Top News:
Aisha Malik / TechCrunch:
Google plans to add a “Perspectives” carousel, showcasing journalists and others under Top Stories, and an “About this author” feature for US English searches — Google is introducing new ways for users to verify information on Search, the company announced on Tuesday.
Discussion:
Aamna Mohdin / The Guardian:
The Guardian owner Scott Trust apologizes for the role the newspaper's founders played in the slave trade and announces expanded reporting on Black communities — Scott Trust to invest in decade-long programme of restorative justice after academic research into newspaper's origins
Discussion:
Katharine Viner / The Guardian: How our founders' links to slavery change the Guardian today
David Olusoga / The Guardian: Slavery and the Guardian: the ties that bind us
@margaretsimons: It is with a sense of shame and a trembling pride that, as a recently appointed member of the Scott Trust, which owns The Guardian, I draw attention to this landmark presentation and apology by @guardian .https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
Richard Williams / @rwilliams1947: This story, and the letter from @KathViner and the essay by @DavidOlusoga that accompany it, make me very glad to have been a part of the Guardian. Half the world will sneer, of course. But it's a brave and important step. https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
Peter Walker / @peterwalker99: As well as being, obviously, the right thing to do, the Guardian's “Cotton capital” exploration of the its early financial links to slavery is a fascinating piece of social history. Big shout out to @aamnamohdin and the rest of the team. V proud of them. https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
Jeff Jarvis / @jeffjarvis: Guardian editor @KathViner just sent an important letter to the paper's readers about research revealing the founding of the institution and its ties to slavery via cotton and sugar money—and what they plan to do in response, beginning with apology. https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
Aamna Mohdin / @aamnamohdin: The Guardian just launched Cotton Capital, which explores how the transatlantic slavery shaped the paper, Manchester, Britain and the world. It stems from an investigation into the Guardian founder's and early financial bankers own links to slavery. https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
Brian Stelter / @brianstelter: The owner of the Guardian, The Scott Trust, “has issued an apology for the role the newspaper's founders had in transatlantic slavery and announced a decade-long programme of restorative justice.” The trust plans to invest more than $12 million... https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
Lanre Bakare / @lanre_bakare: I spent more than six months working on Cotton Capital, the Guardian project launching today that looks at the way the transatlantic slave trade shaped Manchester, Britain and the world. It all starts with an investigation into the Guardian's own founders. https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
Bonnie Greer / @bonn1egreer: Problem with “#reparations”. Who quantifies it? On what basis? Whatever is done-it's a gesture. Politesse. “The Scott Trust..expected to invest more than £10m (US$12.3m, A$18.4m), with millions dedicated specifically to descendant communities” #Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
James Ball / @jamesrbuk: This seems a genuinely impressive piece of research - which is spurring some solid action over the next decade from the Guardian and Scott Trust https://twitter.com/...
Pippa Crerar / @pippacrerar: Big moment: the @guardian's owner issues apology for role newspaper's founders had in transatlantic slavery and announces decade-long programme of restorative justice. https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
@slaverymuseum: One of those ‘if you read anything’ moments. An excellent and true account of @guardian's links to slavery - how it shaped the newspaper, Manchester and the history of Britain. This history matters! 'That reality can't be negotiated with.' @DavidOlusoga https://twitter.com/...
Jay Rosen / @jayrosen_nyu: “The Guardian is facing up to, and apologising for, the fact that its first editor drew his wealth from a practice that was a crime against humanity.” Read Katharine Viner, editor of the Guardian, on investigating its founder's links to slavery. https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
Julia Carrie Wong / @juliacarriew: The Guardian was founded by Manchester cotton merchants with extensive ties to slavery. The publication is apologizing for its role in a crime against humanity and committing £10m to restorative justice efforts https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Substack invites its newsletter writers and others to invest, aiming to raise $2M; source: the raise is an extension of Substack's $65M Series B in March 2021 — Substack, the newsletter platform, will open up a community fundraising round on Tuesday, allowing writers on the platform to invest in the company.
Discussion:
On Substack, The Information, @caseynewton, @dceiver, @rafat, @nmasc_, @substackinc, @parkermolloy, @sarafischer, TechCrunch, @ejeancarroll, @binarybits, @parkermolloy, @sarthakgh, @baileyelaine, @anthony, @hamishmckenzie, @iiiitsandrea, Bloomberg, @jessicalessin, @emilyrnunn, @niubi, @ryansingel@writing.exchange and Platformer, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Jessica E. Lessin / The Information: Forget the IPO Window. Watch for More M&A
Casey Newton / @caseynewton: Substack is about to generate $5 million in 24 hours by selling shares to its community. Not a bad way to extend its runway, even if I wouldn't invest myself https://www.platformer.news/ ... https://twitter.com/...
Jason Linkins / @dceiver: lol one thing's for sure, once Substack gets serious about building something with writers they'll stop using words like “concretize” https://on.substack.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@rafat: What a fucking scam this is at their ZIRP valuation, this should be illegal or at least -ish, right? Do not invest at this valuation, I repeat, do not. https://twitter.com/...
Natasha Mascarenhas / @nmasc_: Substack opening up a community round makes sense, especially interesting that they have a way for unaccredited investors to put money in https://techcrunch.com/...
@substackinc: We are serious about building Substack with writers, and this community fundraising round is one way to concretize that ideal. We're doing this because the dynamics of a platform like Substack change if the people who are building their businesses on it are owners of it too.
Parker Molloy / @parkermolloy: This is just sad. “Why I am giving Substack, the place that I make money from... my money.” https://twitter.com/...
Sara Fischer / @sarafischer: NEW: @substack doing a community fundraising round , allowing its writers to invest at a $2M goal - It's technically an extension of the company's $65M series B in 2021 - Pre-money valuation is $585M (same as series B) - The great @niubi is leading https://www.axios.com/...
E. Jean Carroll / @ejeancarroll: Super-smart, rock-solid, blue-chip investment! @hamishmckenzie @SubstackInc https://on.substack.com/...
