4.2 million on an effort that created roughly nine million fake comments in support of the FCC's repeal of net neutrality rules in 2017, the New York attorney general said on Thursday. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Veena Dubal / @veenadubal: “Fake public comments impersonating Americans.” Sounds like a familiar strategy. So glad this is being addressed by the @NewYorkStateAG! And I hope it deters other corporate interests from doing the same. https://twitter.com/...
Evan Greer / @evan_greer: of course, NYAG wouldn't have ever investigated this if @fightfortheftr hadn't helped uncover the original flood of fake comments, and journalists like @dellcam and @kevincollier hadn't kept digging into it. history is important here if we want to keep this from happening again https://twitter.com/...
Southpaw / @nycsouthpaw: “Budget documents show that, in all, the broadband industry players that funded the campaign spent $4.2 million generating and submitting more than 8.5 million fake comments to the FCC” supporting repeal of net neutrality. https://ag.ny.gov/...
Southpaw / @nycsouthpaw: Meanwhile.... “A 19-year old college student who opposed the repeal of net neutrality was able to file over 7.7 million pro-neutrality comments with the FCC.” $4.2 million vs one college kid
@bo_gardiner: @nycsouthpaw Thought I was beyond shock. I extracted names from the report, which found these same firms have been doing this on many issues for years. The mastermind industry coalition Broadband for America used 4 rightwing advocacy nonprofits to hide its role: https://twitter.com/...
@bostonjoan: For years! I have been salty about the fake public comments on the net neutrality issue and we finally have our answers. Media manipulation on a huge scale here! https://ag.ny.gov/...
Cory Doctorow / @doctorow: Unsurprisingly - but importantly - the NY AG found that 18 million of the 22 million comments the FCC received were fake, that the fake comments favored the Net Neutrality repeal, AND THAT THE FRAUD WAS A PAID OPERATION ON BEHALF OF TELCOS. https://www.theverge.com/... 8/
Josh Hadro / @hadro: Ha, I remember when @thisismmiller identified this days after the call for comments closed in 2017: “Only a little over 1 million comments were textually unique. Meaning written out by a real live thinking human being.” https://medium.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Hari Sreenivasan / @hari: digital feedback was corrupted at a fantastic scale. when the people making our rules don't understand the very mediums they regulate... & $ billions $ are at stake, this is inevitable. https://twitter.com/...
Alex Howard / @digiphile: Despite promises of transparency, @AjitPai did not ensure the broadband industry's secret astroturfing campaign came to light, nor did @TheJusticeDept: @NewYorkStateAG did. (Federalism FTW.) Is a rulemaking based on fake & fraudulent comments legally binding, @JRosenworcelFCC? https://twitter.com/...
Mike Rundle / @flyosity: Sounds like each comment should be a separate felony offense under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. https://twitter.com/...
Issie Lapowsky / @issielapowsky: It also finds that one single 19-year-old college student submitted more than 7 million pro-net neutrality comments under different fake identities. Wild. https://www.protocol.com/...
Justin Hendrix / @justinhendrix: 'The OAG found that millions of fake comments were submitted through a secret campaign, funded by the country's largest broadband co's, to manufacture support for repeal of net neutrality rules... millions more were submitted by a 19yo college student using made-up identities...' https://twitter.com/...
Issie Lapowsky / @issielapowsky: Holy Moly. NY AG report finds out of the 22 million net neutrality comments the FCC received in 2017, 18 million were fake. Report alleges a “secret campaign” by the broadband industry, which offered consumers rewards for male enhancement drugs ‼️ https://www.protocol.com/...
Issie Lapowsky / @issielapowsky: Every line of this is more flabbergasting than the last: One of the lead generators working with the broadband industry used info obtained from a data breach to submit comments in unwitting consumers' names. https://www.protocol.com/...
Amy Kroin / Free Press: New York Attorney General Finds the Broadband Industry Funded Illegal Scheme to Flood the Trump FCC …
Mike Dano / Light Reading: Broadband providers bankrolled fake net neutrality opposition, investigation finds
Devin Coldewey / TechCrunch: 80% of the 22 million comments on net neutrality rollback were fake, investigation finds
David McCabe / New York Times: Internet providers funded effort behind fake net neutrality comments, New York State says.
