Top News:

Leak from a Fortune 50 company shows blocking of ads based on COVID-19 keywords led to 2M+ ads blocked so far in March, for NYT, CNN, USA Today, WaPo — The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus.

Films can qualify for the Golden Globes without being screened in a theater, organizers announce; a special screening process will be in effect until April 30 — At least until April 30, but possibly beyond even that, films can qualify for consideration by the HFPA even if they do not first screen in a theater.
Discussion:
The Wrap, @slashfilm, The A.V. Club and Variety

The Facebook Journalism Project announces first round of $5,000 grants to North American local newsrooms for costs associated with COVID-19 pandemic coverage — The Facebook Journalism Project (FJP), the Lenfest Institute for Journalism and the Local Media Association (LMA) …
Discussion:
@brdraper, @bobmoorenews, @tomnovelly, @mediatwit, @ryan_belmore, @karanormal, @lizzyhazeltine, @ckrewson and @jason_w_white
Toni Gidwani / The Keyword:
Google sent users 40K warnings about phishing or malware attempts from nation-states in 2019, a 25% drop YoY; journalist and news outlet impersonations up — Google's Threat Analysis Group (TAG) works to counter targeted and government-backed hacking against Google and the people who use our products.
Discussion:
@yoyoel, Wired, @campuscodi and @freedomofpress, more at Techmeme »

Profile of Lizzie Johnson, the San Francisco Chronicle's first full-time fire reporter, who depicts fires as a “supporting character” in a nuanced human story — What you see in the aftermath of the California fires — On November 8, 2018, the day the Camp Fire broke out …

Richard Reeves, a nationally syndicated columnist and author of books on presidents Kennedy, Nixon, Reagan, Clinton, and others, has died at 83 — His books on Kennedy, Nixon, Clinton and others could be as unsparing as his syndicated column. He was also a familiar face on PBS public-affairs programs.

Patreon says 30,000+ creators signed up in the first three weeks of March; average new patron growth in 6 countries, including US and Italy, was 36.2% over Feb. — Right now is a stressful time to be a creator. In a time when so many around the world are deeply affected …
Discussion:
@outoftheverse, @om, @glenngabe, @ranimolla, @randfish, @nwquah, TechCrunch and The Verge, more at Techmeme »

Epic Games launches Epic Games Publishing, says it will cover up to 100% of development costs while game creators retain 100% of IP and full creative control — ‘The publishing model we always wanted’ — Fortnite maker Epic Games is getting into publishing in a big way.
Discussion:
@ballmatthew, more at Techmeme »

UK to pay out-of-work freelancers 80% of income averaged over last three years, up to £2,500/mo, for three months, for those who have had profits below £50,000 — The U.K. has finally announced an economic relief package for freelancers not in employment after much of the country's …
Discussion:
Press Gazette, @showbizsimon, BBC and Deadline

Canada announces a CA$30M COVID-19 awareness campaign, with the money primarily going to media, says it is progressing with a tax credit program for newspapers — #133 of 139 articles from the Special Report: — The federal government announced Wednesday that it is planning …
Discussion:
@suzannenossel and Globe and Mail

Pixalate finds an ad fraud scheme, which made at least seven figures, on Roku for the second time in three months, showing transparency issues for connected TV — Premium brands and local political groups were duped, according to Pixalate — Key Insights:
Discussion:
@aexm and @mediumbuying

App Annie: the Disney+ mobile app was downloaded 5M times in the seven European countries in which it launched Tuesday; service will launch in France on April 7 — Disney Plus zoomed out of gate in Europe and the U.K. on Tuesday, according to third-party data estimates …
Discussion:
The Streamable