Timothy B. Lee / @binarybits: I like Substack but I will not be investing in this. They don't appear to be offering anything close to the level of transparency you get from a public company. Also, because it's not a public company it's not clear when investors would ever get a return. https://on.substack.com/...
Parker Molloy / @parkermolloy: Newcomer's post was published just minutes after Substack announced that it was raising money https://on.substack.com/...
Sar Haribhakti / @sarthakgh: Readers have paid writers more than $300 million through Substack. The network has over 35 million active subscriptions, including 2 million paid subscriptions. https://on.substack.com/...
Bailey Richardson / @baileyelaine: I'm really proud to work at @SubstackInc today. Real ownership is different that a sense of ownership. That's how Substack is different from Instagram for me - the people making the photos, writing, ideas that fuel the platform *own* it, today more so https://on.substack.com/...
Anthony DeRosa / @anthony: Substack meets Kickstarter meets Masterclass meets The New Yorker https://www.axios.com/...
Hamish McKenzie / @hamishmckenzie: We think subscription networks are going to play a major role in the next chapter of the internet. They represent a step forward from social networks. https://on.substack.com/...
Andrea / @iiiitsandrea: HUGE! 👀🤯 @SubstackInc is raising via @wefunder —the future is co-creation writers can invest and own a piece of Substack —2023 is for collective wins lots of new USEFUL features implemented recently have kept me bullish on this platform 👏 https://on.substack.com/...
Gerry Smith / Bloomberg: Substack Turns to Its Newsletter Writers for Funding
Jessica Lessin / @jessicalessin: As an active angel investor in news, I have to say, you don't do it to make a lot of money. You do it because you want to help and be useful. Any Substacker considering this, should remember that and look hard at the valuation. https://www.axios.com/...
Emily Nunn / @emilyrnunn: Substack has been transformative for me, changing my life in ways I never could have predicted after decades working in traditional media. It's a great company, with a built-in, extremely supportive network/community. Yes, I ❤️ @SubstackInc. https://open.substack.com/...
Bill Bishop / @niubi: Substack invites newsletter writers to invest https://www.axios.com/... full disclosure I am leading this round
Ryan Singel / @ryansingel@writing.exchange: Substack is trying to get writers to invest up to $2m in the company at a pre-money valuation of $585M. It already raised 85 million dollars from VCs (mostly A16Z), but failed to raise more. …
Casey Newton / Platformer: Substack's new fundraising pitch
Sewell Chan / The Texas Tribune:
The Texas Observer editors raise $200K+ in emergency funding through a GoFundMe drive and urge its board to reconsider its decision to shut down the magazine — Journalists at the progressive publication expect to be laid off this week. Relations between the board and senior staff have severely eroded.
Discussion:
Home with the Armadillo, @stevanzetti, @TexasObserver …, @jackshafer, @andreagrimes@octodon.social, @slulay2, @gusbova, @lomikriel, @sewellchan, @stevanzetti, @kleekamp, @alterrox, @stevanzetti, @sewellchan, @sewellchan, @mlnow, @stevanzetti, @sewellchan, @LyleDAL@universeodon.com and @TexasObserver …
Discussion:
Andrea Grimes / Home with the Armadillo: We Can't Afford to Lose the Texas Observer
Steven Monacelli / @stevanzetti: UPDATE: the Texas Observer editorial team has sent a formal proposal to the board that oversees the organization. It outlines a number of steps to stave off the impending layoffs and closure of the Observer. https://twitter.com/...
@TexasObserver@texasobserver.social: $200K! Our campaign to #SaveTXO surpassed our major goal of $200,000. In our editors' letter, we asked them to halt layoffs & closure if we could raise this money. IT TOOK ONLY A DAY! — Thank You So Much! https://www.gofundme.com/... …
@andreagrimes@octodon.social: I wrote this because everyone needs to be clear that what's happening at @TexasObserver isn't just another case of nonprofit media struggling to sustain itself — a 70-year-old magazine is being deliberately tanked and staff are trying to save it. …
Stephanie Lulay / @slulay2: The @TexasObserver board voted to shut the nonprofit newsroom down. But staffers aren't going down without a fight. They're trying to raise $200,000 in emergency funding to keep it afloat. They've raised $109,000 in just 15 hours. https://twitter.com/...
Gus Bova / @gusbova: Just to be clear the same chief fundraiser set up the gofundme: https://www.gofundme.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@lomikriel: In just a few hours, the @TexasObserver has raised nearly 50k, to be spread among its journalists if laid off in four days or go to the board if they try to save it: https://www.gofundme.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Sewell Chan / @sewellchan: The Observer's top editors (@gabrielarana @KitOConnell @LiseDigger + Gayle Reaves) asked that board members who voted to close the magazine resign; that a staff member join the board; and that outside journalists be brought onto the board. https://www.texastribune.org/ ...
Steven Monacelli / @stevanzetti: “I am inspired by my colleagues and have hope that people will understand the historic importance of the outlet and also the good work that has been going on in recent years and why it's needed right now.” https://www.texastribune.org/ ...
WYE / @kleekamp: And now the TO employees are scrambling to regain control of the business, thereby putting more sweat equity into a business that is trying very much to end their employment and cap whatever social capital they have accrued by working there. https://www.texastribune.org/ ...
Roxanne Cooper / @alterrox: https://www.texastribune.org/ ... It's pretty clear the probs described by the Tribune are management and not money. If it was just money, they could make a single phone call and get it.
Steven Monacelli / @stevanzetti: NOW: “Our board is committed to reinventing the Texas Observer...our strategy for now is a hiatus...the Board agreed yesterday to try to avoid making this a funeral...but we can't engage in dialogue now...” Full time staff were just given what appears to be five days notice.
Sewell Chan / @sewellchan: The board president, Laura Hernandez Holmes, told me that senior staff spent money in reserve without authorization. “I don't know if it's because I'm a young woman of color talking to men,” she said. https://www.texastribune.org/ ...
Sewell Chan / @sewellchan: NEW: @TexasObserver editors are protesting staff layoffs and have set up a GoFundMe to try to save the magazine. The chief fundraiser quit today. https://www.texastribune.org/ ...