Chris Mills Rodrigo / The Hill: Broadband companies funded ‘fake’ net neutrality comments, investigation finds
David Shepardson / Reuters: U.S. broadband industry accused in ‘fake’ net neutrality comments
Will Feuer / New York Post: Broadband industry behind millions of fake net neutrality comments, NY AG says
Karl Bode / Techdirt: NY AG Proves Broadband Industry Funded Phony Public Support For Attack On Net Neutrality
Igor Bonifacic / Engadget: NY AG report finds 18 million FCC net neutrality comments were fake
News Corp:
News Corp Q3: net income of $96M on revenue of $2.34B, up 3% YoY; WSJ subscriptions up 21% YoY to 3.38M, of which 2.63M were digital; digital ad rev up 30% YoY — - Revenues were $2.34 billion, a 3% increase compared to $2.27 billion in the prior year, driven by the continued strong momentum across our key growth pillars
Benjamin Mullin / Wall Street Journal:
Sources: the Athletic is no longer in merger talks with Axios, sees the NYT as the leading merger contender, and had ~$80M in revenue in 2020 with 600 staff — Publisher's talks with Axios are no longer active; New York Times Co. seen as leading contender for tie-up
Discussion:
Poynter, @bmorrissey, @jessicalessin, @damospin, @nbashaw, @donlday, @dcseifert, @keitholbermann, @seangriffey, @mathewi, @mathewi, @niubi, @subjectburst, @alexweprin, @rafat, @jasonschwartz, Insider, Awful Announcing, OutKick and The Hill
Discussion:
Tom Jones / Poynter: The cozy relationship between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Fox News is on full display
Brian Morrissey / @bmorrissey: This stretches even the most elastic definitions of “merger.” https://twitter.com/...
Jessica Lessin / @jessicalessin: Good scoop. I know nothing about this deal, but bet it happens. But this a great phrase. Can you imagine? I'm sure a lot of companies view other companies as great candidates to buy them! Ha. https://www.wsj.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Damien Cox / @damospin: Fascinating news for sports media. Most believed this was always the ultimate play for The Athletic. Playing with the big boys now. https://twitter.com/...
Nathan Baschez / @nbashaw: The Athletic + NYT makes a ton of sense. More sense than Axios, imo. https://www.wsj.com/...
@donlday: The Athletic + NYT? Interesting. I joined The Atlhetic when they hired a reporter for a particular team I follow... and cancelled when they laid that person off. https://www.wsj.com/...
Dan Seifert / @dcseifert: kinda wild to me that the athletic apparently has a million paying subs at $8/mo each and it still isn't enough to maintain itself as an independent business? https://www.wsj.com/...
Keith Olbermann / @keitholbermann: Yeah, this would be a sale to The Times, not a merger. https://twitter.com/...
Sean Griffey / @seangriffey: I don't have any inside details about The Athletic but this is starting to feel like their backers are looking for a life raft. https://www.wsj.com/...
Mathew Ingram / @mathewi: This would not be easy for the Times — The Athletic (or its financial backers) would probably want at least $600 million, which would be a big meal even for the Times. And The Athletic may have millions of subs, but it also has over 600 employees https://www.wsj.com/... via @WSJ
Mathew Ingram / @mathewi: This deal makes a lot of sense for both, but is the Times going to go for a price tag that's probably north of $500 million? https://twitter.com/...
Nick / @subjectburst: This might be a good idea for the New York Times, especially if they get some great podcast talent. This certainly would be amazing for The Athletic, which is doomed to be exposed for years of false promises absent something like this. https://twitter.com/...
Alex Weprin / @alexweprin: @ScottNover I mean Axios and The Athletic would be (arguably) a merger of equals, but the Times is so much bigger that it would have to be a sale. Makes some sense with Times laser-focused on subscriptions.
@rafat: So all this bluster about Athletic taking out newspapers was actually about newspaper taking out Athletic after all? Got it. https://twitter.com/...
Jason Schwartz / @jasonschwartz: “Why I joined the Athletic” pieces will now be labeled as *Guest Essays*, thank you https://twitter.com/...
Lauren Johnson / Insider: What Peloton's future looks like after its recall on treadmills
Joe Lucia / Awful Announcing: The Athletic is reportedly no longer talking to Axios about a merger, is now talking with the New York Times
Sara Fischer / Axios:
YouTube to spend $7M on two year-long journalism programs: one for independent journalists who want to start channels, another to help digital-first newsrooms — YouTube is spending $7 million to fund two new programs to help journalists looking to build an audience on YouTube, executives tell Axios.
Jennifer Maas / The Wrap:
AMC Networks CEO says its five streaming services are on track to have at least 9M subscribers by the end of the year as Q1 streaming revenue grew of 14% YoY — But the company smashed Wall Street's earnings expectations — AMC Networks missed revenue expectations for the first quarter of 2021 …
Discussion:
Brian Steinberg / Variety: AMC Networks Q1 Profit Rises Despite Revenue Declines
Ben Munson / FierceVideo: AMC Networks grows streaming revenue by 14% in Q1
Georg Szalai / Hollywood Reporter: AMC Networks U.S. Ad Revenue Drops 7 Percent
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