Mediagazer: Q&A with NPR Podcasting Strategy SVP Collin Campbell on the differences between broadcast and podcast audiences, the continuing need for donations, and more (Tyler Falk/Current)

9:25 PM ET, February 15, 2024

Top News:

Google says IAB Tech Lab's report claiming Privacy Sandbox could disadvantage smaller brands and media companies contains “misunderstandings and inaccuracies” — The IAB Tech Lab report claims that Privacy Sandbox could make it harder for brands to serve effective ads - particularly smaller businesses.

Discussion: Google for Developers, Victor Wong on LinkedIn, MediaPost, Marketing Dive, The Drum, MarTech, @iabtechlab, Anthony Katsur on LinkedIn, Hanne Tuomisto-Inch on LinkedIn, Ad Age, AdExchanger and Digiday

Drew Harwell / Washington Post:

The SEC approves Truth Social's SPAC merger with DWAC; Trump's stake in the post-merger company would be valued at more than $4B at today's price — The former president's stake in the post-merger company would be valued, at today's share price, at nearly $4 billion.

Discussion: Fox Business, Reuters, The Hill, CBS News, Politico, Axios, @drewharwell@mastodon.social, CNN, @Nonilex@masto.ai and @gwynnion@mastodon.social, more at Techmeme »

Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:

Sources: The Independent is in talks to assume control of BuzzFeed in the UK and Ireland under a licensing deal for its brands, including HuffPost — British media group to take charge of local operations of start-up once seen as future of the industry — The Independent, the British media group …

Discussion: @janinegibson.bsky.social, Mediaite, The Information, The Guardian and Reuters

Anne Steele / Wall Street Journal:

Sources: Rod Stewart sold his music and publishing catalog for ~$100M to Iconic Artists Group, which says it has raised $1B+ for future catalog investments — Investors pour billions of dollars into companies pursuing music-rights deals — Rod Stewart, the star behind such hits as …

Discussion: Music Business Worldwide, Axios, Deadline, Music Business Worldwide, Forbes, Billboard, New York Post, Music Week, Variety and Digital Music News

Bloomberg:

Sources: the US DOJ plans to scrutinize the streaming service proposal by Disney, Fox, and WBD over concerns it could harm consumers, rivals, and sports leagues — - Concerns likely focused on pricing, sports league negotiations — Antitrust enforcers have blocked cable bundles in past cases

Discussion: Reuters, The Streamable, @tomselliott and Cord Cutters News

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Roku reports Q4 revenue up 14% YoY to $984.4M, vs. $968.2M est., and warns of a “challenging” environment for media and entertainment in 2024; ROKU drops 14%+ — Roku revenue came in above Wall Street forecasts for the fourth quarter of 2023 — and it touted new milestones …

Discussion: The Desk, TechCrunch, The Wrap, The Information, Deadline, Media Play News, Roku and The Hollywood Reporter, more at Techmeme »

Alexandra Alter / New York Times:

The National Book Awards expand eligibility to noncitizens in the US, including immigrants and longtime residents who have made their home in the country — The awards, which celebrate the best of American literature, are expanding the definition of who qualifies.

Discussion: Publishing Perspectives, @mtaeckens and Mother Jones

Committee to Protect Journalists:

A Turkish court finds three journalists guilty of assisting a terrorist organization; the three have faced multiple trials since their initial arrests in 2016 — The Committee to Protect Journalists urges Turkish authorities not to fight the appeals of journalists Ahmet Altan, Nazlı …

Discussion: Voice of America and Committee to Protect …

Aisha Malik / TechCrunch:

YouTube adds four new tools that let users to incorporate, or “remix”, a music video in their Shorts, weeks after UMG pulled its song catalog from TikTok — YouTube is introducing the ability for users to incorporate or “remix” a music video in their short-form videos …

Discussion: YouTube Official Blog, Tubefilter, @carnage4life@mas.to, The Verge, 9to5Google, Engadget and UPI, more at Techmeme »

Tyler Falk / Current:

Q&A with NPR Podcasting Strategy SVP Collin Campbell on the differences between broadcast and podcast audiences, the continuing need for donations, and more — Collin Campbell is the self-proclaimed optimistic new guy at NPR. — “Everywhere I look, I see opportunity,” …

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Sources: Paramount is winding down Noggin, its streaming service for 2- to 7-year-olds that was launched in 2015, and has laid off its entire team — Noggin, Nickelodeon's interactive learning platform for preschool-age kids, is shutting down after almost 10 years, Variety has confirmed.

Discussion: The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, Deadline and The Streamable

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:

How Swiss outlet Blick gained 16,000+ subscribers since June 2023 by using a registration wall and summaries teasing the content of some walled-off articles — A registration wall launched in the run-up to the premium offer was a “key element” to a strong launch.

Archived Page Info:

This is a snapshot of Mediagazer at 9:25 PM ET, February 15, 2024.

View the current page or another snapshot:

Who's Hiring in Media?

