Filed under: Green,Motorsports,Volkswagen,Hatchback,Electric,Racing,Performance
Continue reading VW e-Performance Golf R concept previews R division's future
VW e-Performance Golf R concept previews R division's future originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 18:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Green,Rumormill,Electric,Future,Luxury,Performance
Continue reading Telsa Model Y range jumps from 280 to 315 miles; S and X may increase, too
Telsa Model Y range jumps from 280 to 315 miles; S and X may increase, too originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 17:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Continue reading Next-gen Mini is on hold over Brexit and cost-cutting
Next-gen Mini is on hold over Brexit and cost-cutting originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Earnings/Financials,Green,Podcasts,GMC,Hummer,Kia,Mercedes-Benz,Tesla,Volvo,Green Automakers,Green Culture,Technology,Truck,Crossover,Minivan/Van,SUV,Electric,Hybrid,sedan
Plus a badass Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Kia Telluride and Volvo S60 T8
Continue reading Electric Hummer is official, and Tesla's got momentum | Autoblog Podcast #612
Electric Hummer is official, and Tesla's got momentum | Autoblog Podcast #612 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 16:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Spy Photos,Chrysler,Minivan/Van
Continue reading 2021 Chrysler Pacifica refresh spotted with its new bits covered
2021 Chrysler Pacifica refresh spotted with its new bits covered originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Automotive History,Driving
Continue reading Fill 'er up at this New Jersey gas station that dates from 1922
Fill 'er up at this New Jersey gas station that dates from 1922 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Plants/Manufacturing
SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) - The new coronavirus epidemic is likely to wreak havoc on China auto sales and production in the first quarter, but it is too early to push panic buttons as ground could be made up later in the year, industry executives said. Dongfeng Motor Group and its partners Honda Motor, Renault and PSA all have factories there. "We expect (China) vehicle production to decline 3% for the full year, with production down 15% in the first quarter, including the extended new year s
Continue reading China auto sector braces, hopes coronavirus impact is short-lived
China auto sector braces, hopes coronavirus impact is short-lived originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 15:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Design/Style,Porsche,Electric,Performance,sedan
Continue reading Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur has 90 customization options for the Taycan
Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur has 90 customization options for the Taycan originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Rumormill,Ford,Crossover,Future
Continue reading Ford 'baby Bronco' to be called Maverick?
Ford 'baby Bronco' to be called Maverick? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Green,Autonomous,Commercial Vehicles,Concept Cars,Electric,Future,Specialty
Continue reading Meet your robotic tractor overlord from Kubota that will do the farming for you
Meet your robotic tractor overlord from Kubota that will do the farming for you originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Green,Mercedes-Benz,Electric,Luxury,sedan
Continue reading Mercedes-Benz shows fully camouflaged electric EQS sedan testing in LA
Mercedes-Benz shows fully camouflaged electric EQS sedan testing in LA originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Marketing/Advertising,Audi,Genesis,GMC,Hyundai,Kia,Porsche,Toyota,Volvo,Videos
Continue reading A spotter's guide to Super Bowl LIV car commercials
A spotter's guide to Super Bowl LIV car commercials originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Toyota,Deep Dive,SUV,Off-Road
Continue reading 2020 Toyota 4Runner Luggage Test | Lean, green, bag-stuffing machine
2020 Toyota 4Runner Luggage Test | Lean, green, bag-stuffing machine originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Motorsports,BMW,Coupe,Racing
Continue reading BMW M2 CS Racing makes North American debut
BMW M2 CS Racing makes North American debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Reviews,BMW,Quick Spins,New Car Reviews,Luxury,sedan
Continue reading 2020 BMW 840i Gran Coupe Drivers' Notes | The high-style 7 Series alternative
2020 BMW 840i Gran Coupe Drivers' Notes | The high-style 7 Series alternative originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Earnings/Financials,Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Motors Corp on Friday posted a surprise operating loss in the third quarter, its worst quarterly performance in more than three years, hurt by falling sales in China, Japan and Southeast Asia, as well as a stronger yen. It was the firm's biggest loss since the July-September 2016 quarter, when a mileage cheating scandal sapped profits. The automaker's net loss for the quarter just ended came in at 14.4 billion yen.
