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Semafor wants to tackle polarization using a “revolutionary” article template, but “Semaform” is a basic copy of what already exists, plus patronizing subheads — All around the world, and especially in the United States, widening economic inequality …
Discussion:
Adweek, Gawker, @froomkin, @letsgomathias, @zainabfattah, @perrybaconjr, @risj_oxford, @caseyjohnston, @ryanlcooper, @climatebrad, @sallyt, @karlbode, @karlbode, @karlbode, @ericdharvey, @austinlouisray, @karlbode, @karlbode, @navalang, @jeremylittau, @aaschapiro, @blanketboat, @labuzamovies, @mccarthyryanj, @jeremylittau, @scottnover, @sarahscire, @ctwritepretty, @velocciraptor, @drewmagary, @laurawags, @tomcoates, @jayrosen_nyu, @semaforben, Techdirt and Columbia Journalism Review


Sources: Puck, which is approaching 20K paid subscribers, recently held talks with potential investors with a goal of raising ~$15M at a $75M+ valuation — The humble email newsletter, which became a star in its own right, appears headed back to earth. — Meta, which owns Facebook, is killing Bulletin, its newsletter product.
Discussion:
@benmullin, @pkafka, @caseyjohnston, @kantrowitz, @shortformernie, @pilhofer, @niubi, @blgtylr, @jeremylittau, @jimvandehei, @jakesherman, @jakesherman, @benmullin, @elanazak, @davechensky, @anthony, @mccanner, @jaredbkeller, @margarita, @timmarchman, @jyarow and Tim Lott's Writing Boot Camp


A deep dive into the fight between Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis over the “don't say gay” bill and how it delayed the move of thousands of Disney jobs to Florida — In supporting a bill that critics called 'don't say gay,' Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis compares his attack …
Discussion:
@lauraapollo, @pulmyears, @sshawfl, @annaforflorida, @adamweinstein, @froomkin, @nikkibarnesfl, @theresamlewis and Fox News


An Australian judge declines to throw out Crikey's public interest defense in a defamation lawsuit by Lachlan Murdoch; a trial is scheduled for March 27, 2023 — Bids by media mogul Lachlan Murdoch and Australian news publication Crikey to strip down each others' pleadings have failed amid a bitter defamation dispute.
Discussion:
@matthewkeyslive, @markdistef, The Desk, @mediaguardian, @markdistef, Crikey, @aapnewswire, @jayrosen_nyu, @markdistef, The Guardian and Yahoo News


Survey: 52% of US respondents think advertising should be news outlets' main source of funding, 26% have ever paid for news or donated money to news orgs — About a quarter of Americans have ever paid for news directly. Those who have are more likely to make over $150,000 a year.
Discussion:
Pew Research Center, @niemanlab, @localmediarocks, @adavidhalejoint, @robertdownen_, @donnerkay, @nikkiusher, @pilhofer, Media Voices, @supriyan, @ryp__ and @zuriberry


Snap reports Q3 revenue up 6% YoY to $1.13B, vs. $1.14B est., DAUs up 19% YoY to 363M, vs. 358.2M est., a $360M net loss, up from $72M YoY; stock is down 25%+ — - Snap beat analysts' expectations on earnings per share but missed on revenue. — The company's board authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $500 million.


In Spain, 10 of the top 14 daily original news podcasts on iVoox and Apple Podcasts are produced by Spanish news outlets and eight launched in 2021 or 2022 — In 2015, students at what's now the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism set out to solve a few different problems in Spanish-language podcasting.
Discussion:
@adrianbono, @luis_quevedo and Reuters Institute


YouTube announces YouTube Premium's first major price hike, increasing the family plan from $17.99/month to $22.99/month, or $29.99/month in the App Store — YouTube Premium is getting its first major price hike. The service will now charge $22.99 per month for its family plan.
Discussion:
MediaPost, The Streamable, Deadline, The Sun, Engadget, TechCrunch, @artemr, @sub8u, @nexusben, @androidpolice, Android Authority, Android Police, IMore and The Verge, more at Techmeme »


Tastemade names Evan Bregman as its general manager of streaming and launches new streaming channel Tastemade Home on Amazon Freevee, Tubi, and Sling TV — Evan Bregman named general manager of streaming — Lifestyle content company Tastemade said it launched a new streaming channel …
Discussion:
The Streamable, Tubefilter, Adweek, Tastemade and Media Play News


Google now lets users disable targeted ads without breaking useful features by having to turn off settings like Web & App Activity and YouTube History — In a major fix, Google's own privacy settings will no longer disable crucial features of its apps. — Alerts
Discussion:
@ryanbarwick, The Keyword, @swodinsky, @google, @glenngabe, CNET, @blakersdozen, @adsliaison, The Verge, Digiday, The Hill and YouGov, more at Techmeme »


Study finds the number of push alerts sent by publishers was 2% higher in 2021 than in 2019 and 28% higher than in 2018; 3% were opened at time of sending — The instant traffic hit from push alerts means that most publishers are now using them every day, regardless of whether the content …
Discussion:
MediaPost and Nieman Lab


When researchers submitted 20 ads with “blatant” voting misinformation, TikTok approved 90%, Facebook approved a “significant number”, and YouTube approved zero — New York CNN Business — Facebook and TikTok failed to block advertisements with “blatant” …
Discussion:
Insider, @cindyotis_, Associated Press, The Hill and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »