Why The Markup doesn’t allow PR people to speak on background
Julia Angwin, the editor in chief of technology news site The Markup, writes about why it does not allow company spokesmen to speak on background for stories. Angwin writes, “We, at The Markup, did not receive the Amazon email (we’re not sad). And perhaps one reason for that is that we decided early on that […]
The tension between tech companies and the tech press
Technology reporter Alex Kantrowitz talked with Bloomberg’s Eric Newcomer, the Financial Times’ Hannah Murphy, and OneZero’s Brian Merchant about the issues facing technology coverage. Here is an excerpt: The pushback on that would be that the tech press isn’t just being appropriately critical but overdoing it. Do you buy that argument? Brian Merchant: I do not. I […]
Amazon reports 20,000 workers have COVID-19
Amazon reported that close to 20,000 of its workers in the United States have contracted COVID-19 so far this year. Jeffrey Dastin reported the news for Reuters: Amazon.com Inc on Thursday said more than 19,000 of its U.S. frontline workers contracted the coronavirus this year, or 1.44% of the total, a disclosure sought by labor […]
Airlines begin 32,000 furloughs
United and American Airlines have started a furlough plan that will affect 32,000 employees as federal aid is close to running out and more does not seem to be coming yet. David Koenig reported the news for the AP: American Airlines and United Airlines say they will begin to furlough 32,000 employees after lawmakers and […]
Disney to lay off 28,000
Disney will lay off 28,000 people from its theme park workforce as the business division all but collapsed amid the pandemic. Lisa Richwine reported the news for Reuters: Walt Disney Co said on Tuesday it will lay off roughly 28,000 employees, mostly at its U.S. theme parks, where attendance has been crushed by the coronavirus […]
LVMH sues Tiffany for failed merger
LVMH has filed a countersuit against Tiffany, disputing the jeweler’s claims LVMH was to blame for the breakdown of their $16-billion merger talks. Matt Clinch reported the news for CNBC: LVMH said Tuesday it had filed a countersuit against Tiffany in a bid to walk away from the $16.2 billion takeover that would have been […]
Musk promises $25,000 Tesla
Elon Musk says Tesla is working on a model that will cost just $25,000. Roberto Baldwin from Car and Driver reported: Elon Musk and Tesla powertrain and energy engineering leader Drew Baglino held the Tesla 2020 Battery Day announcements as an outdoor presentation, with the audience sitting in Tesla cars and honking horns to show […]
Quibi explores strategic options
Quibi is exploring strategic options, including a sale less than six months after its launch. The short-form video startup founded by Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman is working with advisors on several options, including raising more money and going public through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company. Quibi launched April 1 with nearly […]
Microsoft pays $7.5 bln for game-maker Bethesda
Microsoft has acquired video games company Bethesda in a $7.5-billion deal. Reese Oxner reported the news for NPR: In what is set to be one of the largest ever acquisitions in the video game industry, Microsoft announced Monday that it has reached a deal to acquire ZeniMax Media, the parent company of popular video game […]
Ericsson to buy Cradlepoint for $1.1 bln
Swedish Ericsson will buy U.S. wireless networking services provider CradlePoint for $1.1 billion to advance its 5G capabilities. Helena Soderpalm and Supantha Mukherjee reported the news for Reuters: Ericsson ERICb.ST has agreed to buy U.S.-based wireless networking company Cradlepoint in a $1.1 billion deal, the Swedish telecoms gear maker said on Friday. The deal, Ericsson’s […]
