Top News:
The New York Times Company:
The New York Times acquires Wordle, the simple word game that has amassed “millions of daily players”, for “an undisclosed price in the low-seven figures” — Wordle, Josh Wardle's stimulating and wildly popular daily word game, is joining The New York Times's portfolio of original …
Discussion:
@powerlanguish, New York Times, New York Times, @marcatracy, Reuters, @kevinroose, @katierogers, Christopher Six's Pick Six, @karaswisher, The Guardian, NPR, ScreenRant, Rock, Paper, Shotgun, @isaacfitzgerald, Insider, @nytguildtech, @chuckwendig, @staronline, @vogon, @asteadwesley, The Muffin por Mauricio …, The Yay Club, @dongwon, @lpolgreen, @maxkennerly, @ellievhall, @xor, @manruss, @daveyalba, @jonporty, @benjysarlin, @janinegibson, @bafeldman, @benadida, @dharmesh, @dhchait, @levie, UPROXX, @dylanmatt, @maggiekb1, @jonnelledge, @sherman4949, @jeremymbarr, @daveleeft, @shalomgood, @adambvary, @teroterotero, @starfire2258, @jonrussell, @engadget, @christinemhall, @hshaban, @dcseifert, @bdsams, @phillyd, @starfire2258, @tomcoates, @kfury, @reckless, @reckless, @sherman4949, @levie, @jessicalessin, @jackmirkinson, @seanludwig, @levie, @domdelport, @zackbeauchamp, @benfritz, @scott_tobias, @helaineolen, @nrarmour, @everyteam_mark, @pjputh, @jasonschreier, @ditzkoff, @parkermolloy, @jackmirkinson, @katienotopoulos, @ofirahy, @ernietedeschi, @bombur, @emilybell, @alexweprin, @rodger, @jbflint, @wfkars, @ofirahy, @byjayking, @tonyajoriley, @grahamstarr, @stshank, @sayssimonson, @danlamothe, @andreawoo, @laurenpelley, @brennacgray, @farnazfassihi, @damiencave, @by_cjewett, @robertjimison, @fredsmith914, @rover829, @aedwardslevy, @jbflint, @jephjacques, @sherman4949, @pkafka, @sherman4949, @marcoarment, @edmundlee, @brianstelter, @budgetben, @chrisvannini, The Register, Nieman Lab, Semiotech and The Comeback, more at Techmeme »
Ashley Carman / The Verge:
Spotify's Joe Rogan controversy shows the newfound danger for podcast platforms that have moved away from open RSS distribution to high-profile exclusive deals — Every platform should be worried — This story originally ran in Hot Pod, The Verge's preeminent audio industry newsletter.
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, The Hill, @ashleyrcarman, @ashleyrcarman, @ashleyrcarman, @syracuseunews and @ultraviolet
RELATED:
Ryan Broderick / Garbage Day:
Spotify made an editorial choice by paying $100M to be Joe Rogan's publisher and can't shirk its responsibility by just adding a content warning to his episodes — Read to the end for Pumpkin Cowboy — Please Do Not Let Spotify Convince You That Joe Rogan Is A Content Moderation Problem
Discussion:
New York Times, American Press Institute, @broderick, Strands of Genius, @thedailybeast, @evelyndouek, Elizabeth Spiers, @pamela_vogel, A Public Witness, @louisanslow, @ericnewcomer, @ceciliakang, @tedcruz, @bostonjoan, @karaswisher, @outkick, Poynter, @mattwelch, @martinsfp, @kevinroose, @gwynnion, @rob_sheridan, @xor, @scottnover, @jaspar, @karlbode, @no_nazis_please, @codinghorror, @mathewi, @lackofrealism, @lucas_shaw and @alexanderchee
Dawn Chmielewski / Reuters:
Host and executive producer of Gimlet's Science Vs podcast Wendy Zukerman says she'll devote the show to fact-checking misinformation on other Spotify podcasts — The executive producer and host of Gimlet Media's Science Vs podcast said she would devote her fact-checking show exclusively …
Zack Sharf / Variety:
Graham Nash and India Arie follow Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, pulling their music from Spotify to protest content on Joe Rogan's podcast — Nash said in a statement that he “completely agrees” with his Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young bandmate Neil Young after “having heard the COVID disinformation spread by Joe Rogan on Spotify.”
Discussion:
Billboard, Forbes, Datebook, Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, Deadline, SPIN, Stereogum and Hollywood Reporter
Sam Byford / The Verge:
Joe Rogan posts a video to Instagram defending booking contentious guests, apologizes to Spotify for the backlash, and says he may book more “experts”
Discussion:
@joerogan, @wendyzuk, The Wrap, Instagram, @b_fung, Reason.com, The Guardian, Podcast Movement, Bloomberg, @kittypurrzog, @reckless, New York Post, @justinhendrix, @lucas_shaw, @caseybriggs, @bostonjoan, @derjarjour, @_loveallthis, @danilic, @mmasnick, @arthur_affect, @debunk_the_funk, @espiers, @noupside, @coldxman, @robinblackmma, @adambaldwin, @ischafer, @loudmouthjulia, @robslater10, @asranomani, @jordanbpeterson, @espiers, @garylegum, @fka_tabs, @justinhendrix and @b_fung, more at Techmeme »
Daniel Ek / Spotify:
Spotify publishes its long-standing Platform Rules and says it is working to add a content advisory to podcast episodes that discuss COVID-19
Discussion:
Bloomberg, Politico, Billboard, Vibe, Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine, Rolling Stone, Complete Music Update, insideradio.com, @aaronhuertas, @trishgreenhalgh, Muzak, The Drum, @mikeisaac, The Wrap, Matt on Audio, @sabivm, @willoremus, Mother Jones, @loudmouthjulia, The Information, @justinjm1, @jbflint, Wired, @mikeisaac, @mmasnick, @karaswisher and Protocol
Charlotte Klein / Vanity Fair:
NYT internet culture reporter Taylor Lorenz moves to The Washington Post as a columnist writing about technology, online life, influencers, business, and more — The star reporter with a massive online following thinks the Post gets the internet in ways other outlets don't.
