Mediagazer: The Counter, a nonprofit newsroom that investigated the forces shaping how and what Americans eat, will cease publication on May 20 after nearly seven years (Kate Cox/The Counter)

9:10 AM ET, April 15, 2022

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Kate Cox / The Counter:

The Counter, a nonprofit newsroom that investigated the forces shaping how and what Americans eat, will cease publication on May 20 after nearly seven years — I'm writing with news I hoped I'd never have to report. After nearly seven years publishing some of the most provocative …

Chicago Tribune:

Chicago Reader editorial union says co-owner Len Goodman has blocked its sale to become a nonprofit and asked to appoint members to the board to retain control — Len Goodman, honor your word and free the Reader. — In February, the Tribune published an op-ed in which Invisible Institute …

Discussion: @sujay721, @nina_metz, @imleor, @imleor and @katie_prout

Leonard Goodman / scheerpost.com:

Chicago Reader's Len Goodman says its nonprofit transition is stalled because management won't accept the board's demand it guarantee space for dissenting views — A case study in how allegedly neutral analysts hired by publications or social media can effectively cancel good-faith questions …

Axios:

Fox News says it didn't authorize a verified account on Truth Social, which for months has had unverified bot accounts for Fox Sports, TMZ, the NFL, and others — Just days after a verified account for Fox News appeared on former President Trump's social media app, Truth Social …

Discussion: @jayrosen_nyu, @robertmaguire_, @pittgriffin, @devincow, @grahamdavida, @danprimack, New York Magazine, Forbes, Mediaite and Insider

Ashley Carman / Bloomberg:

A year after Facebook launched podcasts and other audio tools for creators, sources say Meta has shifted its focus to metaverse events and online shopping — Facebook's interest in podcasts is fading, barely a year after it began. — Last April, during a hot market for audio …

Discussion: Protocol, @mattnavarra, @ashleyrcarman, @lucas_shaw, @emilyrpeck, @evoterra, @jimprosser and @mgsiegler, more at Techmeme »

Reuters:

Sources: a consortium led by radio industry veteran Jeff Warshaw offers to acquire Cumulus Media for close to $1.2B including debt; the stock closes up 39.86% — A consortium led by U.S. radio station industry veteran Jeff Warshaw has offered to acquire Cumulus Media Inc (CMLS.O) …

Discussion: Radio & Television …, insideradio.com and insideradio.com

Josh Funk / Associated Press:

Hedge fund Cannell Capital announced this week it increased its stake in Lee Enterprises to 9.1%; Cannell's head says Lee needs new, digitally savvy leadership — OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Newspaper publisher Lee Enterprises is facing renewed pressure from a hedge fund to speed up its transition …

Discussion: @2xaught7, @suarez_cm, @lvernonsparks and @juwanthewriter

Stephen Battaglio / Los Angeles Times:

A look at Fox News Books, an effort to “transcend” the news; the marketing department develops the book ideas and matches them with on-air talent for promotion — Shannon Bream, an anchor on Fox News, doesn't get into the kinds of noise-making controversies that propel the careers …

Discussion: @shannonbream and @johnnydollar01

Mia Sato / The Verge:

YouTube Shorts now lets creators splice in 1- to 5-second clips from eligible long-form videos and Shorts; previously, creators could only add short audio clips — Creators can use clips from YouTube's billions of videos in their own content — Creators making YouTube Shorts will now be able …

Discussion: @lavrusik, Tubefilter, Mashable, TechCrunch and Engadget, more at Techmeme »

Sarah Scire / Nieman Lab:

The Texas Tribune plans to hire reporters outside of big Texas cities, including its first Report for America position, to broaden perspectives on state policy — Texas, as you might have heard, is quite big. Even a semi-recent transplant, the Texas Tribune's editor-in-chief Sewell Chan …

Discussion: American Press Institute, @fahrenthold, @davidmcswane, @amzam, @rebekahallen, @lerdody, @sewellchan and @chriscookttu

Rick Porter / Hollywood Reporter:

MLB renews its YouTube deal to stream 15 baseball games this season; the league has streaming deals with Apple TV+ for Friday games and Peacock for Monday games — The site will be home to 15 games in the 2022 season as MLB continues to cast a wide net with streamers.

Discussion: The Streamable, @lucas_shaw, @ericfishersbg, The Verge, Awful Announcing, Sports Business Journal and CNET

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