Steven Monacelli / @stevanzetti: The GoFundMe to save the @TexasObserver has already raised nearly $60K. https://www.gofundme.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Sewell Chan / @sewellchan: NEW: @TexasObserver editors are protesting the layoffs. They wrote a letter of protest, asked most board members to resign, and started a GoFundMe to raise $200,000 in emergency funding. https://www.texastribune.org/ ...
James Rainey / Los Angeles Times:
A look at the decline of Gannett's The Salinas Californian, whose only original content comes from paid obituaries after its last reporter quit in December 2022 — When brown water overflowed the banks of the Salinas River in January, flooding thousands of acres and throwing an untold number …
Discussion:
@kateconger, @ohioaj, @nancyrockland, @emily_hoeven, @richardwarnica, @commoncause, @k_cimini, @penamerica, @rana_cash, @tatecurtis, @jeongpark52, @tromcmanus, @byianjames, @latsondheimer, @tarantulaarms, @calitruecrime, @_ishanidesai, @avisholkoff, @frannydink, @charlesornstein, @danielmorain, @gsanroman2, @marybschneider, @raineytime and @peterbakernyt
Discussion:
Kate Conger / @kateconger: operating a ghost paper with no reporters is so bleak https://www.latimes.com/...
Alan Johnson / @ohioaj: Gannett kills everything it touches https://twitter.com/...
Nancy Cutler / @nancyrockland: What is a zero-reporter newsroom? #Gannett spox says company is “developing strategies to support these markets, including communities such as Salinas.” Hint: Hire more journalists. Here, the @latimes explains the impact on Salinas, CA: https://www.latimes.com/...
Emily Hoeven / @emily_hoeven: This is heartbreaking on so many levels. About four years ago, I was considering a job at the Salinas Californian. Now, the paper doesn't have a single reporter left, and the community is bereft of critical information, storytelling & oversight. https://www.latimes.com/...
Richard Warnica / @richardwarnica: This is the logical end game for local news under chain ownership. Chains aren't pivoting local papers to anything. https://www.latimes.com/...
@commoncause: Our democracy relies on the survival of local newspapers. “Without a local paper in our city, we've lost the power to tell the stories of people in our city and the city itself. We've lost the power of storytelling.” https://www.latimes.com/...
Kate Cimini / @k_cimini: I was one of the last reporters at The Californian. Salinas — and its indigenous farm workers, anti-pesticide activists, massive agricultural industry, rodeo, gangs and gang violence, jail, schools, airshow, homeless residents, ghost stories and people— deserve to be covered. https://twitter.com/...
@penamerica: When brown water overflowed the banks of the Salinas River in January, flooding thousands of acres, The Salinas Californian did not cover the story. The last reporter at the 152-year-old paper serving a city of 163,000 quit in December. https://www.latimes.com/... #LocalNews
Rana Cash / @rana_cash: There's nothing to gloat about here nor reason to point fingers. It's sad for journalists, journalism and residents in communities left to figure it out on their own. https://twitter.com/...
Curtis L. Tate / @tatecurtis: How can a company do this to a community and claim to care about journalism? https://twitter.com/...
Jeong Park / @jeongpark52: Been monitoring what's going on with the efforts to rehabilitate and revitalize Salinas' Chinatown — Once the biggest Chinatown between LA and SF — but hard to do that when the city's paper literally has no reporters https://www.latimes.com/...
Tracey McManus / @tromcmanus: This is a sad story about the void left when a newsroom dies and how communities miss the hyper local coverage when it's gone. Meanwhile Gannett is laying off thousands of talented journalists while paying its CEO $8 million https://www.latimes.com/...
Ian James / @byianjames: What happens when a town loses its local news? As the Salinas Californian withers, a city yearns to know its stories - @RaineyTime https://www.latimes.com/...
Eric Sondheimer / @latsondheimer: As the Salinas Californian withers, a city yearns to know its stories https://www.latimes.com/...
Nathan Solis / @tarantulaarms: “They say democracy dies in darkness... And we are in absolutely dark times in Salinas.” https://www.latimes.com/... @RaineyTime
@calitruecrime: We rely on local newspapers in all of our episodes. They act as a memory for so many issues & for victims who don't get larger coverage. How many things will slip from our collective memory when they're gone? #salinas #salinascalifornian https://www.latimes.com/...
Ishani Desai / @_ishanidesai: Thank you, @RaineyTime for documenting how plummeting local journalism hurts a community. It's a struggle we here also know too well. “They say democracy dies in darkness,” Duan said. “And we are in absolutely dark times in Salinas.” https://www.latimes.com/...
Avi Sholkoff / @avisholkoff: “Gannett's downsizing accelerated after the company's 2019 merger with GateHouse Media” https://www.latimes.com/...
Frances Dinkelspiel / @frannydink: A Ghost paper: “The only original content from Salinas comes in the form of paid obituaries, making death virtually the only sign of life at an institution once considered a must-read by many Salinans.” The California newspaper that has no reporters left https://www.latimes.com/...
Charles Ornstein / @charlesornstein: Astounding story by @RaineyTime: “The only original content from Salinas comes in the form of paid obituaries, making death virtually the only sign of life at an institution once considered a must-read by many Salinans.” https://www.latimes.com/...
@danielmorain: Local reporting lost: “The emptying of the Californian's newsroom epitomizes the ongoing struggles for the American newspaper industry, a shift felt acutely at small-town papers.” H/t @RaineyTime https://www.latimes.com/...
@gsanroman2: “The only original content from Salinas comes in the form of paid obituaries, making death virtually the only sign of life at an institution once considered a must-read by many Salinans.” DAMN. https://www.latimes.com/...
Mary Beth Schneider / @marybschneider: Then it isn't a newspaper. https://twitter.com/...
Jim Rainey / @raineytime: This California newspaper has zero reporters. And no local news. #Salinas @Gannett https://www.latimes.com/...