Senior Data Journalist, NY — WSJ

Manager - Publishing Editorial, Manila — Reuters

Oil Reporter, Singapore — Bloomberg

Newsperson - State Govt. & Politics, CA — AP

Business Reporter, SC — Post & Courier

State Government Reporter, WA — Seattle Times

Climate Crisis Columnist — Prospect UK

Multimedia Journalist, CA — Paramount

Community Engagement Mgr., DC — Freedom Forum

Senior California Politics Reporter, CA — SFGATE

Staff Writer - Business, NY — WIRED

Team Editor - Opinion, ON — Toronto Star

Assistant Correspondent, DC — Kyodo News

Climate & Weather Reporter, MN — Star Tribune

Senior Tech Editor, Remote US — The Verge

Lead Business Reporter, TN — Daily Memphian

Managing Editor, WA — Everett Herald

Private Credit Reporter, NY — Debtwire

City Correspondent, London — Financial News

Legislative Reporter, CA — Sacramento Bee

Reporter, PA — Tribune-Review

Visual Editor, Remote — Rest of World

Staff Writer, MI — Watershed Voice

Senior Political Reporter, DC — The Lever

California Playbook Writer, CA — Politico

National Investigative Reporter, NY — HuffPost

Business & Gaming Reporter, NV — Las Vegas Sun

Coastal Climate Reporter, SC — Island Packet

Environment & Energy Reporter, CT — CT Mirror

Coordinating Editor, OR — OPB

Editor, Remote US — Daily Kos

Business Reporter, WA — Longview Daily News

Editor-in-Chief, AZ — Phoenix New Times

Add your company here

See Also:

Mediagazer: site main

Mediagazer River: reverse chronological Mediagazer

Mediagazer Mobile: for phones

Mediagazer Leaderboard: Mediagazer's top sources

Subscribe:

Mediagazer RSS feed

Mediagazer on X

Mediagazer on Mastodon

More News:

Ashley Belanger / Ars Technica:
AMC Networks tells streaming customers they might be eligible for part of an $8.3M settlement over claims that AMC shared viewing histories with tech companies

Discussion: United States District Court Southern District of New York, Cord Cutters News, @arstechnica@mastodon.social, The Desk and KHOU-TV

Amy Hawkins / The Guardian:
Leaked emails appear to confirm that some authors were excluded from the 2023 Hugo Awards over fear their work would offend China, host of the awards convention

Discussion: File 770, @tess@mastodon.social, @jasonkoebler@mastodon.social and 404 Media

Todd Spangler / Variety:
WGA East says 26 of the 50 NowThis members represented by the union have been laid off; an internal memo says no additional layoffs are planned

Discussion: The Guardian, @jamjad_, @pjayevans, @benmullin, @mikeisaac, @mikeisaac, @emilysullbarger, @meghin_, @snmrrw, @sebauyanet, @nowthisunion, @sebauyanet, The Wrap and @snmrrw

Geert De Clercq / Reuters:
An EU study of 576 influencers finds that 97% posted commercial content but only 20% systematically indicated the content was advertising

Discussion: European Commission, The Hill, The Information, RTÉ, Metro.co.uk, Adweek and Boing Boing

Ben Mullin / @benmullin:
A memo to Intercept staff says EIC Roger Hodge is leaving and the outlet is laying off 15 people and cutting salaries for the leadership team

Discussion: Talking Biz News, @danackerman, @themaxburns, @froomkin, @willyblackmore, The Wrap, MediaPost and NPR

Emma Roth / The Verge:
Meta plans to start charging a 30% fee for boosting Facebook and Instagram posts on iOS later in February, after Apple extended its 30% cut to boosting in 2022

Discussion: Facebook, MediaPost, Reuters, @AAKL@noc.social, BGR, Kaye Ann Caronongan on LinkedIn, Bloomberg, The Information, Wall Street Journal, 9to5Mac, TechCrunch, Engadget and Search Engine Land, more at Techmeme »

Sahil Patel / The Information:
Sources: Vox Media's and Bustle Digital Group's revenue each fell ~15% YoY due to weaker ad sales; both have seen a 10% rise in ad sales so far in 2024

Earlier Picks:

Committee to Protect Journalists:
Senegalese police attacked, harassed, and tear gassed or detained over 25 journalists reporting on February 9 protests over the delayed presidential election

Georg Szalai / Hollywood Reporter:
TelevisaUnivision reports Q4 revenue fell 7% YoY to $1.36B and adjusted OIBDA fell 7% YoY to $468.1M; streamer ViX had 7M+ subscribers at the end of 2023

Discussion: The Desk, Deadline, Footwear News, MediaPost, Variety and WORLD SCREEN

Jonathan Heawood / The Guardian:
A look at new local UK newsrooms, like Manchester's The Mill, Glasgow's The Ferret, and The Bristol Cable, which are taking over as legacy local media declines

Discussion: Johny Cassidy on LinkedIn, Jonathan Heawood on LinkedIn and @EricLawton@spore.social

Hanaa' Tameez / Nieman Lab:
Four owners of independent media talk about why they went independent, the boom-and-bust cycle of media funding, sustainability, co-op ownership, and more

Discussion: @mathewi and @hanaatameez

Oliver Darcy / CNN:
Meta seems unable to define political content, vaguely mentioning laws, elections, and social topics, after saying Threads would not amplify political content

Discussion: Columbia Journalism Review, @shiraovide@threads.net, @katieharbath@threads.net, @jayfarrellarnold@threads.net, @doniecnn@threads.net, @oliverdarcy@threads.net, @crumbler@threads.net, @bostonjoan@threads.net, @campuscodi@mastodon.social and The Information

Damilare Dosunmu / Rest of World:
Omdia: South African streaming company Showmax had 2.1M subscribers in Africa at the end of November 2023, ahead of Netflix's 1.8M and Amazon Prime Video's 300K

Discussion: Marie Lora-Mungai on LinkedIn, The Information and @restofworld@restof.social

From Techmeme:

Bloomberg:
Sources: Sony is in the early stages of developing a portable console for PS5 games, building on the PlayStation Portal, although its debut is likely years away

James Hunt / The Block:
MicroStrategy bought 55,500 bitcoin for ~$5.4B cash at an average price of $97,862 between November 18 and November 24, taking its holdings to ~386,700 bitcoin

Financial Times:
The EU says Bluesky breaches its rules for not disclosing key details about itself, and has asked 27 governments to see “if they can find any trace of Bluesky”

Sister Sites:

Techmeme
Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web

memeorandum
What US political commentators are discussing online right now

WeSmirch
The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page