What We’re Reading

We keep an eye out for the most interesting stories about Labby subjects: digital media, startups, the web, journalism, strategy, and more.

MuckRock / Michael Morisy

MuckRock wants you to help read through the Mueller Report →

“Getting started is easy: Just go to the Assignment page and answer the questions that are presented along with the page you’re shown. You can answer as many or as few as you’d like, and we’ll review and compile the data you submit to total up the most important insights.”

What else we were reading on April 18

Axios / Sara Fischer

Facebook adds two new fact-checking partners — including one owned by The Daily Caller, Inc. →

“CheckYourFact.com arguably leans right, as it’s a for-profit subsidiary owned by The Daily Caller, Inc., although editorially independent. Science Feedback fact-checks news and information primarily based on whether it is rooted in science.”

BuzzFeed News / Karsten Schmehl

WhatsApp has become a hotbed for spreading Nazi propoganda in Germany →

“BuzzFeed News has catalogued more than 200 different WhatsApp stickers that show inciting, violent, or anti-Semitic content. Some stickers show symbols prohibited by German law, including SS runes, the SS insignia, certain flags and swastikas.”

The Guardian / Alex Hern

Facebook permanently bans far-right groups under its “dangerous individuals and organizations” policy →

“The ban, which came into effect at midday on Thursday, extends beyond the groups and individuals specifically cited as hate organizations: posts and other content that ‘expresses praise or support’ for them will also be banned, as will users who coordinate support for the groups.”

The Atlantic / Taylor Lorenz

Digital media unionization comes to Instagram memers →

“They generate the engagement that helps keep Instagram growing—but, they argue, the multibillion-dollar platform doesn’t pay them for their work, or give them any control. So they’re fighting back. And before you write off IG Meme Union Local 69-420 as a joke, the organizers of the collective would like you to know that they are very serious… ‘Seize the memes of production.'”

Poynter / Daniel Funke

Why fact-checkers couldn’t contain misinformation about the Notre Dame fire →

“Ground zero for that battle is Twitter.”

Time / Hillary Leung

For the first time, the U.S.’s media climate is “problematic” in the World Press Freedom Index →

“The U.S., Venezuela, Brazil, Iran and China saw their rankings drop. Of those five, China — which a separate report by RSF said is ramping up its interference and spread of propaganda not just locally, but in international media — is ranked lowest at 177… On the flip side, Ethiopia has climbed 40 places from near the bottom to 110.”

Digiday / Max Willens

Apple is looking to beef up its staff for Apple News(+) →

“The listings, some of which Apple has been trying to fill for a while, would give Apple resources to forge strategic marketing partnerships with platforms including Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat; a point person to lead collaborative marketing campaigns with publishers participating in Apple News; and a leader who can work across Apple’s marketing, product, engineering, data analytics, design and business development teams.”

The Washington Post / Sarah Ellison

The National Enquirer is being sold for $100 million to the CEO of airport newsstands Hudson News →

“The decision to sell came after Anthony Melchiorre, the hedge fund manager whose firm controls AMI, became disillusioned with the reporting tactics of the Enquirer, which is overseen by David Pecker, Trump’s confidant dating back many years. AMI has been under intense pressure because of the Enquirer’s efforts to tilt the 2016 presidential election in favor of Trump.”

Twitter / Kurt Wagner

The passwords of “millions of Instagram users” were stored unencrypted, Facebook admits →

Facebook updated their post from last month the same day the Mueller report came out.

—CS