Peter Baker / @peterbakernyt: The Salinas Californian, owned by @Gannett, lost its last reporter. “The only original content from Salinas comes in the form of paid obituaries, making death virtually the only sign of life” at the once-venerable paper, writes @RaineyTime https://www.latimes.com/...
RELATED:
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Gannett CEO Mike Reed says the company's top ~100 dailies bring in ~90% of its newspaper business revenue so they are “probably where most of our focus will be” — - CEO Mike Reed said on last month's earnings call that the company “would entertain bids on any of our markets.”
Discussion:
Sara Fischer / @sarafischer: NEW: @Gannett CEO forecasts more daily newspaper sales — Today the company has 217 daily newspapers — 100 or so make up 90% of its biz — Company will likely land somewhere in-between, CEO Mike Reed told me More on @axios https://www.axios.com/...
Terrence T. McDonald / @terrencemcd: love to buy products, ruin then, then sell them https://www.axios.com/...
Russ Bengtson / @russbengtson: executioner predicts he will chop off more heads https://twitter.com/...
Joshua Benton / @jbenton: Hey @theadvocateaca, looks like it's time to call Gannett again about taking the @theadvertiser off their hands. https://www.axios.com/...
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Disney closes its metaverse unit, cutting ~50 jobs, and cancels an Amazon Prime-like program integrating Disney+, online retail, and theme park apps — The unit, once seen as developing a new form of storytelling, had about 50 employees — Mickey Mouse has left the metaverse.
Discussion:
Fast Company, @jbflint, The Verge, Robb Report, Observer, Light Reading, Gizmodo, The Hill, @cheriehu42, @_zeets, Fortune, @karlbode, Deadline, The A.V. Club, @adamsinger, @realrandychavez, The Ankler, New York Post, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Insider, @samewen, @mousterpiece, @ashleylcarter1, @can, @pataz1, @newley, @rwhelanwsj, @scottgustin, @lucas_shaw, @aagave, @boardwalktimes, @andyvermaut, @alexjamesfitz, MediaPost, @stevekopack, CoinDesk, The Wrap, TechCrunch and Forbes, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Bobbie Gossage / Fast Company: Disney reportedly scraps its metaverse unit
Joe Flint / @jbflint: Until they fix their universe no MetaVerse for Disney. W/@RWhelanWSJ https://www.wsj.com/...
Louisa Ballhaus / Robb Report: Gucci Is Making Even More NFTs With the Company Behind Bored Ape Yacht Club
Jeff Baumgartner / Light Reading: Disney mucks metaverse unit as part of larger layoff - report
Lauren Leffer / Gizmodo: Disney Scurries Away From Its Half-Baked Metaverse Ambitions
Jared Gans / The Hill: Disney eliminating Metaverse unit as layoffs begin
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez / Fortune: Disney joins Microsoft and Snapchat as latest big-name company to slink away from metaverse ambitions
Karl Bode / @karlbode: I still think its funny (?) how Facebook renamed VR, AR, and video games something else to try and dominate the markets, and the press and every big brained executive just mindlessly went along with it, despite it making no coherent sense https://www.wsj.com/...
Mary Kate Carr / The A.V. Club: The metaverse is the first to go with Disney's belt tightening
Adam Singer / @adamsinger: I mean what did anyone expect here. This was a dumb bet, Zuck said jump they said ‘how high’ without thinking. Just so much wasted time and effort by people who I guess slept through Second Life. C'mon, think for yourselves... https://www.wsj.com/...
Randy Chavez / @realrandychavez: Early prediction is that @RobertIger is playing a quarterly game for now. Laying off people to save 5.5 billion will look good on next earnings call. After a quarter or two I'm sure these guys will be hired back https://www.wsj.com/...
Yuheng Zhan / New York Post: Disney scraps metaverse unit in cost-cutting move as wider layoffs loom
Todd Spangler / Variety: Disney Shuts Down Metaverse Unit as Part of First Wave of Layoffs
Sawdah Bhaimiya / Insider: Disney is ditching its metaverse plans after laying off an entire team focused on interactive storytelling, report says
Sam Ewen / @samewen: The problem is that brands made the mistake of thinking the Metaverse was now. They have gaming divisions, community divisions, immersive/experiential, etc. They didn't need an additional unit for a buzzword when their talent is already building the future. https://twitter.com/...
Josh Spiegel / @mousterpiece: The vibe this year really feels like this. https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Ashley Carter / @ashleylcarter1: Disney has eliminated the 50-person unit that was developing its metaverse strategies, reports @RWhelanWSJ and @JBFlint. Disney is beginning its first round of layoffs this week as it looks to shed $5.5 billion in costs. https://www.wsj.com/...
Pat A. / @pataz1: @mediagazer @tomaxwell Why do none of these stories include information on (lack of) salary cuts by senior and executive staff?
Newley Purnell / @newley: Disney has eliminated its metaverse division, a 50-employee unit, per people familiar with the situation, as part of broader restructuring expected to reduce head count by around 7,000 across the firm over next two months. https://www.wsj.com/... via @RWhelanWSJ @JBFlint
Robbie Whelan / @rwhelanwsj: As part of its plan to lay off 7,000 and cut $5.5b in costs, Disney has eliminated its metaverse division, a 50-person unit, just over a year after Bob Chapek created and touted it. Division head Mike White still has a job. #SCOOP with @JBFlint https://www.wsj.com/...
Scott Gustin / @scottgustin: Disney has abandoned a plan to develop its own membership program like Amazon Prime, according to @RWhelanWSJ. Disney has also eliminated the division that was developing metaverse strategies, according to the report. https://www.wsj.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Andrew A. Rosen / @aagave: This never made any sense to me. It was Chapek meme-surfing and it sounded less visionary and more like Philippe Dauman promising Viacom investors that $SNAP was the future of TV [voiceover: it wasn't] https://twitter.com/...
@boardwalktimes: Disney has eliminated its next-generation storytelling and consumer experiences unit. The small division of about 50 employees was developing metaverse strategies. Mike White, who led the division will remain at Disney. (https://www.wsj.com/...) https://twitter.com/...
