Nieman Lab: The Daily Digest

Negative words in news headlines generate more clicks — but sad words are more effective than angry or scary ones

A massive study of Upworthy headlines — remember Upworthy? — shows how a few emotionally charged words can mean the difference between viral and ignored. By Joshua Benton.
Axios / Peter Allen Clark
Meta is putting the metaverse on the back burner →
“According to PitchBook data compiled by Axios Media Deals’ Tim Baysinger, through March 16, 2022, companies that played in the metaverse or web3 space had raised nearly $2 billion in funding. So far this year, metaverse and web3 companies have raised $586.7 million, a bit more than a quarter of last year’s total.”
The Wall Street Journal / Jennifer Calfas and Joseph Pisani
TikTok creators contemplate life after a possible ban: “It all can be taken away” →
“Some users are already planning for a future without the platform. Shay Regis, a 33-year-old lifestyle influencer and secondhand clothing reseller based in Houston, sat down with her husband over the past week to discuss their finances in various scenarios without TikTok.”
The Wall Street Journal / Alexandra Bruell
Labor strife at The New York Times intensifies, dividing staff →
“Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger last week sent a note to members of the union’s bargaining group for the first time, expressing his concern about the lengthy negotiations. Mr. Sulzberger claimed the committee is refusing to negotiate in person in small groups, a chance ‘to lock eyes, shake hands and hash out a deal,’ according to a copy of the email reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.”
The Drum / Christ Sutcliffe
“It’s very TikTok-led”: BuzzFeed’s Tasty is making its videos look less professional →
“The original kitchen, with its sheer white backdrop and countless drawers and cupboards, looked “too professional” and less authentic to the experiences of viewers. For a brand that wants to be the de facto voice of multicultural cooking in the UK, that was anathema.”
Via Fuego: What the future-of-news crowd is talking about today around the web
Fuego is our heat-seeking Twitter bot, tracking the stories the future-of-journalism crowd is talking about most. Usually those are about journalism and technology, although sometimes they get distracted by politics, sports, or GIFs. Check out Fuego on the web to get up-to-the-minute news.