Discussion:
@taylorlorenz, Washington Post, @teddyamen, The Hill, @charlottetklein, @smilotweets, @adamdavidson, @micsolana, @hunterw, @thunderwooddd, @vahn16, @dpaqreport, @noahshachtman, @jeremymbarr, @sophiasgaler, @carloslozadawp, @angelmendoza___, @stuartathompson, @jakesherman, @willoremus, @wpjenna, @rzhongnotes, @miriamelder, @djlavoie, @esaagar, @thefineprintnyc, @ashleyrparker, @choire, @levinejonathan, @philiprucker, @genepark and @pbump
Todd Spangler / Variety:
AT&T structures its WarnerMedia split as a spinoff, giving shareholders ~0.24 shares of WarnerMedia-Discovery stock for each share of AT&T stock — The transaction will spin off 100% of AT&T's interest in WarnerMedia to AT&T's existing shareholders in a pro-rata distribution …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, CNBC, New York Post, The Wrap, Light Reading, Insider, Axios, UPI, Bloomberg, Deadline, @sherman4949, Reuters, @drewfitzgerald, Media Play News, @loudobbs, Advanced Television, Next TV and Hollywood Reporter
Sara Fischer / Axios:
After a disappointing IPO, Jonah Peretti tells staff BuzzFeed will limit hiring to critical positions and projects a single-digit decline in commerce sales YoY — BuzzFeed is limiting hiring to only critical positions, and will not be adding any new jobs unless there's a business-case justification …
Discussion:
@joshsternberg, @ashkan, @jeremymbarr, @michellemanafy, @stevekovach and @simonowens
Jim Waterson / The Guardian:
Sources: Vice Media secretly organized a music festival in Saudi Arabia; staffers have raised concerns about its work in the country after Khashoggi's murder — Youth media company organised March 2020 event despite pledge to stop all work in Saudi Arabia — When social media influencers turned …
Manori Ravindran / Variety:
HBO Max continues its European expansion, arriving in 15 countries on March 8, including the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Hungary, and Croatia — HBO Max is continuing a steady roll-out in Europe with its second wave of countries. … This covers Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria …
Discussion:
TechCrunch, The Wrap, MediaPost, Next TV, Reuters, Light Reading, Mashable, Advanced Television, CNET, Media Play News, 9to5Mac, Broadband TV News, The Streamable, Digital TV Europe, @jasonkilar, C21Media and Deadline
Claudia Morell / WBEZ Chicago:
Chicago Public Media completes acquisition of Chicago Sun-Times, having raised $61M in support for the deal; the funding is mostly pledged over five years — URL Copied! — DONATE … Chicago Public Media and the Chicago Sun-Times have made their partnership official Monday …
Discussion:
Chicago Sun-Times, insideradio.com, @mattmoog, @mattmoog, Current, @w_katz1, @jimfriedlich, @danahoule, @davemckinney, @whuntah and Robert Feder
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
SiriusXM rolls out AudioID to track its audience across its apps Pandora and Stitcher and its satellite radio service, offering first-party ad targeting — The use of tracking cookies is winding down, and Apple's anti-tracking privacy update has impacted mobile apps' advertising revenues.
Energy & Commodities Editor, Tokyo — 
Politics Reporter, TX — 
Consumer Brands Reporter, GA — 
Deputy Editor - Health Care, VA — 
Product Editor, CA — 
Indigenous Affairs Editor, Sydney — 
China Markets Correspondent, Shanghai — 
Bangor Reporter, ME — 
Commerce Editor - Health, Remote US — 
Sports Editor, MI — 
Managing Editor, Remote US — 
Lex Writer, London — 
Trending News Reporter, NY — 
Weekend Editor, CA — 
Part-Time Reporter, AZ — 
Political Correspondent, NV — 
Sr. Reporter, Singapore — 
Evening Dep. Breaking News Ed., CA — 
Copy Editor - Miami HQ, FL — 
Police & Courts Reporter, OH — 
Senior Science & Health Writer, NY — 
Data Journalist, MN — 
Tech Correspondent, CA — 
City Government Reporter, OR — 
Healthcare Business Reporter, MA — 
Senior Consumer Tech Reporter, NY — 
Washington Correspondent, DC — 
Editorial Director - Audio & Video, NY — 
Local Editor - Morris County, Remote NJ — 
Deputy Managing Editor, IA — 
Senior Editor - NBA, Remote US — 
Immigration Reporter, CA — 
Breaking News Editor - Weekend, HK — 
Reporter - National, Remote NY — 
