Top News:


Emails: BuzzFeed is shutting down HuffPost UK's news operation and video desk, except for its politics team, affecting 16 of 29 journalists — Exclusive: Owner BuzzFeed's move leaves more than half of editorial staff at risk — BuzzFeed has told the UK staff of its recently acquired HuffPost website …


Netflix is running a test cracking down on password sharing, prompting some users to get their own account if they don't live with the owner of the account — Earlier this week, some Netflix subscribers began to notice that it might be a bit harder to “borrow” someone's password.
Discussion:
GammaWire, ScreenRant, BBC, CNBC, Fortune, The Daily Dot, Sky News, The Verge, The Muffin por Mauricio …, Hollywood Reporter, IGN India, @film_girl, CBS Philly, 90 Second News, @film_girl, @edzitron, @lanceulanoff, @sherman4949, @jyarow, @tzm_tmt, @richlightshed, AppleInsider, Los Angeles Times, io9, Boing Boing, Mashable, Washington Post, MacRumors, /Film, Fast Company, Cord Cutters News, 9to5Mac, Variety, WGN-TV, The Wrap, Insider, The Desk, Engadget and Reuters, more at Techmeme »


A look at monetization strategies that Gannett is experimenting with, including dynamic paywalls, changing the size of its metered paywalls, and premium content — News Outlets Apologize Less and Innovate More, With a ‘Freemium’ Model and Dynamic Paywalls — Gannett's Amalie Nash is tired …
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, @coreyhutchins, @kerrymflynn, @ifjglobal, @cjr, @arionnenettles, @raju, @cjr, @niemanlab, Chalkbeat and American Press Institute


YouTube says it has taken down 30,000 videos that made false or misleading claims about COVID-19 vaccines over the last six months — YouTube has taken down more than 30,000 videos that made misleading or false claims about COVID-19 vaccines over the last six months, YouTube spokesperson Elena Hernandez …
Discussion:
@evelyndouek, @niemanlab, Slashdot and Engadget


How YouTube celebrity Tim Pool and others failed to launch a news site backed with $1M+ in crowdfunding after infighting, which included a dispute over a cat — Tim Pool's disgruntled ex-partners say he used a cat as a bargaining chip in an ugly business negotiation. Pool says he's innocent.
Discussion:
@willsommer, @edbott, @robertmaguire_, @fonzmulder, Columbia Journalism Review, @marlownyc, @lennyflatley, @josesimian, @jaredlholt, @jakelahut, @willsommer, @petersterne, @allisonkilkenny, @johnsemley3000, @oneunderscore__, @dgisserious, @brandyzadrozny, @heyitsvadim, @jaredlholt and The Verge


The Weeknd says his albums will no longer be submitted to the Grammys due to its anonymous voting committees, which some believe subvert the will of the voters — The event on Sunday will address the challenges of a music industry hit hard by the pandemic.

In memo, Jeff Zucker says CNN is targeting an August 1 return to Atlanta offices and September 1 for NYC, DC, SF, and LA — In note to staff, CNN President Jeff Zucker announces plans for staff returning to the office. “In Atlanta, we are targeting an AUGUST 1 return for our News and Sports colleagues. In New York, DC, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, we are targeting SEPTEMBER 1.” https://twitter.com/...
Discussion:
American Press Institute, The Hill and TVNewser


In a letter to GOP Senators, Amazon says it removed a book because of its policy not to sell books that frame LGBTQ+ identity as a mental illness — Company states policy in response to inquiry by several Republican senators over recent removal of book by conservative author
Discussion:
@lucas_shaw, @evelyndouek, Forbes, Breitbart, New York Post, @jack_turban, @ryantand, The Week and CNET, more at Techmeme »


Media and politics news site Mediaite is launching a paywall that allows ten free articles per month; subscriptions will cost $4.99 per month or $44.99 per year — As you may know, Mediaite is one of the few major websites in the country that is personally funded (and not by a wildly wealthy banker …


Sources: UK's Society of Editors will postpone the National Press Awards after outlets withdrew from the awards in protest of SoE's claim media wasn't racist — Exclusive: decision follows resignation of executive director over statement denying racism in press
Discussion:
@thedalstonyears, openDemocracy, Press Gazette and Breitbart


AT&T says it plans to launch HBO Max international and AVOD in June and expects HBO Max and HBO subscribers worldwide to reach 120-150M by 2025 — That is up from AT&T's previous forecast of 75-90 million. — AT&T Corp. said Friday that it now expects to reach 120-15 million HBO Max …
Discussion:
Observer, Variety, MediaPost, Variety, The Streamable, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, @jbflint, @loudmouthjulia and Cord Cutters News


Google is further integrating the Publisher Provided Identifier into its Ad Manager, aiding publishers' first-party tracking in lieu of third-party cookies — The PPID's technical setup works like this: the publisher will create a unique ID for users, based on a first-party cookie or a log-in ID.
Discussion:
Press Gazette, Adswerve, @ashk4n, @sarahsluis, @aripap, @chronotope, @jbrouet, Privacy News Online …, Michael Tsai, The Keyword and IAB Tech Lab, more at Techmeme »