Andy Vermaut / @andyvermaut: Andy Vermaut shares:Disney Eliminates Its Metaverse Division as Part of Layoffs Plan: The unit, once seen as developing a new form of storytelling, had about 50 employees https://www.wsj.com/... Thank you! https://twitter.com/...
Alex Fitzpatrick / @alexjamesfitz: Canary. https://twitter.com/...
Karlene Lukovitz / MediaPost: Disney Shutters Metaverse Unit As 7K Layoffs Commence
Steve Kopack / @stevekopack: As part of layoffs that started today, Disney has completely eliminated its “metaverse” division, @WSJ reports https://www.wsj.com/...
Sam Reynolds / CoinDesk: Disney Lays Off Metaverse Team: Report
Ross A. Lincoln / The Wrap: Disney Terminates Metaverse Division as Part of Mass Layoffs
Rebecca Bellan / TechCrunch: Disney cuts metaverse division as part of broader restructuring
The Verge:
Elon Musk says only verified accounts will be recommended in Twitter's For You tab and be able to vote in polls to address “AI bot swarms”, starting on April 15 — Twitter users will need a “verified account” to get recommended on the platform's For You page starting on April 15th …
Discussion:
@elonmusk, Mashable, @carnage4life, Insider, CNBC, @mattbinder, @mattbinder, @videotech_, CNN, @mattnavarra, @elonmusk, Variety, Vanity Fair, @jason_kint, @teri_kanefield, @adamsessler, @kantrowitz, The Wrap, @kt_so_it_goes, @javi_khoso, @roslyntalusan, Fast Company, @mims, @mattbinder, @lanceroberts, @goldman, @ryanjreilly, @benedictevans, @teri_kanefield, @lisadlaporte, BGR, Gizmodo, The Register, @teri_kanefield, @teri_kanefield, @contrapoints, @teri_kanefield, @walkerbragman, @williamlegate, @teri_kanefield, @teri_kanefield, @kantrowitz, @zaleskiluke, @franklinleonard, @ryangrim, @santiagomayer_, @kruzadar, @1romans58, @jeffjarvis, @jarvis, @ischafer, @stevenbward, @mazmhussain, @rtehrani, @thestuffofmemes, @heydudeimadam, @jonfavs, Music Ally, @semaforben, @skillupyt, @lauren@mastodon …, @malwaretech@infosec.exchange, @jerry@infosec.exchange, @willoremus@mastodon.social, @paul@tapbots.social, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, @rodhilton@mastodon.social, @joshuatopolsky@mastodon …, @tchambers@indieweb.social, @danyork@mastodon.social, @mmasnick@mastodon.social, @dangillmor@mastodon.social, @hunterwalk@mastodon.cloud, @caseynewton@mastodon.social, @Jbat@mstdn.media, @rodhilton@mastodon.social, @lauren@mastodon … and @sharearea@mastodon.online
Discussion:
Elon Musk / @elonmusk: Starting April 15th, only verified accounts will be eligible to be in For You recommendations. The is the only realistic way to address advanced AI bot swarms taking over. It is otherwise a hopeless losing battle. Voting in polls will require verification for same reason.
Dare Obasanjo / @carnage4life: This explains why they removed explanations for why people show up as For You recommendations. Soon only users who pay will be recommended. This is actually breaking new ground in user hostile design. https://twitter.com/...
Sarah Jackson / Insider: Elon Musk clarified that Twitter users will still see accounts they follow in their For You feeds after backlash over his plan to only show paid subscribers there
Arjun Kharpal / CNBC: Elon Musk says only verified users will show up in Twitter's recommendation feed in further shake-up
Matt Binder / @mattbinder: even though Elon Musk has been personally pushing users to subscribe via Twitter's website so the company could avoid sharing revenue with Apple... the majority of Twitter Blue users appear to be subscribing via iOS (and Android) devices https://mashable.com/...
Matt Binder / @mattbinder: as Twitter plans to remove legacy verification & solely promote Blue subscribers on users' feeds, here's some new Twitter Blue data: ➡️ 50% of all paying subs have less than 1k followers ➡️ around 18% have less than 100 ➡️ thousands have 0 followers https://mashable.com/...
Ben / @videotech_: @elonmusk I don't get behind this decision. You need to invest money into talent and AI tech to detect bots on the platform. This isn't the way to go. It could tarnish the platform
Chris Isidore / CNN: Elon Musk: Only paid subscribers will get recommended in Twitter ‘For You’ feed
Matt Navarra / @mattnavarra: Half of all Twitter Blue subscribers have less than 1,000 followers And 17.6% have less than 100 users following their account. https://mashable.com/...
Elon Musk / @elonmusk: Forgot to mention that accounts you follow directly will also be in For You, since you have explicitly asked for them
Ellise Shafer / Variety: Elon Musk Says Only Verified Twitter Accounts Will Appear in For You Timeline Starting in April
Jason Kint / @jason_kint: So on April 15th, the default view for Twitter (For You) will shift overnight to Truth Social mode. Advertisers, you've been warned. https://twitter.com/...
Teri Kanefield / @teri_kanefield: It is unlikely Twitter will fail. It is unlikely you will wake up one morning and find it gone. More likely: slowly over the coming months and years Twitter will transform into an effective right-wing propaganda machine, and people opposed to Elon's policies . . .
@adamsessler: I know they're too infatuated with their self-ejaculate-encrusted navels to notice but how will elons army of dingleberries reconcile that their paragon of meritocracy just socialized exceptionalism? https://twitter.com/...
Alex Kantrowitz / @kantrowitz: This isn't me saying Twitter Blue is a good business idea btw. It probably isn't. But for the money, it's worth it. At least in a number of use cases.
Eileen AJ Connelly / The Wrap: Twitter's ‘For You’ Discovery Feed Will Soon Only Feature Paid Verified Accounts
@kt_so_it_goes: wow can't believe people don't want to pay money to get dunked on while providing free content https://twitter.com/...
@javi_khoso: What happened to this website being a democracy and all major decisions being voted on by poll? isn't that what you wanted to implement mr musk https://twitter.com/...
