Top News:

Facebook says a dip in reach numbers for publishers in February was due to a data glitch, not a real decline in delivery of posts — Facebook claims Newsfeed dip for news sites was a mere ‘bug’ — Facebook giveth traffic. Hath Facebook taken it away? — The social network …
Discussion:
The Whip, The Awl, dna, @jayrosen_nyu, @pierrefitter, @ssstrom, @earcos, @mikeisaac, @mathewi and American Press Institute
Benjamin Mullin / Poynter:
Toronto Star drops paywall, joins Snapchat — The Toronto Star announced Wednesday the retirement of its digital subscription program, formalizing a move that was projected months ago. — The Star also launched a Snapchat account and enabled readers to share its articles with WhatsApp.
Discussion:
Toronto Star
NetNewsCheck:
Scripps, Journal Communications Complete Merger And Spinoff — The E.W. Scripps Company has completed its merger of broadcast assets with Journal Communications and the two companies have spun off their respective newspaper properties, Scripps announced on Wednesday.
Discussion:
TVSpy
Associated Press:
Berkshire Hathaway buys 2 small Virginia newspapers, The Martinsville Bulletin and the Franklin News-Post, from Haskell Newspapers — Berkshire Hathaway buys 2 small Virginia newspapers — OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett's company has added two small Virginia newspapers to its collection …
Discussion:
Poynter

Unlicensed foreign films and TV series to be removed from Chinese video streaming sites today — Rules Tightened for Foreign Content on China's Online Video Platforms — Unlicensed foreign films and TV series are to be removed from China's powerful online video platforms from today.

News website partly funded by EU launches in UK ahead of possible in-out referendum — European Union news and policy website EurActiv has today launched a new website specifically for the UK. — The site, which is part-funded by the EU and also relies on company sponsorship …
Discussion:
@rebel_rock_on and @gazthejourno

Hollywood Reporter Inks Content Partnership With China's Tencent — The Hollywood Reporter has entered into a multi-year content deal with Tencent. The partnership will see THR's news, features and videos syndicated across platforms of the China-based web giant.
Discussion:
New York Times, Investor's Business Daily and @justinaknope

The Indianapolis Star took a bold stand in print but forced the editorial into a standard Gannett template online — When your newspaper wants to make a big statement, make sure you're making it online too — Indiana's passed a bill that many say allows state-sanctioned discrimination …
Discussion:
Poynter, @ryansholin, @dansinker, @samkirkland, @jayrosen_nyu, Politico, Rolling Stone, Washington Post, The Daily Caller, Mediaite, The Huffington Post, MarketWatch, The Week and Mashable

The Guardian targets oil companies with ‘unprecedented’ climate-change campaign — Climate change is one of those large, sweeping stories in which history has not made a dent in more than 30 years. Alan Rusbridger, the editor in chief of the Guardian, decided to tackle it in a six-month, all-hands blitz
Discussion:
Guardian, @jayrosen_nyu and Guardian

NY, OR, MN, MO, and TX sue magazine subscription service Orbital Publishing Group for price inflation and unauthorized sale of publications — Subscription Service Accused of Fraud — States allege sham outfit inflated prices for publications it wasn't authorized to sell

Vice's head of content Alex Miller talks about covering UK elections, staying in global hotspots like the Ukraine, using new tools like Snapchat, and more — Vice's election will feature ‘freakishly young, smart and angry people’ — Content boss Alex Miller on covering the polls …

How NPR doubled its podcasting revenue in 2014 by pruning offerings and using cross-promotion, and how it expects to double revenue again in 2015 — Inside NPR's podcasting strategy — In January, months after “Serial” rocketed to the top of the iTunes podcasting charts and ignited …
Discussion:
RAIN News and @whatthebit