Mediagazer: 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 (Josh Funk/Associated Press)

12:00 PM ET, April 15, 2022

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Quartz CEO Zach Seward says the outlet is dropping its paywall after three years to focus on “the right kind of subscription”; Quartz has ~25K subscribers — Co-founder Zach Seward says site will focus on ‘right kind of subscription’ as it tries to build traffic and influence

Discussion: Adweek, Quartz, The Wrap, Newslit Daily, Press Gazette, @qz, @fromedome, @adampasick, @rafat, @matthewherper, @rafat, @firstadopter, @kiruti, @kendallbaker, @adamscochran, New York Times, @qz, @mcwm, @abnormalreturns, @markstenberg3, @bmorrissey, Nieman Lab and Talking Biz News

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 …

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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

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 …

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 …

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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: @mattnavarra, @ashleyrcarman, @lucas_shaw, @emilyrpeck, @evoterra, @jimprosser, @mgsiegler and Protocol, 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, TALKERS magazine 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: The Rural Blog, @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 »

Denise Lavoie / Associated Press:

CNN and other news outlets sue VA governor, claiming he is violating FOIA by not turning over emails sent to a tip line about “divisive practices” in schools — RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Gov. Glenn Youngkin is violating the state's public records law by refusing to turn over emails sent …

Discussion: WTTG-TV

Michael Warren / CNN:

RNC votes unanimously to withdraw from its participation in the Commission on Presidential Debates — The Republican National Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to withdraw from its participation in the Commission on Presidential Debates, the organization that has long governed general-election presidential debates.

Discussion: Reason, @politicussarah, @politicussarah, @dcexaminer, Brookings, New Statesman, Fox News, CBS News and New York Magazine

Diane Haithman / The Wrap:

HFPA interim CEO confirms plans to add 200 non-member voters and turn it into a private, for-profit company, with profits going to member freelance journalists — Hollywood Foreign Press Association Interim CEO Todd Boehly on Thursday confirmed his intention to institute radical changes …

Discussion: @sharonwaxman

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