Continue reading Mitsubishi Motors posts surprise loss as car sales slide
Mitsubishi Motors posts surprise loss as car sales slide originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Auto News,GMC,Hummer,Truck,Electric
Continue reading GMC could have used Jeep's prized grille design on its born-again Hummer
GMC could have used Jeep's prized grille design on its born-again Hummer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Mercedes-Benz,Truck
Continue reading Mercedes-Benz quickly pulls the plug on its slow-selling X-Class pickup
Mercedes-Benz quickly pulls the plug on its slow-selling X-Class pickup originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Continue reading Acura MDX PMC priced at $63,745
Acura MDX PMC priced at $63,745 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsOFF THE TOP
You might have heard: A 2018 survey found that two out of three female journalists have been threatened or harassed online at least once, and 40% said they avoided reporting certain stories as a result (International Women’s Media Foundation)
But did you know: Defamation laws have provided some journalists protection against cyber harassment (Columbia Journalism Review)
When it comes to defamation lawsuits, journalists are typically playing defense. But in some parts of the world, as they face increasing harassment and misinformation online, some journalists have begun using these laws to fight back. “I don’t think a lawsuit should be the answer of first resort,” said Peruvian investigative journalist Gustavo Gorriti, who currently has several cases underway. “But when you have a determined criminal organization of trolls and a mob attacking you, then of course you should be able to ask for legal protection. Journalists should take a much more determined approach to fighting back.”
+ Noted: JSafe app empowers female journalists to take action in threatening situations (Reynolds Journalism Institute); Journalists covering the 2020 election can access special legal guides, trainings and other resources from RCFP and NPPA (Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press); NPR stations see bump in donations following State Department controversy (Washington Post)
API UPDATE
In this week’s edition of ‘Factually’
Fact-checkers band together on coronavirus, TikTok’s getting political, and quashing the rumors about Kobe Bryant’s death. Factually is a weekly newsletter produced by API and the Poynter Institute that covers fact-checking and misinformation.
TRY THIS AT HOME
Knowing which stories ‘convert’ is well and good — but do you know what your subscribers are reading? (Editor & Publisher)
Subscriber churn plagues the news industry. Remember last summer, when the Los Angeles Times reported adding 52,000 new digital subscriptions in the first half of 2019 — but netted an increase of only 13,000, due to churn? News organizations do a lot of work analyzing which types of stories drive subscriptions, but they need to take a closer look at the “diet of a satisfied subscriber,” notes Matt DeRienzo. Which stories are being read by logged-in subscribers? What are the habits of subscribers who cancel?
+ Earlier: News organizations need a CRM to keep track of subscribers — which newsletters they’re signed up for, when was the last time they were contacted, whether they’re opening emails, etc. (Editor & Publisher)
+ The news publisher’s guide to TikTok (Twipe)
OFFSHORE
Seeing a gap in Southeast Asia, India’s The Ken plots a regional expansion with local teams (Splice)
The Ken, a one-story-a-day publication that covers technology, business and healthcare, was an unlikely success in India, where it launched in 2016. But now that it’s found a firm footing, it’s expanding into Southeast Asia, home to an increasingly interesting start-up scene, says co-founder Rohin Dharmakumar. Along with that comes the necessity of hiring local reporters — “We don’t believe it’s easy to do quality stories remotely,” says Dharmakumar — and convincing readers in that region to shell out for subscriptions. “The shift toward subscriptions is sometimes a belief-driven plunge, and we may fail, but it requires belief. Nobody thought it work in India, but it did.”
OFFBEAT
How middle managers can manage up, down, and still get things done (Fortune)
Middle managers often have the challenging task of trying to protect their priorities and their direct reports from what they see as unwise leadership decisions. But instead of trying to exert more control to do so, writes Jennifer Mizgata, try more communication. Make sure direct reports know what they are expected to do, so that they’re not confused by conflicting messages from higher-ups. Have a clear agenda for every meeting that involves both parties. And be honest with senior management about what you want your direct reports to focus on, and how you’re managing their workload. In other words, “Work with both your boss and your direct report instead of working around them,” writes Mizgata.
UP FOR DEBATE
‘The reputation of The Post must prevail over any one individual’s desire for expression’ (CNN)
In a memo sent to staff yesterday afternoon, Washington Post Editor-in-Chief Marty Baron invited feedback on the newsroom’s social media policy, which is in the process of being updated. The memo follows a controversial incident in which Post reporter Felicia Sonmez was temporarily suspended after she tweeted out a Daily Beast story covering the sexual assault allegations against Kobe Bryant, just hours after his death Sunday. “We count on staffers to be attuned to how their social media activity will be perceived,” Baron wrote. “We do not want social media activity to be a distraction, and we do not want it to give a false impression of the tenor of our coverage.”
