Top News:
David Folkenflik / NPR:
NPR plans to lay off ~10% of its workforce, or at least 100 people, and eliminate most vacant positions, citing lower ad revenue, particularly for its podcasts — HEADLINE: NPR says it's cutting jobs by 10% as ad revenue drops — NPR's chief executive announced the network would lay off roughly 10% …
Discussion:
Washington Post, CNN, @peterboghossian, @davidfolkenflik, @jbenton, Deadline, @kevinferguson, @aliveness_ape, @stphnfwlr, @brianmannadk, @diaahadid, The Wrap, @jaycowit, @jordanbpeterson, The Daily Beast, @deggans, @leilafadel, @leilafadel, @laurie_garrett, @nprkelly, @meredithshiner, The Hollywood Reporter, @eshaansarup, @breannamorello, @catsofnpr, @clay_masters, @shanegoldmacher, @jasonhowell, @liamstack, @brandonetc, @jaycowit, @sayssimonson, @mikeisaac, @audiecornish, @tabitha_mueller, @aspiegelnpr, New York Times, Current, Fox News, @kelseyproud, New York Daily News, @nprinskeep, @haleaziz, @publicbill, @isabellamariags, @rebekahentralgo, @bungdan, RAIN News and Bloomberg
Spectrum News 13:
Two Spectrum News 13 staffers in Orlando were shot at the scene of a homicide investigation, and one has died, according to the Orange County sheriff — According to Orange County Sheriff John Mina, two members of a Spectrum News 13 crew at the scene of a homicide investigation were shot Wednesday afternoon.
Discussion:
The Hill, WPLG-TV, Associated Press, The Wrap, @mynews13, CNN, @murrownyc, New York Times, Metro.co.uk, Deadline, CBS News, @shimonpro, @michaelgwaltz, @jodieginsberg, @momsdemand, @katecagle, @kellyo, @emilyjanelawler, @orlandopolice, @acosta, @janashortal, @newsguygreg, @newsguygreg, @newsguygreg, ABC13, @nabj, @presssec, @jennalaineespn, @newsguygreg, The Daily Beast, @brianstelter, @annaforflorida and NewsNation, Thanks:@vtuss
Michael Schneider / Variety:
A profile of Casey Bloys, the CEO of content for HBO and HBO Max, as he oversees the programming on the service combining HBO Max and Discovery+ this spring — Casey Bloys was about four years into his tenure as a programming executive at HBO when he was driven to champion a project that was disliked by others at the network.
Discussion:
@variety_cynthia, TVLine, The A.V. Club, @variety, @theinsneider, @lucas_shaw, The Wrap, The Playlist, Screen Rant, @edmundlee, IndieWire and @variety
Jessica E. Lessin / The Information:
The Information launches Pro, a subscription tier with expanded org charts, databases based on staff reporting, surveys, and a specialized weekly newsletter — I am delighted to share the launch of The Information Pro—a new tier of subscription that features our expanded org charts …
Discussion:
Simon Owens's Media Newsletter, Talking Biz News, @boygenius, @jessicalessin and Axios
Joe Pompeo / Vanity Fair:
A look at Substack-hosted entertainment business publication Ankler Media, which claims profitability, with ~50% of revenue from subscriptions and ~50% from ads — Rushfield's sharp-tongued missives have earned him a bold-faced subscriber list. ("I read it the second I see it pop up," says Richard Plepler.)
Discussion:
@joepompeo, @sonnybunch, @bmorrissey, @felixgillette, @janicemin, @theinsneider, @joepompeo, @josephkapsch, @mlcalderone, @richardrushfield and Talking Biz News
Blake Brittain / Reuters:
Letter: the US Copyright Office says AI-generated images in a graphic novel, created using Midjourney, should not have been granted copyright protection — Images in a graphic novel that were created using the artificial-intelligence system Midjourney should not have been granted copyright protection …
Discussion:
The Verge, @frankcatalano, @paleofuture and @connorwa, more at Techmeme »
Alexandra Steigrad / New York Post:
Sources: Insider CEO Henry Blodget met Daily Beast executives earlier in February; Beast management later told the union a sale isn't happening “at this time” — Insider CEO Henry Blodget was spotted earlier this month at the Daily Beast's offices, sparking rumors …
Mickey Djuric / The Canadian Press News:
Google tests blocking news content in Search for fewer than 4% of Canadian users for about five weeks, a potential response to Canada's proposed Online News Act — Google blocking news for some Canadians in test — OTTAWA - Google is blocking some Canadian users from viewing news content …
Discussion:
Toronto Star, Reuters, Wall Street Journal and @bgrueskin, more at Techmeme »
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Artifact, the personalized news reader created by Instagram's co-founders, opens to the public for Android and iOS, with new features and no sign-up required — Artifact, the personalized news reader built by Instagram's co-founders, is now open to the public, no sign-up required.
Discussion:
Gizmodo, The Verge, Artifact News, Engadget and @nicholasadeleon, more at Techmeme »
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Spotify launches DJ, an AI-powered radio DJ feature that offers curated music and commentary about the tracks and artists in a “stunningly realistic voice” — Ahead of Spotify's upcoming Stream On event, where the company is expected to announce a redesigned home feed and other updates …
Discussion:
Spotify, Spotify on YouTube, @gustavs, CNET, Inside Radio, RAIN News, @mirandareinert, @drownedinsound, @midimyers, @mignano, Music Ally, @chrismessina, @ocelma, @richontech, Variety, @patrick_oshag, @mountain_ghosts, @elite_gz, Music Business Worldwide, Neowin, Billboard, 9to5Mac, Engadget and Gizmodo, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
Nilesh Christopher / Rest of World:
A look at Amazon India's miniTV, a free, ad-supported streaming service in its shopping app, aimed at users from ages 18 to 25 who cannot afford a subscription — If the e-commerce giant cracks the ad-free, shop-as-you-watch code in the country, nothing stops it from rolling miniTV out internationally.
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal and @nilchristopher, more at Techmeme »
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
WARC projects global ad revenue for publishers will fall 7.7% in 2023 to $47.2B; Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta will take nearly $400B of the global $993B ad market — Amazon, Alphabet and Meta are estimated to take $4 in every $10 spent in the global ad market.
James Greig / Dazed:
How “TikTok detectives” drove speculation and spread conspiracy theories after UK woman Nicola Bulley disappeared, showing the dark side of the true crime genre — The flurry of speculation and conspiracy theories which arose in response to Nicola Bulley's disappearance shows …
Discussion:
The Guardian, @thobbsjourno, @jamesdgreig, @hannahnthewolf, The Week and New Statesman