Roslyn / @roslyntalusan: speaking from my marketing degree: i think twitter blue diminishes your brand image more than it helps https://twitter.com/...
Michael Grothaus / Fast Company: Believe it or not, Elon Musk is about to make Twitter even worse
@mims: @Kantrowitz you seem like the perfect match for it. not meant as any form of judgment, just an observation :)
Matt Binder / @mattbinder: of the approximately 420,000 legacy verified Twitter users, just around 6,500 of them are currently paying for Twitter Blue https://mashable.com/...
Lance Roberts / @lanceroberts: So, if you enjoy my daily notes on #markets and #investing, you must #follow me to see them. I'm not going to pay $8/mth for a #bluecheck. Why? Because $8/mth over the next 30 years is ~$12k towards my retirement. #investing. https://www.cnbc.com/...
Jason Goldman / @goldman: When reporting on this, folks shouldn't accept the framing that those paying to get a Blue Check are “verified” https://www.cnbc.com/...
Ryan J. Reilly / @ryanjreilly: I thought the entire point of buying twitter blue was so you better troll legacy blue checks, but now the twitter users formerly known as blue checks will have zero reason to check the verified tab. They'll have reason to avoid it, in fact! https://twitter.com/...
Benedict Evans / @benedictevans: So, the eggs, trolls and cryptopumps will the only thing you recommend. Great. And you want me to pay to join that? https://twitter.com/...
Teri Kanefield / @teri_kanefield: The goal is to turn Twitter into a right-wing propaganda machine. Elon has enough money to keep it going. Lots of people will buy the check mark, including right-wingers who want to see him succeed. He is boosting AOC because that also helps . . . https://twitter.com/...
Lisa Laporte / @lisadlaporte: @Kantrowitz Do it, I did, and it's worth it for what we do. Cringing or not. Business is business.
Joe Wituschek / BGR: Twitter is turning into a pay-to-play social network and I'm worried about the consequences
Lauren Leffer / Gizmodo: Elon Musk Says ‘For You’ Section Will Soon Be Entirely Users Who Paid for Twitter
Teri Kanefield / @teri_kanefield: . . . him increase engagement and help with his propaganda. He doesn't want Twitter to be another Truth Social. To make Twitter what he wants, he needs liberal voices so that Twitter can pretend to be a place where “all” viewpoints are presented. . .
Teri Kanefield / @teri_kanefield: There are stages of grief. If, like me, you put a lot of time into Twitter, this recognition is very difficult. I spent time thinking about social media and its flaws and virtues, and console myself with the idea that a new and better kind of social media can arise . . .
@contrapoints: The For You tab is just gonna be this https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Teri Kanefield / @teri_kanefield: . . . that more closely resembles what a public sphere should be: A place to exchange ideas. This means not owned by any one person, but decentralized. You all may be tired of me posting this, but here are my thoughts about the future of social media: https://terikanefield.com/...
Walker Bragman / @walkerbragman: If you want to avoid the right-wing spam that's going to be injected into your feed soon by billionaire edge lord Elon Musk while still seeing your favorite accounts, here's how you do it. https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Teri Kanefield / @teri_kanefield: . . . will keep adjusting to each stage. They'll stay and keep posting content, which helps Elon Power users and people who know their way around Twitter can avoid the ‘for you’ tab, or figure out how to-do lists. The casual users who come here will be the victims.
Teri Kanefield / @teri_kanefield: . . . which is itself the propaganda technique used by Russian state TV: They purport to present all views, but put their finger on the scale. They present the truth next to the lies, while subtly promoting the lies, and claiming to be neutral because they present “both” sides.
Alex Kantrowitz / @kantrowitz: Pretty sure I'm gonna subscribe to Twitter Blue. It's a product for media professionals and, although cringe, is probably worth the $8/month. This is going to be more common than you'd imagine right now.
Luke Zaleski / @zaleskiluke: You're living through the largest longest coordinated propaganda campaign and hostile takeover attempt in the history of humanity, folks. And if you think it's unrelated to Elon replatforming every vaccine and election disinformationalist and wingnut you're not paying attention https://twitter.com/...
Franklin Leonard / @franklinleonard: Just say “people who pay for Twitter” etc. It's easier and more clear. The only thing verified about “verified accounts” in this form is that the credit card payment cleared. https://twitter.com/...
Ryan Grim / @ryangrim: The “for you” tab is where the algorithm guesses which thing you're most likely to engage with. Rage sparks the most engagement, so if you don't pay every month, Twitter is threatening to not serve your posts up to people who hate you https://twitter.com/...
Santiago Mayer / @santiagomayer_: Truly a business genius. Trying to shake people down for a few bucks all because Catturd2 had his feelings hurt by the algorithm. https://twitter.com/...
@kruzadar: TikTok is the most popular app out there and even they do not require a paid verification to get put on the FYP. If that is your “only” way to get more people to use it, your algorithm is bad. Self reflect on how bad the FYP is and maybe fix that first to get more ad rev. https://twitter.com/...
JJ Truth / @1romans58: I have no problem with this and agree that it would help with bots. However until the suppression of our accounts is lifted none of it makes difference. https://twitter.com/...
Jeff Jarvis / @jeffjarvis: Well now in the waning days of Twitter, I will have NO reason to ever look at “for you,” populated as it will be with the fools who bear the Blue Check Mark of the Eight-Buck Schmuck. https://twitter.com/...
Jarvis Johnson / @jarvis: starting april 15, you can safely bully anyone in the the For You recommendations https://twitter.com/...
Ian Schafer / @ischafer: @elonmusk How does this prevent verified accounts that are impersonating non-verified accounts (eg. “notable figures") from getting even more visibility?
Steve Ward / @stevenbward: @elonmusk Brah, all you're doing is allowing polls to be bought and paid for. What's to stop me from buying 1,000 @TwitterBlue accounts through https://privacy.com/?
Murtaza Hussain / @mazmhussain: I'm waiting for the update when he says only people who pay will be allowed to use the app because it's “the only way to stop the bot swarms”. https://twitter.com/...