+ “I think the industry is divided on this point, also generational,” writes Vivian Schiller, on the idea that a news institution’s reputation trumps employees’ right to free expression (Twitter, @vivian)
SHAREABLE
‘Behind the story’ cards are a good idea — as long as readers actually see them (Center for Media Engagement)
In an experiment with the Center for Media Engagement and Trusting News, a team at McClatchy designed “Behind the Story” cards, graphic elements that give brief contextual information about how and why a story was written. Researchers then tested whether embedding the cards in digital stories made a difference in reader trust. Although participants in the study said the cards would theoretically improve their trust in a news outlet, the majority didn’t even notice them when embedded in the articles — so no significant boost in trust was gained. The cards are promising, write Caroline Murray and Natalie Jomini Stroud, but news outlets need to continue testing designs that will draw readers’ attention.
FOR THE WEEKEND
+ Why laid-off journalists should launch their own media companies (Simon Owens)
+ How TV’s A.M. news shows are grappling with Trump and technology (Variety)
+ Publishers are broadening their climate change coverage with new products (Digiday)
The post Need to Know: Jan. 30, 2020 appeared first on American Press Institute.
Filed under: Affiliate Posts
Continue reading Turn your kid into a hypercar addict with these McLaren toys
Turn your kid into a hypercar addict with these McLaren toys originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Motorsports,Racing
John Andretti carved out his own niche in one of the world's most successful racing families. On Thursday, after a three-year battle with colon cancer, Andretti died at the age of 56. "He fought hard and stole back days the disease fought to take away," a statement from Andretti Autosport said.
Continue reading Versatile race car driver John Andretti dies at 56
Versatile race car driver John Andretti dies at 56 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Convertible,Performance
Continue reading 2020 Morgan Plus 4 First Drive Review | Out of time
2020 Morgan Plus 4 First Drive Review | Out of time originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Earnings/Financials,Aston Martin,Luxury
Continue reading Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll leads $240 million Aston Martin investment
Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll leads $240 million Aston Martin investment originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jan 2020 08:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Videos,Original Video
Continue reading The Ripsaw M5 is a miniature robotic tank
The Ripsaw M5 is a miniature robotic tank originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jan 2020 17:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Government/Legal,Weird Car News,Safety,Truck,Specialty
Continue reading Giant X-ray trucks helping keep Super Bowl LIV safe
Giant X-ray trucks helping keep Super Bowl LIV safe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jan 2020 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show,Dodge,SUV,Performance
Continue reading Dodge debuts 2020 Durango SRT Black appearance package
Dodge debuts 2020 Durango SRT Black appearance package originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jan 2020 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Hyundai,Quick Spins,New Car Reviews,sedan
Continue reading 2020 Hyundai Accent Drivers' Notes Review | Same goodness, more efficiency
2020 Hyundai Accent Drivers' Notes Review | Same goodness, more efficiency originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jan 2020 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Affiliate Posts,Videos,Original Video
We're playing F1 2019 today.
Continue reading Autoblog is Live: Playing NASCAR Heat 4
Autoblog is Live: Playing NASCAR Heat 4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jan 2020 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsThree weeks ago, China officially reported the first death caused by the 2019 coronavirus. But since then there has been a distinct lack of quality data from the Chinese government about the origins of the new disease and the official steps authorities are taking to find a cure for it.
The information void has led to widespread disinformation that is too much for any one fact-checker. For this reason, last Friday, fact-checkers from more than 30 countries decided to band together and share information. With the coordination of the International Fact-Checking Network and the help of simple tools like Slack and Google Sheets, members of the collaborative started to read each other’s fact-checks, translate the content into different languages and republish it as often as possible as a way to prevent hoaxes from spreading.
As of Wednesday, the community had detected 86 instances of misleading information that deserved international attention. Many involved a false coronavirus patent, which wasn’t hard to debunk.
False Facebook posts claiming that the Chinese virus wasn’t really new surfaced almost at the same time in the United States, Canada, India, France, Turkey and Brazil. Some of these posts were accompanied by wild conspiracy theories about the existence of biosecurity labs. Others were picked up by the anti-vaccination movement to “prove” that the health industry is just causing panic so it can develop and sell a vaccine.
The World Health Organization on Monday issued a list of prevention tips to help people avoid contracting the virus. But that didn’t keep internet users from sharing hoaxes about how to protect themselves. A list of ineffective substances to prevent the disease includes, so far, salty water and a magic spray. Others suggested remedies like grape vinegar, steroids and ethanol. There will no doubt be more to come.
