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A quick analysis of The Messenger's content shows an outlet with stories that resemble those from a British tabloid and bylines apparently overwhelmingly male — The new site from the former owner of The Hill — backed by $50 million — feels like a remnant of an earlier age. — command-f, c, a, r, r, o, l, l.
Discussion:
@jbenton, @swodinsky, @aidnmclaughlin, @_cingraham, @stevemullis, @dbernstein, @grahamstarr, @mwatkinstrib, @alexkoppelman, @chrisgeidner, @cwarzel, @niemanlab, @swodinsky, @joshtpm, @gabrieljr, @jayrosen_nyu, @hilella, @katzish, @meghnawbur, @digiphile, @jon_christian, @samjmintz, @ckrewson, @laurahazardowen and @froomkin


Former NFL punter Pat McAfee breaks his four-year $120M FanDuel contract to move his show to ESPN, ESPN+, and ESPN's YouTube channel, set to start in the fall — “The Pat McAfee Show” is moving to ESPN in a multimillion-dollar deal that he is expected to begin in the fall, The Post has learned.
Discussion:
@patmcafeeshow, Awful Announcing, The Ringer, Front Office Sports, al.com, Poynter, @nfl_dovkleiman, @woodyshw, @sportstalkmatt, @chuckpaganonfl, @chrisdokish, @rapsheet, @morningmashup, @17formvp, @torreysmithwr, @realpacman24, @bostonconnr, @wadeplem, Barrett Media, @nfl_dovkleiman, @philmackey, @michele_tafoya, @dvebillcrawford, @evanfoxy, The Comeback, @tyschmit, @recedavis, Associated Press, @jeskeets, @kalebnfl, Sportico, Adweek, Next TV, Sports Illustrated, Daily Mail, Mediaite, Awful Announcing, Bloomberg, Deadline and The Athletic


BBC News announces BBC Verify to “pull back the curtain” and offer “radical transparency” on its journalists' work, with a team of 60 from OSINT and elsewhere — BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness said BBC Verify would “pull back the curtain”.
Discussion:
@pressgazette and @marcusryder


CNET employees seek to form a union representing ~100 writers, editors, and other content creators with WGA East and ask management for voluntary recognition — CNET journalists are pushing to unionize, seeking a formal say on issues including the use of artificial intelligence at the technology-news company.
Discussion:
The Verge, @glenngabe, @kevincollier, @mattdpearce, @niemanlab, @scalzi, @josheidelson, @dsgolson, @raehodge, Wired, Engadget and Talking Biz News


Sources: a handful of Fox anchors have reached out to Tucker Carlson to express interest in joining his forthcoming Twitter venture once their contracts are up — On April 26, Carlson spoke by phone with one of Fox Corp.'s eight board members, who told the host that his recent benching …
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, New York Times, @_cingraham, @pbump, @donlew87, @thewrap, @donlew87, @donlew87, @oneunderscore__, @mathewi, @variety, The Wrap, Insider, The Hill, Raw Story and The Messenger


Antenna: Netflix's $6.99 ad tier had 937,616 US subscribers in March, out of ~55M total, and Disney+'s ad tier, launched a few weeks after Netflix, had 863,791 — Streaming leader had fewer than one million U.S. subscribers on its ad-supported plan as of March


Sources: Austin Russell plans to invest $10M in the $656M Forbes acquisition; the rest will come from Sun Group, two businessmen, and investors that GSV finds — Austin Russell, the 28-year-old American CEO of electric vehicle tech company Luminar Technologies, plans to put in only $10 million …
Discussion:
Talking Biz News, @sarafischer, @rafat, @michaelgwaltz, @robpegoraro, @simonwdc, The Information and Columbia Journalism Review


The NYT launches New York Times Audio on iOS after ~1.5 years in private beta, with short-form stories, a daily news show called The Headlines, and more — While the rest of the audio industry craters, the Gray Lady debuts a one-stop app for subscribers, with new short-form stories and an even shorter daily morning podcast.
Discussion:
Adweek, The New York Times Company, @nytimespr, @sarthakgh, @pkafka and @vanityfair


Masha Gessen resigns from the board of free expression group PEN America after a panel with Russian writers was canceled due to objections by Ukrainian writers — Masha Gessen stepped down following the free expression group's decision to cancel an event at its World Voices Festival after Ukrainian writers threatened to boycott.
Discussion:
Reason, Associated Press and The Atlantic


A New York appeals court reinstates parts of a sexual assault lawsuit against former ABC News executive Michael Corn; a lower court dismissed the suit in 2022 — Michael Corn, who left ABC News in 2021, has denied the allegations — A New York appeals court reinstated parts …


In an email, the WGA negotiating committee says its proposals would cost an estimated $429M per year, including $75M to Disney, $68M to Netflix, and $47M to WBD — The Writers Guild of America argued Tuesday that the strike will end up costing studios more if it goes on for “weeks and months” …
Discussion:
@gabrielsherman, Collider, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline


Rumble acquires podcasting and livestreaming service Callin; former PayPal COO and Callin's co-founder David Sacks plans to join Rumble's board of directors — 'I strongly support Rumble's unwavering commitment to free speech in the face of growing censorship and government overreach …
Discussion:
Inside Radio, @yoda, @amitisinvesting, @silvermanjacob, @davidsacks, The Verge and Rumble, Inc., more at Techmeme »