Rich Tehrani / @rtehrani: Elon Musk says only verified accounts will appear in Twitter's For You tab and be able to vote in polls as a way to address “AI bot swarms”, starting April 15 (The Verge) https://www.theverge.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Laurie Charles / @thestuffofmemes: So a disinformation tab. https://twitter.com/...
Adam Ruehmer / @heydudeimadam: This app is becoming more and more useless by the day. https://twitter.com/...
Jon Favreau / @jonfavs: No need to insult our intelligence by pretending this is about bots, just say that you need to make money because you've done a horrendous job managing the company you bought. https://twitter.com/...
Stuart Dredge / Music Ally: Twitter's ‘For You’ feed will soon only include paying users
Ben Smith / @semaforben: If the $ buys distribution .... it'll be the cheapest form of marketing on the internet https://twitter.com/...
@skillupyt: I got off the ‘For You’ tab some weeks ago when I realized it was just partisan culture war rage bait and people getting beat up in public. It was already a total cesspool. I can only imagine how bad it will be now that the only content there is from people dumb enough to pay $8. https://twitter.com/...
Lauren Weinstein / @lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org: @paul Hey, Elon, tell us more about these advanced AI Twitter bot swarms! Sounds very sci-fi!
@malwaretech@infosec.exchange: In order to cover Twitter's yearly expenses they'd need about 33 million people who'd rather spend $11/month on a blue check than go to therapy. Not impossible, but quite a reach.
@jerry@infosec.exchange: @malwaretech I'll give any color check mark people want for $11/month. — Also, given the surge in signups here, I suspect the plan may not be going his way.
Will Oremus / @willoremus@mastodon.social: If this goes how I expect it to go, get ready for another big surge in Mastodon's popularity.
@paul@tapbots.social: Starting May 15th, only verified accounts will be able to not follow my @elonmusk account. — The is the only realistic way to address my waning popularity. It is otherwise a hopeless losing battle. …
Jeff Jarvis / @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social: Well now in the waning days of Twitter, I will have NO reason to ever look at “for you,” populated as it will be with the fools who bear the Blue Check Mark of the Eight-Buck Schmuck.
Rod Hilton / @rodhilton@mastodon.social: Frankly the algorithmic timeline is the only “advantage” Twitter offers over something like Mastodon, if you're into that sort of thing. — He's disabling the only thing of value at the company. — Masterful gambit, sir.
Joshua Topolsky / @joshuatopolsky@mastodon.online: This guy is truly hilarious
Tim Chambers / @tchambers@indieweb.social: Elon should just make #Twitter a #BlueCheck-only subscription service and get it over with. — It would overnight become a slightly larger pay version of #Gab or #TruthSocial clone, but it would just cut to the chase and get this inevitable slide to that over with. …
Dan York / @danyork@mastodon.social: And so Twitter will go to being primarily pay-for-play as of April 15. Only paid users ("verified") will have their posts appear in the “For you” tab. …
Mike Masnick / @mmasnick@mastodon.social: Hey, look what's starting to trend over on the other site.
Dan Gillmor / @dangillmor@mastodon.social: That journalists continue to support Elon Musk should be astonishing. What's incredibly sad is that it's just what you expect at this point.
Casey Newton / @caseynewton@mastodon.social: Every day is like “starting tomorrow only people who post ‘Elon is cool’ will be eligible to have their tweets appear in English” and the entire press corps and all of my friends continue to post there like nothing has changed
John Battelle / @Jbat@mstdn.media: Twitter is over.
Rod Hilton / @rodhilton@mastodon.social: Nobody cool would pay for Twitter. — So on April 15th, every single user's For You feed becomes unreadable. Literally, every single user's timeline is irreparably broken. …
Jim Waterson / The Guardian:
UK leaders plan to kill a law forcing news outlets to pay court costs of those who sue them, as part of a bill that may also add streaming service regulation — Government to roll back section 40 legislation, recommended by Leveson, as part of media bill — Ministers will push ahead …
Discussion:
Arjun Neil Alim / Financial Times: Amazon and Google told to let UK radio stations stream on smart speakers
Reuters:
A report claims Amazon is considering acquiring theater chain AMC Entertainment Holdings, whose stock initially jumped 18% and closed up 13.19% on March 28 — Shares of AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (AMC.N) jumped more than 18% on Tuesday, set for their biggest gain in a month …
Discussion:
Joe Bel Bruno / The Intersect: Amazon May Buy Distressed AMC Theater Chain in Seismic Hollywood Streaming Shift
Jeremy Fuster / The Wrap: AMC Theatres Stock Rises After Reports Amazon Might Want to Buy
Matthew Fox / Insider: AMC surges 21% on report that Amazon may be interested in buying the movie theater chain
Roy Price / @royprice: Obvs I have no special knowledge of this but sounds like a good idea to me. Bear in mind 90% of acquisition ideas don't happen. OK maybe 80%. https://twitter.com/...
Charlotte Klein / Vanity Fair:
A profile of Kara Swisher where she explains why she left The New York Times, the importance of editorial control and owning your IP, writing a memoir, and more — The ultimate media insider is juggling podcasts, writing a memoir, and texting with “half the planet.” ("She has a coffee before bed," says Ben Smith.)
Discussion:
@samsanders, @waltmossberg, @claireatki, @dylanbyers, @profgalloway, @larakate, @karaswisher, @abbydphillip, @andrewfeinberg, @rasmus_kleis, @karaswisher, @davidclinchnews, @mlcalderone, @profgalloway, @mediaevan, @voxmedia, @kirstenpowers, @karlbode, @connieschultz, @jonfortt and @b52malmet
Discussion:
Sam Sanders / @samsanders: Loved, loved, LOVED this profile of my friend and mentor @karaswisher. . “...The only way you get higher is if you step out of line. That's the only way. Seriously. Unless you're untalented. And then you should stay in line.” https://www.vanityfair.com/...
Walt Mossberg / @waltmossberg: As I've said before, @karaswisher is the Taylor Swift of journalism. She believes in owning her own work, and has achieved that. She easily shifts from genre to genre, while mastering each. And she's an inspiration for younger creators. https://www.vanityfair.com/...