Fact-checkers are also aiming to deliver their coronavirus content in formats that allow them to reach the widest possible audience. BuzzFeed is keeping a running list. (Poynter-owned) MediaWise is doing stories on Instagram and republishing them on YouTube.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported that the big tech platforms are themselves scrambling to contain conspiracy theories and other misinformation about the virus. This is a tough situation for Facebook, Twitter and Google, but perhaps even tougher for platforms not commonly used in the West, like Line, KakaoTalk and Weibo.
The pattern was familiar, Daniel Funke and Ciara O’Rourke wrote for PolitiFact: First there were suggestions that it was planned, then false videos, then claims that it never happened.
As we know from a manipulated video that went viral last year, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a common target of misinformation on social media. Now the California Democrat’s leadership of the House’s impeachment of President Donald Trump is attracting another kind of hoax.
This one involves the pens she used while signing the impeachment articles the House sent to the Senate on Jan. 15. After signing the articles, Pelosi gave the pens as souvenirs to some of her colleagues. That made her the target of criticism that she was turning a solemn event into some kind of performative ceremony.
But then came the hoaxes, most of them claiming the pens cost thousands of dollars. At least one said they were made of 14-karat gold. One post said she used $15,000 worth of pens for the signatures.
All these were debunked by FactCheck.org, which tracked down the source of the pens and learned that they have a suggested retail value of about $20 each.
What we liked: Others had checked this claim before, but FactCheck.org reporter Saranac Hale Spencer went to the actual vendor, Garland Writing Instruments in Rhode Island, and talked to its owner. He told FactCheck.org he’s also filled orders for the Trump White House and others.
That’s it for this week! Feel free to send feedback and suggestions to factually@poynter.org.
The post Factually: Fact-checkers band together on coronavirus appeared first on American Press Institute.
Filed under: Etc.,Automotive History
Continue reading Junkyard Gem: 1981 Chevrolet Citation 5-Door Hatchback
Junkyard Gem: 1981 Chevrolet Citation 5-Door Hatchback originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jan 2020 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Weird Car News,Land Rover
Continue reading Man gets DUI after driving a Range Rover up a Vermont ski slope
Man gets DUI after driving a Range Rover up a Vermont ski slope originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jan 2020 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Continue reading Toyota RAV4 passes moose test after electronic stability upgrade
Toyota RAV4 passes moose test after electronic stability upgrade originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jan 2020 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Technology,Comparison,Kia,Technology,Technology of the Year,Truck,SUV
Kia blind spot monitoring and crash avoidance wins 2020 Autoblog Technology of the Year Award originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jan 2020 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Green,GM,Hummer,Truck,SUV
Continue reading Hummer officially returns as an EV with 1,000 hp in Super Bowl ad
Hummer officially returns as an EV with 1,000 hp in Super Bowl ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jan 2020 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Weird Car News,Nissan,Renault
Tokyo prosecutors issued an arrest warrant Thursday for Nissan's former chairman Carlos Ghosn, who skipped bail while awaiting trial in Japan and is now in Lebanon. Japan has no extradition treaty with Lebanon, so he's unlikely to be arrested. Tokyo prosecutors also issued arrest warrants for three Americans they said helped and planned his escape, Michael Taylor, George-Antoine Zayek and Peter Taylor.
Continue reading Japan issues arrest warrants for Ghosn, Americans suspected of helping him escape
Japan issues arrest warrants for Ghosn, Americans suspected of helping him escape originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jan 2020 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Affiliate Posts
Continue reading Are your windshield wipers truly terrible?
Are your windshield wipers truly terrible? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jan 2020 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsOFF THE TOP
You might have heard: Berkshire Hathaway is selling its 31 daily newspapers to Lee Enterprises for $140 million (Washington Post)
But did you know: Hedge fund Alden Global Capital has purchased a 5.9% stake in Lee Enterprises (News & Tech)
On the heels of yesterday’s announcement that Warren Buffet’s BH Media Group was selling its newspaper operations to Lee, Alden’s Digital First Media announced that it had taken a 5.9% stake in Lee. In November, Alden became the biggest shareholder in Tribune Publishing. Tribune Publishing then added two Alden representatives to the newspaper company’s board, making it eight members. Earlier last year, Alden also attempted a hostile takeover of Gannett, which was later folded into GateHouse. Digital First Media, which operates 56 daily newspapers in the U.S., is known for its strip-mining tactics that gut newsrooms to reap maximum profits.
