Mediagazer: World Press Freedom Index 2023: 31 countries are in a “very serious situation”, the lowest ranking in the report, as more authoritarians silence the press (Oliver Holmes/The Guardian)

4:45 AM ET, May 4, 2023

Top News:

Oliver Holmes / The Guardian:

World Press Freedom Index 2023: 31 countries are in a “very serious situation”, the lowest ranking in the report, as more authoritarians silence the press — World Press Freedom Index report warns disinformation and AI pose mounting threats to journalism

Michelle Nichols / Reuters:

USAID head Samantha Power announces the launch of Reporters Shield, a program to defend journalists globally from legal threats aimed at silencing voices — The United States on Tuesday launched a program to defend journalists around the world from legal threats aimed at silencing critical voices …

Discussion: Voice of America, @b_judah, @natesibley, New Yorker, U.S. Agency …, Al Jazeera, Editor and Publisher and The Hill

Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
RSF says that the “fake content industry” has increased “volatility” in its press freedom rankings; the US fell three spots to 45 and Russia fell nine to 164

Discussion: Global Investigative …, @digg, @mofa_taiwan, @nehakoppula, @bworldph, @bworldph, @newsbfm, @greenpeaceafric, @mhmck, @turkishminutetm, @sweden, @gijnafrica, @hamidmirpak, @davidcasamep, Reporters Without Borders, Journalism.co.uk, Byline Times and Euractiv

Benj Edwards / Ars Technica:

Striking WGA writers have two main worries about AI: their work being used as training data and being tasked with just fixing AI-generated “sloppy first drafts” — WGA writers don't want to train AI or clean up AI-generated “sloppy first drafts.”

Discussion: @iethics, Axios, @katiekilkenny7, @variety, Breitbart, CBS News and The Hollywood Reporter, more at Techmeme »

Joe Flint / Wall Street Journal:
If the Hollywood writers' strike drags on, Netflix, Apple, and HBO will be in a better position than others as they tend to make their content far in advance

Discussion: PinkNews, @jbflint, Reuters, @scottfconroy, Breitbart, The Week, New York Times, KTLA, The Wrap, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Bloomberg, TVNewsCheck, CBS News, Deadline, Fast Company, The Hill and MediaPost

Max Tani / Semafor:

Court docs: the top HR exec at the publisher of Inc. and Fast Company allegedly stole $429K+ from the company; she was fired in April 2023 and arrested on May 1 — The Scoop — The top human resources executive at the publisher of Inc Magazine and Fast Company allegedly stole more than $429,000 …

Discussion: @maxwelltani, @mattzeitlin, Adweek and @w7voa

Lachlan Cartwright / The Daily Beast:

A judge tosses out Donald Trump's lawsuit against The New York Times and his niece Mary Trump, in which he alleged an “insidious plot” to obtain his tax records — Trump sued the paper, along with his niece Mary, alleging an “insidious plot” to grab his tax records and publish them in a Pulitzer-winning report.

Discussion: @oliverdarcy, Forbes, @robertmaguire_, CBS News, @fpwellman, @elienyc, @deanobeidallah, @susannecraig, The Guardian, Mediaite, New York Post, Deadline, The Hill and @freedomofpress

Ross A. Lincoln / The Wrap:

In a show of solidarity, the WGA was joined by members of the DGA, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, Teamsters, and six other guilds at a Los Angeles rally — Participants included SAG, DGA, IATSE, the Teamsters, and more — In a massive show of solidarity, on day 2 of the ongoing Writers' strike …

Discussion: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline

Dade Hayes / Deadline:

Twitter announces it is expanding the scope of its partnership with NBCU for the 2024 Summer Olympics; Snap announced a similar initiative with NBCU on May 1 — Despite all of the upheaval at Twitter under new owner Elon Musk in recent months, the social media firm and NBCUniversal …

Discussion: MediaPost, Marketing Brew, Ad Age, Next TV and TVNewsCheck

Matthew Keys / The Desk:

Dow Jones plans to launch a streaming radio channel on TuneIn with content from The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, MarketWatch, and Investor's Business Daily — The service will offer around-the-clock audio programming from the Wall Street Journal and its sister publications. — By: Matthew KeysMay 3, 2023,

Discussion: Inside Radio and Talking Biz News

JC Reindl / Detroit Free Press:

Detroit Free Press names Nicole Avery Nichols as its new top editor, returning to the outlet after a two-year stint as editor-in-chief of nonprofit Chalkbeat — Nicole Avery Nichols, who has reported and edited news in Detroit for more than 25 years, leading coverage that has ranged …

Discussion: @polarbarrett, @nushratr, @kristenshamus, @ron_fournier, @rjconsults, @loriahiggins, @rochelleriley, @makingnews, @kat__stafford and @froomkin

Sam Jabri-Pickett / Reuters:

Google and Meta executives say their platforms would withdraw access to news articles in Canada if the proposed Online News Act passes — Google and Meta would withdraw access to news articles in Canada if legislation compelling internet companies to pay news publishers is passed …

Discussion: The Canadian Press, more at Techmeme »

Dade Hayes / Deadline:

Sources: NBCUniversal will shutter LX, its news network aimed at viewers ages 18-49, in mid-2023; ~40 affected workers are being considered for other NBCU jobs — EXCLUSIVE: NBCUniversal is winding down LX, a 3-year-old network with the stated mission of delivering viewers “the stories you need with more sass and less suits.”

Discussion: @deadline and @jakegbennett

Karlene Lukovitz / MediaPost:

IAB report: US digital video ad spend, including social video and connected TV, rose 21% YoY to $47.1B in 2022 and is projected to rise 17% to $55.2B in 2023 — U.S. digital video ad spend increased 21% in 2022, to $47.1 billion, and is projected to rise 17% in 2023, to $55.2 billion …

Discussion: Next TV, IAB, Forbes, Cord Cutters News, Media Play News and Tv Technology

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Caleb Davis / Reuters:
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