We keep an eye out for the most interesting stories about Labby subjects: digital media, startups, the web, journalism, strategy, and more. Here’s some of what we’ve seen lately.
March 31, 2024
“…the partnership will see the businesses combine their publishing, data and advertising platforms ‘to allow commercial partners to seamlessly buy across their sites.’ As part of the agreement The Independent will take over BuzzFeed’s sub-brands in the UK including food vertical Tasty UK, black British identity brand Seasoned, and HuffPost UK.” —
Press Gazette / Bron Maher
/ Mar 31“While Tehran has not been implicated in the attack, the incident has already fueled concerns it could be involved. Iran has designated [Iran International, the U.K.-based TV channel where Pouria Zeraati works] a ‘terrorist entity.’ Iranian state media has repeatedly accused the channel of fomenting unrest.” —
CNN / Joshua Berlinger
/ Mar 31“[Antonina] Favorskaya covered the trials of Navalny for several years and media freedom organization Reporters Without Borders said on Thursday she was one of six journalists across the country held this month. Russian authorities…accused her of taking part in an ‘extremist organization’ by posting on the social media platforms of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation.” —
“All Seasons Press launched in 2021 with a mission: publishing the conservative books that mainstream houses were scared to touch…the company was funded by Scott Bessent, a mega-wealthy investor with a track record of high-profile donations to Republican candidates and sterling conservative credentials — except for the fact that he got his big break in finance as a protégé of billionaire Democratic donor and right-wing boogeyman George Soros.” —
The Washington Post / Will Sommer
/ Mar 31“Radio Free Asia President Bay Fang said in a statement Friday that the outlet’s programming and content will continue without disruption. But, Fang said, actions by Hong Kong authorities, including referring to RFA as a ‘foreign force,’ raise serious questions about its ability to operate in safety following the enactment of [new national security law] Article 23.” —
NPR / John Ruwitch and Michele Kelemen
/ Mar 31“Our members across Scotland produce the award-winning journalism that is the flagship of the STV brand and are only asking for their pay to keep track with inflation.” —
“Founded 168 years ago by the Canadian-born British army officer Arthur B Sleigh, the Telegraph is seen as a mouthpiece of Conservative Britain. When the sale process began in October, the allure of owning that mouthpiece was too much to resist for several media barons. News Corp’s Rupert Murdoch, the Daily Mail group’s Lord Rothermere, the hedge fund manager Sir Paul Marshall, co-owner of GB News, and Axel Springer’s Mattias Döpfner all expressed their interest.” —
The Guardian / Eleni Courea and Jane Croft
/ Mar 31March 28, 2024
NPR / Miranda Green and David Folkenflik
/ Mar 28“‘We’re in a time of information abundance,’ says Brian Moritz, a sports media researcher at St. Bonaventure University. ‘But actual journalists—the people who hold systems and power structures accountable—they’re being totally phased out.'” —SS
Columbia Journalism Review / Josh Hersh
/ Mar 28“A core part of [Nick] Thompson’s strategy was to figure out how much readers would be willing to pay for a subscription. He ended up raising subscription prices by more than 50%, and made it harder for people to read stories without paying … Subscriptions now account for two-thirds of revenue, compared with a little less than half when Thompson took the helm.” —SC
The Wall Street Journal / Alexandra Bruell
/ Mar 28
