Top News:
Antoinette Siu / The Wrap:
Black News Channel, which launched in February 2020, shuts down after missing its March 25 payroll; sources: the network has shed 120+ staffers since Christmas — After months of uncertainty, Black News Channel (BNC) is shutting down on Friday just two years after its launch.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Deadline, Wall Street Journal, Tallahassee Democrat, @tvgrimreaper, @rolandsmartin, @johnvmoore, @niketa, @eclecticbrotha, @nabj, @aaronlmorrison, The Root, @deggans, @davidgura, @phil_lewis_, @pragobots, @diazandytwelve1, @carichampion, @rolandsmartin, @blackpowermedi1, @stewartdantec, @texasfba4ever, @keithboykin, @leftsentthis, @sluggahjells, @elienyc, @kennymack1971, @dorothy4nabj, @kennymack1971 and @marclamonthill
Katie Robertson / New York Times:
A judge dismisses Felicia Sonmez's lawsuit accusing The Washington Post of discrimination by barring her from reporting sexual assault stories; Sonmez to appeal — A reporter at the news organization claimed that it had created a hostile work environment that unfairly prevented her from writing about sexual assault.
James Vincent / The Verge:
The EU's DMA would bar Big Tech from merging personal data for targeted advertising sans consent and let businesses access data they generate for big platforms — Expected to come into force by October — The EU has unveiled its biggest ever legislative effort to balance competition in the tech world.
Discussion:
New York Times, TechCrunch, @caseynewton, ScreenRant, Euractiv, The White House, consilium.europa.eu, The Scroll, @jason_kint, MediaPost, @1br0wn, @samuelstolton, @caseynewton, @nikitabier, @carnage4life, @carnage4life, Wired, @alexeheath, New York Post, @pierce, @kantrowitz, @mmitchell_ai, The Diff, @runasand, @kantrowitz, TechCrunch, CNET, The Register, Euractiv, KD's Newsletter, IPG Media Lab, Engadget, Android Police, Wall Street Journal, Transistori, Reuters and Al Jazeera, more at Techmeme »
Jem Aswad / Variety:
After suspending its paid subscription service in Russia on March 9, Spotify now plans to fully suspend its service in the country citing the new censorship law — Spotify, which suspended its paid subscription service in Russia earlier this month due to that country's unprovoked …
Discussion:
Axios, Fortune, Yahoo Finance, The Hill, Reuters, Digital Trends, Newsweek, The Hollywood Reporter, Pitchfork, Deadline, The Wrap, Wall Street Journal, Engadget, CNBC, Bloomberg, Billboard, TechCrunch, Rolling Stone and @lucas_shaw, more at Techmeme »
Rachel Treisman / NPR:
RSF and other orgs say Russian forces have kidnapped, detained, and tortured dozens of Ukrainian journalists; one editor says her father is being held hostage — Russian soldiers are kidnapping Ukrainian journalists in contested territories and holding them hostage, according to international groups and survivor accounts.
Ed Meza / Variety:
Report: in 2020, Netflix, Apple, Amazon, and Disney made up 72% of Europe's SVOD market and European legacy broadcasters delivered 90% of all TV series produced — Despite expectations to the contrary, the share of Europe's audiovisual market controlled by U.S. players grew …
Discussion:
European Audiovisual Observatory and Cineuropa
Helen Lewis / The Bluestocking:
Three “scandals” illustrate how journalists transform obscure opinions on Twitter into “popular sentiment”, often by inflating critics beyond their actual size — The Ant Mill theory of Discourse. — Happy Friday! — A special edition as I had a new theory to share / a rant to get off my chest.
Discussion:
@mrianleslie, @jeffjarvis, @tomchivers, @kevverage, @psmith, @caitlinmoran, @mediaguido, @charliebeckett, @johnrentoul, @marklittlenews, @kevverage, @niemanlab, @thestephmerritt and @cox_a_r
Kerry Cardoza / Study Hall:
A look at the successes and failures of feminist digital publications since the mid-1990s, as staffers at a new outlet, Lux, aim to avoid the snafus of the past — We've proven feminist media can be marketable. But is it possible for media to be (actually) feminist?
Discussion:
@readlux and @studyhallxyz
Mark Stenberg / Adweek:
Vox Media expands CRO Ryan Pauley's remit to add consumer, commerce, and affiliate revenue on top of advertising, part of a growing trend intertwining the two — The publisher has reorganized following its merger with Group Nine Media
Discussion:
@markstenberg3 and @bankoff
Evan Osnos / New Yorker:
Demand in Russia for US-backed media and technology has grown significantly; traffic to RFE/RL's YouTube channels more than tripled during the past three weeks — As Russia's independent media fades to black, there is new demand in the country for U.S.-backed media and technology that has roots in the Cold War.
Discussion:
@williams_paige, @peterbakernyt, @boehlerpatrick, @rferlpress and @karenkornbluh
Supantha Mukherjee / Reuters:
Swedish media group Nent plans to add live sports including ice hockey, skating, and handball to Viaplay after the streaming service launches in the UK in 2022 — Swedish media group NENT (NENTb.ST), which is planning to enter Britain later this year with its streaming service Viaplay …
Discussion:
Benzinga, Rapid TV News, Play the Music, SportsPro, Advanced Television, Digital TV Europe, Advanced Television and C21Media
Greg Burns / Medill Local News Initiative:
The Baltimore Banner, a nonprofit startup funded by hotel magnate Stewart W. Bainum Jr., aims to launch in June and hit 100K subscribers within four years — Nonprofit start-up charts course for local-news donors — While many other local media organizations operate out of basements …
Discussion:
@sifill_ldf, @sewellchan, @warren_east_, @spj_tweets, @lenfestinst, @lenfestinst, @timafranklin and American Press Institute