Top News:
Max Tani / Semafor:
A look back at Spotify betting hundreds of millions of dollars on podcasts, which CFO Paul Vogel says were a “big drag on our business in 2022” — By 2021, Spotify had paid to sign some of the biggest names in podcasting, and it was ready to start squeezing its competitors.
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Semafor:
Sources: Naguib Sawiris, the Egyptian billionaire who sold Euronews in 2021, plans a Dubai-based global business news outlet later in 2023 or early 2024 — The American Super Bowl, kicking off shortly, is also Madison Avenue's Super Bowl. And one of the biggest advertisers' goal …
Discussion:
New York Post
Tiffany Hsu / New York Times:
How a slowing digital ad market, Apple's ATT changes, tech companies' internal turmoil, weak content moderation, and more are contributing to a junk ad epidemic — Scrolling past ads has rarely been enjoyable. But in recent months, people say the experience seems so much worse.
Discussion:
@kantrowitz, @sub8u, @swodinsky, @davidhagmann, @freezydorito, @deaneckles, @deftlyinane and @pmanchanda_, more at Techmeme »
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Jonathan Vanian / CNBC:
Meta's ad targeting restrictions and Amazon's ad product investments are leading brands to shift their budgets to Amazon; Amazon's ad unit grew 19% YoY in Q4 — - Facebook's more limited targeted capabilities coupled with Amazon's investment in ads products is leading a growing number of brands to shift their ad budgets.
Discussion:
Financial Times, @glenngabe, @carnage4life, @lorakolodny, @kjgillenwater, The Indian Express and ADI Newsletter, more at Techmeme »
David Folkenflik / NPR:
Sources: reporter Amelia Knisely's WVPB dismissal came after years of pressure on the station by Gov. Jim Justice's administration and some state legislators — Late last fall, West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Amelia Ferrell Knisely reported one story after another about allegations …
Discussion:
@digiphile, @davidfolkenflik, @davidfolkenflik, @digiphile, @ruralj, @michaelcdeibert, @digiphile, @maustermuhle, @skylarjordan, @carisacollins, @tphunter, @wvdemocrats, @historicalnoone, @ericeyre, @davemistich, @hannahallam, @davemistich, @stphnfwlr, @omunderdal and @dangillmor@mastodon.social
Seth Mydans / New York Times:
Cambodia PM Hun Sen orders the closure of the Voice of Democracy, one of the country's last independent outlets, intensifying a long-running media crackdown — The leader, Hun Sen, was not satisfied with an apology he received from the outlet after it wrote about his son, a lieutenant general.
Jason Gurwin / The Streamable:
NBCUniversal confirms that new Xfinity customers will not receive Peacock Premium for free, starting in April; existing customers will pay starting on June 26 — Earlier this month, Peacock ended its free tier for new subscribers, now another major change is happening at the Comcast streaming service.
Discussion:
CNET, Variety, @tvgrimreaper, The Verge, Media Play News and Deadline
Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
In a staff email, Insider UK discloses the minimum salaries for each role; the lowest-paid journalists make at least £35K and highest paid make at least £60K — The lowest editorial salaries at Insider UK start at £35,000. — Insider has disclosed to its UK journalists …
Discussion:
@elenacresci, @pressgazette and @pressgazette
Charlotte Van Campenhout / Reuters:
An advertising joint venture by Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica, and Vodafone to rival Meta and Google wins unconditional EU antitrust approval — Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE), Orange (ORAN.PA), Telefonica (TEF.MC) and Vodafone (VOD.L) on Friday secured unconditional EU antitrust approval …
Discussion:
Media Voices, European Commission, TechCrunch, @astaniscia86, The Register, @robertjbateman, @wolfiechristl, Newsroom Orange Groupe and Adweek
Wired:
Publishers worry that Microsoft's and Google's search chatbots, which summarize key info from articles, may undermine their businesses and spread misinformation — Microsoft's new search interface can serve up key information from articles, removing the need to click—and potentially undermining publisher business models.
Discussion:
Toolkits, Wall Street Journal, @CodexArcanum@hachyderm.io, Poynter, Hania's Substack, CNET, Fortune and The Drum, more at Techmeme »
Sam Tobin / Reuters:
Eight Afghan journalists who worked for the BBC win a legal challenge against UK's refusal to relocate them from Afghanistan — Eight Afghan journalists who worked for the BBC broadcaster won a legal challenge on Monday against Britain's refusal to relocate them from Afghanistan …
Discussion:
The Guardian, @pressgazette, Voice of America, New Statesman and Reporters Without Borders
Ben Mullin / @benmullin:
In a staff email, Washington Post publisher Fred Ryan says the paper does not “anticipate further job eliminations at this time” — Washington Post publisher Fred Ryan says he doesn't expect additional layoffs in staff email: https://twitter.com/...
Congress Editor, DC — 
China Night News Reporter, London — 
Senior Editor - Styles, NY — 
Home & Travel Reporter, Ireland — 
Part-time Editor, Remote — 
Assistant Digital Editor, MA — 
South Reporter, GA/Remote — 
Executive Ed. - News, CA — 
Private Capital Reporter, London — 
Staff Writer, MI — 
Articles Editor, CA — 
Harrisburg Reporter, PA — 
Pharma Reporter, Remote US — 
Metro Reporter, TN — 
Higher Ed. Reporter, Remote CA — 
Politics Reporter, Brussels — 
Investigations & Enterprise Ed., WI — 
Social Strategy Editor, NY — 
Business Reporter, TX — 
Senior Narrative Editor, CA — 
News Correspondent, MS — 
Accountability Reporter, NC — 
Freelance Reporter - LA Education, CA — 
Housing Reporter, OK — 
Writer/AI Content Reviewer, CA — 
Writer/Editor, Remote — 
Political Reporter, TX — 
Afternoon/Night Editor, NH — 
Education Lab Editor, WA — 
Staff Writer, MA/Remote — 
State Worker Reporter, CA — 
Reporter, NC — 
