Top News:
Mark Stenberg / Medialyte:
Charging infrequent readers for monthly access to a publication, with a clear end to the commitment, could ease the untenable costs of multiple subscriptions — How my theoretical payment model could fix the paywall problem. — A song to read by: “Heart Shaped Face,” by Angel Olson
Discussion:
@markstenberg3, @simonowens and @markstenberg3
Sarah McCammon / NPR:
Survey finds that close to half of Americans who say they consume far-right news sources, such as Newsmax and OANN, believe in the tenets of QAnon — Religion, education, race and media consumption are strong predictors of conspiracy theory acceptance among Americans, according to a new survey …
Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:
Fox News has regained its dominance of Nielsen ratings by elevating pro-Trump pundits like Dan Bongino while sidelining liberal voices and Trump critics — Donna Brazile, a Democratic analyst, has left the Murdoch-owned network as some hosts and journalists who questioned Donald Trump have exited or been sidelined.
Discussion:
Variety, @bobjcarr, @escrimshaw, @amy_siskind, @karoli, @nprinskeep, @charlesarthur, @whatthebit, @jannwolfe, @tripgabriel, @ichotiner, @varadmehta, @badfoxgraphics, @grynbaum, @naima, @oliverdarcy, Mediaite, The Wrap and Hollywood Reporter
Maggie Fick / Reuters:
Press freedom in Ethiopia has deteriorated after briefly flourishing following the 2018 election as journalists are increasingly persecuted — When Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took over in 2018 and freed dozens of jailed members of the media as part of a raft of political reforms …
Discussion:
@sanyiikoo_oromo, @giuliaparavicin and @rcoreyb
Richard J. Tofel / Second Rough Draft:
National funding for local news has grown, but the Tribune deal showed few local funders stepping up, which are needed to save or revive local news — There has been an explosion in funding for local news, but most of it is national. — 14 hr ago — Welcome to Second Rough Draft …
Discussion:
@niemanlab, @dicktofel, @cagejulia, @rickholter, @repmattschaefer, @evanasmith, @saksappeal, @benyt and @nicdawes
Paul Farhi / Washington Post:
VOA management took months to address the fact that an executive producer and a freelancer regularly plagiarized others' work, despite being alerted by staff — Last summer, a Voice of America staffer noticed something odd in the radio scripts that a Paris-based freelancer was submitting …
Discussion:
@jasonleopold, @davidfolkenflik, The Wrap, Voice of America, @kaedotcom, @bradmoreso, @dashdecosta and @blmohr
Wall Street Journal:
Profile of James Bond film producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, whose control over the franchise isn't expected to change after Amazon's MGM purchase — To make the most of the Bond franchise, Amazon will need permission from the powerful family that owns the rights
Discussion:
@harrymccracken, @deadliftgrl, @wpbf_sandra, @philnobilejr, @mathewi, @jbflint, Daily Mail, Reuters, Hollywood Reporter and Insider
Zachary Petrizzo / Salon:
Pollster Frank Luntz concealed his work for Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy's PAC at a time when he was also producing focus group videos hosted by the LA Times — Luntz embarrasses another media outlet by not revealing who's paying him. Why do they keep falling for his act?
Discussion:
@grace_panetta, The Daily Beast, @reptomcoleman, @sfpelosi, @shiplives, @lisadubbels, @adriana_lacy, @maxwelltani and @maxwelltani
Chance Miller / 9to5Mac:
In an email to podcasters, Apple says it is delaying the launch of its Podcasts Subscriptions and channels until June and plans improvements to its Podcasts app — Apple has announced in an email to podcasters today that it is delaying the launch of Apple Podcasts Subscriptions.
Discussion:
ScreenRant, Gizmodo and Engadget, more at Techmeme »
Bloomberg:
Sources: Apple tried to buy rap battle livestreaming service Verzuz before it was acquired in March by Triller — - Tech giant floated a lower price for Timbaland's platform — Talks show Apple's continued interest in social music offering — Apple Inc. aimed to purchase …
Discussion:
@gilliantan and 9to5Mac
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Google is nearing a settlement of an antitrust case in France alleging it abused its power in online ads, and is likely pay a fine and make changes — French investigation alleged Google's ad server favored its own ad exchange — Alphabet Inc.'s Google is nearing a settlement …
Discussion:
@andrewfoxwell, @martinapennisi, @geradinlaw, @jason_kint, New York Post, Light Reading and Ad Age
Eriq Gardner / Hollywood Reporter:
A federal judge declines to dismiss a libel suit against Netflix for the portrayal of a retired police sergeant in its Making a Murderer documentary — Andrew Colborn gets to discovery as a federal judge won't dismiss a libel suit over the celebrated docuseries.
Discussion:
@eriqgardner, Tyla, Reason and Wausau Pilot & Review