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Meta plans to deprecate the Facebook News tab in the US and Australia in early April 2024 and stop signing deals for traditional news content in those countries — Meta Platforms Inc. is winding down its news feature in the US and Australia, part of a broader shift away from the category for the social media giant.
Discussion:
Meta, The Guardian, The Hill, The Verge, Quartz, Fast Company, Alexandra Wake on LinkedIn, The Desk, The Guardian, New York Post, UPI, @markdistef, @jason_kint, Alan Soon on LinkedIn, @joshbutler, William Easton on LinkedIn, @bloodiedwombat, New York Times, @snurb@aoir.social, @brianstelter, @realdrbrendan, Gizmodo, @cameronwilson, TechCrunch, @jeffjarvis, Engadget, @cameronwilson, @parismarx@threads.net, Al Jazeera, NBC 7 San Diego, Reuters, Mumbrella, @alansoon73@threads.net, @camwilsonreporter@threads.net and The Wrap, more at Techmeme »
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Australia's PM threatens action against Meta after it said it would stop paying media companies; News Corp says it threatens the viability of small media groups — Prime minister pledges to respond to move that News Corp says threatens viability of some media groups


Threads says it will make its API broadly available to developers by June and is currently testing it with some partners, including Techmeme and Hootsuite — Meta-owned social network Threads said today that it will make its API broadly available to developers by June.


A US district judge holds Catherine Herridge in civil contempt for refusing to divulge her source for Fox News stories about a scientist investigated by the FBI — A federal judge held veteran investigative reporter Catherine Herridge in civil contempt on Thursday for refusing to divulge …


A controversial NYT report claiming Hamas weaponized sexual violence on Oct. 7 relied heavily on an ex-Israeli intelligence officer with no reporting experience — American Media Keep Citing Zaka — Though Its October 7 Atrocity Stories Are Discredited in Israel
Discussion:
The Wrap, Defector, @anatschwartz, CNN, @jeremyscahill, @arnorosenfeld, @joshmeyerdc, @somervilleny, @speechboy71, Amal Ghandour on LinkedIn, Paul Biggar on LinkedIn, Ish Aderonmu on LinkedIn, @denny@boing.world, @sababausa.bsky.social, @elizabethviolet.bsky.social, @dangillmor@mastodon.social, @Migueldeicaza@mastodon.social, Don Juan in Hell, @Sherifazuhur@sfba.social, @gwensnyder.bsky.social, @gwensnyder.bsky.social, @elizabethviolet.bsky.social, @chargrille@progressives … and @peter@thepit.social
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Sources: NYT managers launched a leak probe after The Intercept revealed internal debate over a yet-to-air episode of The Daily about Hamas and sexual violence
Discussion:
New York Post, The Nation, @snmrrw, @nickrmanes, @keithdorejel, @mbullobullo, @bondhack, @dceiver, @gregmitch, @joshua_eaton, @ethanscorey, @bgrueskin, @nkulw, @wireracing, @ericdharvey, @nicolefroio, @mollytaft, @adrianmorrow, @crashandmemes, @markamesexiled, @scottnover, @jwsthomson, @hanaatameez, @assuss, @willmenaker, @jeffbercovici, @charlottetklein, @niubi, @ryangrim, The Wrap, Jacobin, @jeffgreco.com and Eli Erlick


Spotify launches the Audiobooks Access Tier, which gives free users in the US access to 15 hours of audiobooks per month for $9.99 per month — After adding 15 hours of free audiobooks listening to its subscription plan late last year, Spotify today is introducing a $9.99 per month option …
Discussion:
Publishers Weekly, Spotify, Engadget, The Verge, @ashleycarman@threads.net and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »


An interview with Chris Moran, the Guardian's head of editorial innovation, about its new “Deeply Read” list, which uses an “active time spent” ranking metric — The No. 1 most-clicked story on The Guardian's U.S. site right now: “Alabama IVF ruling leaves Republicans stuck between …
Discussion:
MediaPost, @chrismoranuk, @davidclinchnews, Media Voices, @chrismoranuk and The Guardian


Amid a market correction in podcasting, the biggest stars still get eight- and nine-figure contracts, while rank-and-file employees push for union protections — While mega-deals come roaring back, rank-and-file podcasters are seeking basic labor protections — Welcome back to Soundbite.
Discussion:
Podnews, @fionasturges, @lucyj_ford and The Information


The Washington Post's Taylor Lorenz is launching Power User, a weekly Vox Media video podcast on trends shaping the internet and tech landscape, on March 21 — - Earlier this month, Vox Media announced that acclaimed author and podcaster Brené Brown will be bringing her two award-winning shows …
Discussion:
Poynter, @sarafischer, @voxmedia, @tranniehall.bsky.social, The Wrap and Talking Biz News


Co-founders of Trump Media file a suit claiming Trump and others tried to dilute their stake in the company; the case could complicate Trump Media's SPAC merger — The case could complicate a long-delayed bid by the owner of Truth Social to go public — and deliver former president Donald Trump a financial lifeline
Discussion:
BizPac Review, Axios, The Overspill, CNBC, @drewharwell, @drewharwell, @drewharwell, HuffPost, @drewharwell@mastodon.social, Forbes, Mediaite, New York Times, Raw Story and UPROXX, more at Techmeme »


To stem the tide of AI-generated work, Amazon starts limiting the publication of “summaries” and “workbooks” that claim to be companions to human-authored books — Authors decry an “explosion” of knockoff books on Amazon as the company struggles to keep up.
Discussion:
@karaswisher, @willoremus@mastodon.social and Gizmodo, more at Techmeme »


BBC Studios buys British broadcaster ITV's 50% stake in streamer BritBox International for £255M, as ITV focuses on its ad-funded streaming service ITVX — The streamer was founded in 2017 as a joint venture between BBC Studios, which is the commercial arm of the British broadcaster, and ITV.


FuboTV reports a $71M Q4 net loss, down 26% YoY, global revenue up 28% YoY to $410.2M, $370M from subscriptions, 1.61M subscribers in North America, up 12% YoY — David Gandler called out the upcoming Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery venture as his sports streamer hit 1.61 million subscribers and shrank its fourth-quarter loss.
Discussion:
The Streamable, The Wrap, Sportico.com, MediaPost, The Desk, Deadline and Advanced Television


The Disney-Reliance merger would create a TV player that dominates cricket in India: Disney has IPL TV broadcast rights and Reliance has IPL streaming rights — A proposed merger of Walt Disney's and Reliance's media assets in India could spark intense antitrust scrutiny over their market power …
Discussion:
Variety, Digital Journal, CNN and TechCrunch