Top News:

Google says it will preinstall an ad filter in Chrome starting early 2018 aimed at ads deemed “annoying” by the Coalition for Better Ads — Google's Chrome browser will soon come with preinstalled technology that will block the most annoying ads currently marring the web experience, the company confirmed on Thursday.
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Sources: Google will give publishers at least 6 months to prepare for a Chrome-based ad filter coming next year, offering a self-service tool for analyzing ads — Internet giant describes tool as a ‘filter’ for ads that are bothersome to web users — Google has told publishers it will give …
Discussion:
the Econsultancy blog, MSPoweruser, The Verge, Softpedia News, ZDNet, Axios, @reneritchie, @film_girl, Recode, Business Insider, TechCrunch and @mathewi

Despite some subscriber surges, a Pew analysis shows that total weekday circulation for US daily papers fell 8% in 2016, the 28th consecutive year of declines — Following last year's presidential election, some major U.S. newspapers reported a sharp jump in digital subscriptions, giving a boost to their overall circulation totals.
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Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, @pewjournalism, LJ INFOdocket, Poynter and Washington Post
Hayley Tsukayama / Washington Post:
Facebook shareholders call on the company to publish a report examining its guidelines around fake news — Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg faced sharp criticism Thursday during the company's annual shareholders meeting about how the company operates, deals with violence and handles fake news.
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, Peter O'Kelly's Reality Check, Observer and New York Times

The New York Times erred by ending its public editor position because the job adds credibility in the face of wide efforts to discredit the media — No, New York Times! Not the public editor! Why, with trust in news organizations at an all-time low, would you cut the one position dedicated …
Discussion:
Politico, iMediaEthics and Media Matters for America

Federal appeals court temporarily stays FCC TV ownership rule change that would have eased the Sinclair Broadcast and Tribune Media merger — A federal appeals court put on hold the FCC's plans to restore a key media ownership rule that allowed major station groups to expand through mergers and acquisitions.
Discussion:
Radio & Television …, Deadline and Broadcasting & Cable

Plex launches Live TV and DVR for all Plex Pass subscribers, supports all free-to-air broadcast channels — Plex is doubling down on its support for capturing over-the-air signals from digital antennas this morning, with the announcement that it will now not only let users record TV programs, it will also allow them to watch live TV.
Discussion:
Plex, Gizmodo, BetaNews, Ars Technica UK, MacRumors, VentureBeat, The Verge and Pocket-lint

The Wall Street Journal is shutting down its standalone What's News app on June 30 with plans to revamp its main news app — The Journal is the latest news organization to build a mobile-first secondary app as a user-interface playground — and then return focus to the core app.
Discussion:
@s_m_i, @annett_tim, @s_m_i and @jbenton

YouTube updates “ad friendly” guidelines, takes a stronger stance on hateful and demeaning content, and inappropriate use of family entertainment characters — More guidance for video creators and three new types of ad-unfriendly content — YouTube is taking new steps today …
Discussion:
YouTube Creator Blog, ZDNet, C21Media, TechCrunch, MediaNama, @mangaminx, @mscarsonelle, Engadget, Tubefilter and Variety, more at Techmeme »

The Intercept is launching a three-tiered paid membership program with perks like invites to events, access to behind-the-scenes reports, and tote bags — “We'd be happy to see a healthy portion of our budget paid for by the membership program.” — Just because a newsroom is backed …
Discussion:
Journalism.co.uk, @niemanlab, @jbenton and @adamcommentism

Lifehacker makes new hires and launches parenting site Offspring, the second vertical launched in 2017 by Gizmodo Media Group — The first big content stamp applied by new EIC Melissa Kirsch — A couple of weeks before the Memorial Day weekend holiday, Lifehacker editor in chief Melissa Kirsch sent out the following email to staff.
Discussion:
@jmrivera02 and Offspring

Refinery29 gets a 63% click-to-open rate on its biggest newsletter, Refinery29 Everywhere, higher than the average rate of 15% for media newsletters — Refinery29 knows how to stand out in its readers' inboxes. Its biggest newsletter, Refinery29 Everywhere, boasts a click-to-open rate of 63 percent …
Discussion:
@digiday and @meena_thiru

White House waiver that lets Bannon communicate with Breitbart News may skirt ethics rules; “there is no such thing as a retroactive waiver,” ethics chief says — The Trump administration may have skirted federal ethics rules by retroactively granting a blanket exemption …
Discussion:
Politico, Vanity Fair, Business Insider, The Daily Caller, Raw Story, @sunfoundation, @ericliptonnyt, @levinecarrie, @nytpolitics, The Week, AP News, The Wrap and Sunlight Foundation
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Josh Gerstein / Politico:
Trump ethics waiver allows Steve Bannon to interact with Breitbart despite prior ties to the news outlet
Trump ethics waiver allows Steve Bannon to interact with Breitbart despite prior ties to the news outlet
Discussion:
New York Times, Washington Post, Hot Air, New York Magazine, Mediaite, @ericliptonnyt, @slpng_giants, @mateagold, @noahbookbinder, @amlwhere and @sunfoundation