Claire Atkinson / @claireatki: “I'll Walk Away From Anything”: Kara Swisher Calls the Shots https://www.vanityfair.com/... via @VanityFair
Scott Galloway / @profgalloway: The Jungle Cat in @VanityFair. https://www.vanityfair.com/...
Lara Cohen / @larakate: I've come to really rely on @karaswisher's voice as a voice of reason navigating all the insanity that is the tech industry. I admire how she goes after what she deserves and carries herself with a decidedly not small self opinion usually reserved for white guys. https://twitter.com/...
Abby D. Phillip / @abbydphillip: This @karaswisher profile is incredible but the photos are **chef's kiss** https://www.vanityfair.com/...
Andrew Feinberg / @andrewfeinberg: Fantastic profile of @karaswisher, who was one of my heroes when I was getting started as a tech policy reporter at @Comm_Daily and who is even more awe-inspiring these days 🐐 🐐 🐐 https://twitter.com/...
Rasmus Kleis Nielsen / @rasmus_kleis: “I really hate that journalists don't understand business. If you don't understand the economics of what's happening, you're fucked” @karaswisher tells @charlottetklein. Preach! https://www.vanityfair.com/...
Kara Swisher / @karaswisher: Best/most twisted line from @charlottetklein: “The Golden Child leaves the doll on the table in front of Swisher, who proceeds for the next hour to stroke Barbie's hair while we talk.” https://twitter.com/...
David Clinch / @davidclinchnews: Such an important point. Universities that have Journalism Schools and Business Schools should offer combined “Business of News” courses for people who want to manage news businesses. https://twitter.com/...
Michael Calderone / @mlcalderone: “The word brand—it makes you feel like you're a jar of peanut butter,” @karaswisher tells @charlottetklein, who sat down with the journalist and podcast host at home and in the studio https://www.vanityfair.com/...
Scott Galloway / @profgalloway: “I think of him as a mentor and, if I'm honest, he singlehandedly revived my career.” —cut from article (obvi) https://www.vanityfair.com/...
Evan DeSimone / @mediaevan: This has been a fascinating journey from groundbreaking reporter to all-purpose pundit. https://www.vanityfair.com/...
@voxmedia: For Vanity Fair's April issue, @charlottetklein profiled “queen of all media” @karaswisher, who discussed her journey from beat reporter to podcast host, how the tech industry has evolved, what she thinks her legacy will be, and more: https://www.vanityfair.com/...
@kirstenpowers: I don't have many heroes but @karaswisher just became one. “Last year she gave up a podcast and column at The New York Times largely because, as she says, 'I don't need mama telling me what to do.'” https://www.vanityfair.com/...
Karl Bode / @karlbode: if affluent access journalists were half as fearless and critical of power as portrayed in these kinds of puff pieces we wouldn't be drowning in bullshit https://www.vanityfair.com/...
Connie Schultz / @connieschultz: “I mentor a lot of people, and almost every single one of them is worried about losing their place if they step out of line. And I'm like, the only way you get higher is if you step out of line.” - @karaswisher https://www.vanityfair.com/...
Omari Daniels / Washington Post:
An appeals court restores Serial podcast subject Adnan Syed's murder conviction, after a lower court didn't give proper hearing notice to the victim's brother — A Maryland appellate court panel on Tuesday reinstated the murder conviction of “Serial” podcast subject Adnan Syed …
Discussion:
New York Magazine, The Hill, Vulture, Variety, Associated Press, The Atlantic, Mediaite, The A.V. Club, CNN, New York Times, Forbes, Al Jazeera, TMZ.com, Fox News, Gizmodo, The Verge, New York Daily News, Deadline, ABC News, New York Post, Baltimore Sun, @sarahafordesq, @howardmegdal, Law & Crime, @amandaknox, @whignewtons, Semafor, @hamdia_ahmed, CBS News and The Hollywood Reporter
Discussion:
Stephen Neukam / The Hill: Adnan Syed murder conviction reinstated
Jason P. Frank / Vulture: Serial Subject Adnan Syed Has Conviction Reinstated on Appeal
Jordan Moreau / Variety: ‘Serial’ Subject Adnan Syed's Murder Conviction Reinstated by Maryland Court
Kelli María Korducki / The Atlantic: What Many Americans Misunderstand About Israel's Unrest
Candice Ortiz / Mediaite: Adnan Syed's Murder Conviction and Sentence Reinstated
New York Times: Court Reinstates Adnan Syed's Murder Conviction in ‘Serial’ Case and Orders New Hearing
Marisa Dellatto / Forbes: ‘Serial’ Subject Adnan Syed's Murder Conviction Reinstated By Appeals Court
Nikki Main / Gizmodo: Maryland Court Reinstates Adnan Syed's Murder Conviction Over Legal Technicality
Joseph Wilkinson / New York Daily News: ‘Serial’ podcast subject Adnan Syed's murder conviction reinstated on appeal
Greg Evans / Deadline: Adnan Syed Attorney Stands By Exoneration, Says “No Basis For Re-Traumatizing” The ‘Serial’ Subject - Update
Sarah A. Ford / @sarahafordesq: One violation of law doesn't allow for another. Victims' rights laws must be complied with. Period. #victimsmatter https://twitter.com/...
Howard Megdal / @howardmegdal: This is almost unfathomably cruel https://twitter.com/...
Alberto Luperon / Law & Crime: Appeals court reinstates Adnan Syed's conviction because Hae Min Lee's brother didn't get ample notice about hearing
Amanda Knox / @amandaknox: It's hard enough to overturn a wrongful conviction. Now they're forcing Adnan to fight for his freedom a second time. I got through it, and so will he, but it's a tragedy nonetheless. /a short thread https://twitter.com/...
Sarah Isgur / @whignewtons: This is why criminal cases should be decided by juries and not by podcast listeners. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
J.D. Capelouto / Semafor: Adnan Syed's murder conviction reinstated by Maryland court
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