Media Insider: Snapchat Files IPO, WashPost App Connects To Uber, Twitter Curbs Hate Speech

Welcome to Media Insider, PR Newswire’s round up of journalism, blogging and freelancing stories from the week.

Photo by magicatwork, used under (CC BY 2.0).

Snapchat Files For One Of The Biggest Tech IPOs In Years: Sources (Reuters)

Snapchat filed for its initial public offering and could go public as soon as March, reports Reuters. Valued at $20 to $25 billion, the social sharing platform would be the largest U.S. technology IPO since Facebook in 2012. The private filing with the SEC makes Snapchat among the 123 U.S. technology companies that have gone public this year.

You Can Now Connect Your Washington Post App To Uber For More Efficient In-Car Reading (NiemanLab)

The Washington Post wants to make it easier for its readers to experience news while commuting in Uber. It recently announced the availability of a feature that lets Uber riders read articles on the Post app while also monitoring trip status, according to NiemanLab. The purpose is to provide a news experience that is tailored to transit by eliminating toggling between the two apps. The Post also has plans to launch an unlimited digital access offer that will give users the ability to view articles for free while on their ride, with plans to explore other app features in the future.

Twitter Adds New Ways To Curb Abuse And Hate Speech (The New York Times)

The ability to hide hateful and derogatory content on Twitter will become an easier task for users as Twitter rolls out new features and implements support team training to identify such behavior on the social platform. NYT reports that incidents of hate speech have been on the rise during the past year, and that many users have expressed concerns about this. While Twitter does not want to limit the freedom of expression, it has issued an explicit prohibition of the conduct and now makes it easier for users to block the content with a mute option, as well as report the instances of hate and abuse even if they are directed at someone else.

You Can Now Manage Accounts On Facebook, Instagram and Facebook Messenger Via One App (AdWeek)

The task of managing multiple social media accounts can be daunting.  That’s why Facebook recently unveiled a feature called the universal inbox. According to AdWeek, the universal inbox will allow social media directors to view comments, reviews and direct messages being authored by consumers on Facebook, Instagram and Facebook Messenger via the Facebook Pages app. This new app will eliminate the need to flip through different apps and for some, the need to use multiple phones. It will ultimately save businesses time while they manage their online presence.

After A Slow Start, Apple News Is Emerging As A Significant Traffic Driver For Some News Orgs (NiemanLab)

Apple News received a handful of updates with the launch of iOS 10, bringing the app a new logo and typeface, as well as features like breaking news notifications and support for paid subscriptions. NiemanLab reports that the biggest change on the Apple News update is the increase in traffic it sends publishers. CNN is one publisher that has reaped the benefits, stating that its Apple News content readership grew from 5 million in August to 36.5 million in September. While Apple News was initially slow to pick up, the positive outlook is a trend that could continue as Apple continues to listen and take steps that meet publishers’ needs

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Tabresha B. Langham is a Customer Content Specialist with PR Newswire. She also is a social media enthusiast, foodie, and lover of SEC Football (War Eagle!). Follow her at @PRNmedia and @TabreshaL.