+ Earlier: As hedge funds take a greater role in newspaper chains, journalists at the Chicago Tribune and elsewhere are sending out an S.O.S. (New York Times)
+ Noted: ABC News suspends correspondent over erroneous report on Kobe Bryant crash (LA Times); The Investigative Editing Corps matches investigative editors to the local newsrooms that desperately need them (Poynter); The News Media Alliance launches the News Impact Index, which chronicles the impact of local news on communities (News Media Alliance)
API UPDATE
API announces grant from Craig Newmark Philanthropies to connect newsroom leaders and experts ahead of Election 2020
API has received a grant of $388,000 from Craig Newmark Philanthropies to build a real-time network of newsroom leaders, civic and academic institutions, and outside experts who will communicate throughout the 2020 election to combat disinformation and other threats to honest reporting, election integrity and voter suppression.
+ Key research findings that could convince newsroom leaders to invest in earning trust (Trusting News)
TRY THIS AT HOME
Low-key ways to gather story ideas at in-person events (Current)
To kick off its longform reporting projects, Sacramento’s CapRadio hosts “Lunch and Listen” sessions that bring together community leaders with its journalists. But what about those who don’t have the time or inclination to attend such a conversation-heavy event? CapRadio worked with a local elementary school to host a community fair instead, a more relaxed, varied environment that still allowed reporters to capture valuable insights from attendees. In one activity, attendees were asked to place colored dots on a map of the community, with the colors corresponding to things like where people lived, where they’d take visitors on tours, which areas they avoided, and which places they would change. In another, staffers hung butcher paper on the wall and asked attendees to write or draw what they wanted others to know about their community.
OFFSHORE
BBC News to close 450 posts as part of £80m savings drive (BBC)
The cuts reflect the BBC’s shift away from traditional broadcasting towards digital. “We need to reshape BBC News for the next decade in a way which saves substantial amounts of money,” said Fran Unsworth, director of news and current affairs. “We are spending too much of our resources on traditional linear broadcasting and not enough on digital.” The BBC currently employs around 6,000 people. Its budget after the changes will be around £480m per year.
OFFBEAT
The market for shorter, mobile-first programming is not materializing (Digiday)
A couple of years ago, a market for TV-quality short-form programming seemed to be emerging. Platform companies such as Facebook, Quibi and Snapchat were paying media and entertainment companies to produce short-form shows. Netflix and Amazon were even beginning to distribute bite-sized series. But the market hasn’t grown as many investors had hoped, writes Tim Peterson. Companies selling short-form programming to such platforms aren’t seeing a significant return in advertising revenue, and have had to diversify, “just like virtually every other media company that had anchored its business on digital video in recent years.”
UP FOR DEBATE
Felicia Sonmez and the tyranny of the social-media policy (Columbia Journalism Review)
Washington Post reporter Felicia Sonmez’s brief suspension, following her tweets that pointed to Kobe Bryant’s 2003 rape case, served as a “fresh reminder that newsrooms still struggle when coordinated mobs of online culture warriors target their staff,” writes Jon Allsop. Newsroom social-media policies often seem to present conflicting advice, encouraging reporters to communicate in more informal and personal ways to better connect with readers, but also warning them against expressing opinions that might be damaging to their employer. Ostensibly meant to protect reporters and their bosses against the pitfalls of the internet, writes Allsop, more often social-media policies are called into use as a tool of management control.
+ Related: Newsrooms still aren’t ready for the trolls. (New York Times)
+ The Guardian continues to lead the way on climate change policy, and will no longer run oil or gas ads (Nieman Lab); Kobe Bryant case demonstrates a (perpetual) need for slow news (News Co/Lab)
SHAREABLE
Want to change newsroom culture? Start with your interns (RTDNA)
The high-stress environment of newsrooms can lead to incivility and worse, including harassment and exploitation of power dynamics. That’s why it should be newsroom managers’ job to guide student interns toward being “Good Newsroom Citizens,” says Lynn Adrine, Director of the DC Graduate Program of Broadcast and Digital Journalism at the Newhouse School of Public Communications for Syracuse University. “We are the gatekeepers … of professional decorum and civility in the workplace. We encourage the development of good communications between newsroom management and the beginning reporters so that expectations are clear, especially when it comes to standards and newsroom culture.”
The post Need to Know: Jan. 30, 2020 appeared first on American Press Institute.
