Mediagazer: Internal email: The New York Times canceled its plans to launch a Kids app, as it would cater “to a smaller market” when the newspaper's focus is subscriptions (Wall Street Journal)

3:50 PM ET, October 20, 2022

Top News:

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: @jimvandehei, @jakesherman, @jakesherman, @benmullin, @anthony, @mccanner, @jaredbkeller, @margarita, @timmarchman, @benmullin, @jyarow and Tim Lott's Writing Boot Camp

Laura Wagner / Defector:

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 …

Wall Street Journal:

Internal email: The New York Times canceled its plans to launch a Kids app, as it would cater “to a smaller market” when the newspaper's focus is subscriptions — Publisher has been promoting products beyond news, including in games, cooking and sports

Discussion: @merowing_, @niemanlab, @anthony, @zeveisenberg and @alexthomp

Mariella Moon / Engadget:

Google launches News Showcase in France, partners with 65+ publishers representing 130+ outlets, and plans to give away “a limited amount” of paywalled content — Google has launched News Showcase in France, and it has teamed up with over 65 publishers representing over 130 publications …

Discussion: The Keyword

Aisha Majid / Press Gazette:

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: Nieman Lab

Paul Waldman / @paulwaldman1:

[Thread] A case study in how journalists let politicians lie: Punchbowl News amplified Kevin McCarthy's claim that the DOJ tagged some parents as “terrorists” — 1. A case study in how journalists allow politicians to lie, ensuring that the more cynical a politician is, the greater the rewards for dishonesty will be, courtesy of Kevin McCarthy and @PunchbowlNews . Come with me...

Discussion: @paulwaldman1, @paulwaldman1, @rjamesfinn, @paulwaldman1, @paulwaldman1, @paulwaldman1, @paulwaldman1, @paulwaldman1, @paulwaldman1, @modestholdings, @craignewman, @paulszoldra, @sarahposner, @soledadobrien, @dangillmor and The Week

Thomas Germain / Gizmodo:

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: The Keyword, The Verge, Digiday, The Hill and YouGov, more at Techmeme »

Natasha Lomas / TechCrunch:

The UK's Ofcom publishes a report on its first year regulating video sharing sites, detailing how TikTok, Twitch, OnlyFans, and others tackle content challenges — The UK's media watchdog, Ofcom, has published a debut report on its first year regulating a selection of video-sharing platforms …

Discussion: Ofcom, Bloomberg, The Guardian, Light Reading and Broadband TV News, more at Techmeme »

Julia Felton / Greensburg Tribune-Review:

Union officials and workers say ~30 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette staff crossed the picket line after a narrow strike vote; CWA provides strike benefits of $300/week — Dozens of journalists, photographers and editors have crossed the picket line to continue working at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Discussion: Associated Press, Pittsburgh City Paper, nyguild.org, @lindseyforpa, Portside, Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, WITF and The Philadelphia Inquirer

Leila Fadel / NPR:

An interview with Lina Abu Akleh, the niece of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, on her push for justice and a US probe into her aunt's killing — Lina Abu Akleh was thrust onto the global stage after her aunt was killed while reporting on an Israeli military raid in the Palestinian city of Jenin in May.

Discussion: Columbia Journalism Review, @npr and @leilafadel

Katelyn Newberg / Las Vegas Review-Journal:

The Las Vegas police department asks the Nevada Supreme Court to reverse a decision that blocked officials from searching slain reporter Jeff German's devices — The Metropolitan Police Department has appealed a judge's decision to bar officials from searching the personal devices …

Discussion: Associated Press

Charles Pulliam-Moore / The Verge:

WBD partners with Web3 startup Eluvio to release LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring in its entirety as a set of NFTs, in an effort to kick off its “WB Movieverse” — Today, Warner Bros. announced the impending arrival of “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring …

Discussion: The Wrap, TechCrunch, Gizmodo, Deadline, Variety, Vanity Fair, @xpangler, @rjcc, Decrypt, Media Play News, SlashFilm and @tvgrimreaper

Agence France-Presse:

Iran sanctions BBC Persian and Iran International, among other organizations, for “supporting terrorism”; sanctions include a visa ban and seizure of assets — Tehran on Wednesday blacklisted several British institutions and individuals after London sanctioned Iran's morality police amid protests …

Discussion: Reuters and Iran International

Wall Street Journal:

Sources: Netflix execs weighed more movie theater releases and talked to Sony about a shorter window; Sarandos: Netflix won't significantly change its strategy — Some Netflix studio executives long for silver screen while co-CEOs want to keep most viewers streaming films from their couches

Discussion: BGR, @asharma and The Streamable

Jill Goldsmith / Deadline:
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos downplays releasing Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery in 600 theaters over US Thanksgiving weekend; theater owners lauded the move

Discussion: Media Play News, ScreenRant, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap

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Dan Kennedy / Media Nation:
Opinion editor James Bennet and Semafor's Ben Smith leave out a lot about The New York Times firing Bennet, which wasn't just victimization by the “woke mob”

Discussion: @semaforben, @dangillmor, @dankennedy_nu, Poynter, @jenzerb, @jbarro, @bgrueskin and @nprinskeep

Anthony D'Alessandro / Deadline:
Sources: Walter Hamada has left Warner Bros. after four years as DC Films' president; he's the fifth WB studio exec to leave since David Zaslav became WBD's CEO

Discussion: Insider, @henrygayden, The A.V. Club, @getfandom, @deadline, @amasna, ScreenRant, SlashFilm and Collider

New York Times:
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Discussion: Vanity Fair, @jwpetersnyt, Poynter, @kimmasters, Insider, @froomkin, @athenae, @froomkin, @nick_field90, @katie_robertson, @aidnmclaughlin, @carlquintanilla, @dfenton, @justinbaragona, @maxwelltani and @rachelabramsny

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