Mediagazer: News outlets can respond to Substack poaching their best-known opinion writers by embracing more diverse perspectives in op-ed pages and by refocusing on news (Will Oremus/Slate)

10:50 PM ET, April 23, 2021

Top News:

Steven Perlberg / Insider:

Sources: Substack has approached NYT writers including Liz Bruenig, who was offered a $200K advance, double her salary, and Taylor Lorenz, who was offered $300K — - The New York Times is readying a newsletter push as Substack comes after top journalists. — Substack offered opinion …

Will Oremus / Slate:

News outlets can respond to Substack poaching their best-known opinion writers by embracing more diverse perspectives in op-ed pages and by refocusing on news — This week, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg granted a rare, live, hourlong interview to a tech journalist, where he revealed the company's plans for a slew of new audio products.

Discussion: Insider, @oliverdarcy, @willoremus, @schandur, @jmadelman, @janebsinger, @andyorin, @williamturton, @alex, Jen the Libertarian, @aaronmesh, @ggreenwald, @kegill, @willoremus, @stevekrak, @jayrosen_nyu, @elieraine, @blackamazon, @aaschapiro and @elienyc

Charlie Warzel / Galaxy Brain:
Charlie Warzel says his Substack newsletter has steady growth, though Glenn Greenwald called its start “slow”, as some see it as a test case for ex-NYT writers

Anne Steele / Wall Street Journal:

Sources: Spotify to announce an Apple Podcasts Subscriptions competitor next week that will let podcasters set prices without charging them or taking a cut — Podcasts exploded in popularity during the lockdown and are on track to bring in more than $1 billion in U.S. ad revenue this year

Discussion: Variety, The Verge, @freedaaron, The Wrap, ScreenRant, @clew_less, @srussolillo, MacRumors, 9to5Mac and AppleInsider, more at Techmeme »

Kate Kaye / Digiday:

NYT says that, unlike WaPo, it won't be using cookie-replacing tech like Unified ID 2.0 and is instead interested in exploring contextual ad targeting — As other publishers kick the tires on identity technologies designed to replace third-party cookies, The New York Times is ruling them out.

Discussion: MediaPost and @petersontee

Megan Graham / CNBC:

Disney says it's sold out of ad inventory for the Oscars on Sunday despite falling ratings; Kantar: a 30-second spot in 2020 was $2.15 million, up 9% from 2019 — - Disney Advertising Sales said it's sold all ad inventory for the 93rd Oscars telecast on Sunday.

Discussion: New York Times, Ad Age, MediaPost and Digiday

Jonathan O'Connell / Washington Post:

Labor Dept. found in 2019 that Alden likely mismanaged $294M of staff pensions by putting them into its own funds; Alden agreed to pull the money and pay $20.7M — Alden Global Capital admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to pull employees' pension money out of its own funds and pay them $20.7 million …

Discussion: @gaufre, @ckrewson, @washingtonpost, @brndnpr and @thamburger

Washington Post:

Some staff at a think tank called No Labels have objected to its hiring of Mark Halperin, fired in 2017 by NBC and MSNBC after accusations of sexual misconduct — A nonpartisan political organization is facing blowback from its employees after hiring journalist Mark Halperin …

Discussion: @jayrosen_nyu, Talking Points Memo, @sfpelosi, @dceiver, @authorkimberley, @meredithshiner, @paulwaldman1, @jkarsh, @seungminkim, @laurachapin, @edbott, @clarajeffery, @sarahellison, @yashar and @jbarro

Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg / Wall Street Journal:

Malcolm Gladwell's new book is part of Pushkin Industries' push into being a major provider of highly produced audiobooks with original scores and archival tape — The author's company uses sound effects and original music. ‘We think with our eyes and feel with our ears.’

Discussion: @wsj, @pushkinpods, @david_marcelis, @jbflint, @mediaevan, @benmullin and @jeffreyt1

Matthew Kassel / Jewish Insider:

Interview with Sharon Waxman, founder and CEO of The Wrap, on streaming services dominating Oscar nominations, diversity in HFPA, and growth at The Wrap — As the streaming industry has taken off during the pandemic, The Wrap, Waxman's entertainment industry website, has grown along with it

Discussion: @matthewkassel, @sharonwaxman, @j_insider and @matthewkassel

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty:

Russia labels Latvia-based independent Russian-language news outlet Meduza as a foreign agent: it will have to label itself as such and be subject to scrutiny — The Russian government has designated the Latvia-based independent Meduza news outlet as a foreign agent …

Discussion: Meduza.io, New York Times and Reuters

Taylor Lorenz / New York Times:

Allegations of harassment and exploitation, including poor remuneration, at Jake Paul's collab house point to the need for laws to safeguard child influencers — A look behind the scenes at life in the Team 10 house. — In the vast world of YouTube villains, there may be none as famous as Jake Paul.

Jeanine Poggi / Ad Age:

Following conversations with Black-owned media outlets, GM will hold a dedicated upfront with BIPOC-owned and -targeted media outlets — Plans include hosting diverse media upfront and creating a $50 million incubation fund — General Motors is revamping its model for working with diverse-owned …

Discussion: Variety

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Discussion: Fast Company, @jamilsmith, @cbcsteve, @bkcharvard, Columbia Journalism Review and The Undefeated

Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab:
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Discussion: Nieman Lab, Media Nation, @lauralauradat, @jbenton, @risj_oxford, @emilythorson, @jeremyreesnz, @dragz, @risj_oxford, MediaPost, CJR Galley, @jswatz, Poynter, @froomkin, @lyman_brian, @mmasnick, @benjamintoff, @froomkin, @jbenton, @jeffjarvis and @charliebeckett

Katie Robertson / New York Times:
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Todd Spangler / Variety:
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Raffaele Huang / Wall Street Journal:
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Ryan Morrison / Tom's Guide:
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Zaheer Kachwala / Reuters:
Google says it will consolidate teams that focus on building AI models across Research and DeepMind, and move its Responsible AI teams from Research to DeepMind

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