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Facebook is dropping the “Trending” section from its site next as well as the products and third-party partner integrations that rely on the Trends API (or application programming interface). While the company says the tool is outdated and unpopular, its problems extended to the onslaught of fake news as well as the limitations of artificial intelligence to manage the unpredictable flow of messages. Replacements for the section are to include a dedicated section for news videos on its video hub Facebook Watch, a breaking news icon publishers can use on their posts, and “Today In,” a section which connects people to news and information from local publishers. The company says that more than 80 news publishers are currently testing the “breaking news” label. The “Today In” feature is testing in 33 U.S. cities, and 10 to 12 U.S. publishers are planning to launch news shows in Watch. “We are committed to ensuring the news that people see on Facebook is high quality, and we’re investing in ways to better draw attention to breaking news when it matters most,” Alex Hardiman, head of news products at Facebook, said in a statement.
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Three top Hulu executives—chief content officer Joel Stillerman, senior VP of partnerships and distribution Tim Connolly and senior VP of experience Ben Smith—are leaving the company. It’s the first major executive reshuffling since Randy Freer came on as Hulu CEO in October. Hulu says it is searching for an executive to head a new content partnerships group and is eliminating the chief content officer role. Hulu’s content teams will now be organized into two groups: one encompassing live TV and subscription VOD content licensing, acquisition and business functions; and one overseeing original programming, led by SVP of content Craig Erwich. The company is also bringing on former TiVo COO Dan Phillips as chief technology officer and Jaya Kolhatkar, former SVP, global data and analytics platforms for Walmart, to the newly-created role of chief data officer. Hulu is a key part of the current negotiations surrounding the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by either Disney or Comcast
 Wade Lambert |
The Wall Street Journal has named Wade Lambert senior news editor, with responsibility for all of the Journal’s evening operations. Lambert has been with the WSJ since 1984, serving as night editor for its print edition since 2013, and will now direct news gathering, publishing and platforms at night. Other roles he has taken on at the WSJ include deputy bureau chief in London, Page One news editor and deputy editor of the Greater New York section.
Boston Globe Media acquires InstaTrac, a company that provides subscription-based services aimed at making government information easier to find, track, and understand... AARP names former New Republic CEO and publisher Michael Caruso as its SVP and chief content officer, unifying the organization's portfolio of media, live events and digital platforms... The Fund for American Studies, an educational nonprofit, awards its inaugural Journalism Excellence Fellowships.
Trump Media and Technology Group Corp. has replaced CEO and former California Congressman Devin Nunes with Kevin McGurn, a seasoned media sales executive.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is being bought by the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, a nonprofit that is the parent organization of the Baltimore Banner... The British Broadcasting Corporation is axing approximately 2,000 jobs, about 10 percent of its work force... Snap, the company behind Snapchat, is also succumbing to layoff fever, announcing plans to lay off 16 percent of its employees, about 1,000 people.
CBS News Radio will go off the air on May 22, part of the axe-swinging managerial plan put into play by CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss... The Economist, which was first published in 1843, is changing hands. Canadian billionaire Stephen Smith has agreed to acquire a 26.9 percent stake in the publication from Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, her family and family foundation... Nexstar Media Group says it has closed its acquisition of TEGNA, the broadcast, digital media and marketing services company that was formed in 2015, when the Gannett Company split into two publicly traded companies.
USA TODAY brings on Jamie Stockwell as VP of news, effective March 30. Stockwell was most recently deputy managing editor of news for the Washington Post... YouTube expands its likeness detection capabilities to a pilot group of government officials, journalists and political candidates... The AP Fund for Journalism adds 50 news organizations to its local news program, bringing the total number of participating newsrooms to 100. 
