Media Insider: Apple Updates Podcast App, Press Access at Capitol in Question, Cable News at War for Viewers

Welcome to Media Insider, PR Newswire’s round-up of media stories from the week.

Photo by Kārlis Dambrāns, Used under (CC BY 2.0).

RECODE | PETER KAFKA
Apple is Going to Let Podcast Creators — And Advertisers — See What Listeners Actually Like

Until recently, the only metric Apple provided to podcast creators is the number of downloads of an individual episode. A new version of the tech giant’s podcast app will allow creators to see when podcast listeners play individual episodes, the part of the individual episode they listen to, which parts they skip and when they stop listening to an episode. According to Recode, the downside to the new available data could reveal situations where advertisers have been paying for ads that listeners never hear, resulting in decreased ad spending.

ICYMI: Time published a list of the 50 best podcasts in March.

HUFFPOST MEDIA | MICHAEL CALDERONE
Limits on Press Access in Congress Spark Uproar

On Tuesday, reporters tweeted they were not allowed to video interviews with senators in the Capitol. HuffPost says reporters were told they would need permission from senators and the Senate Rules Committee to wait outside of meetings and hearings and approach senators. The GOP senator said to be behind the directive said there were no changes to existing rules governing press coverage in the Capitol and that his staff worked to interpret rules in response to complaints of overcrowding.

FYI: A new machine — FOIA Predictor — will let you know if the government will reject your public records request.

VARIETY | BRIAN STEINBERG, CYNTHIA LITTLETON
Cable News Wars: Inside The Unprecedented Battle For Viewers in Trump Era

The endless cycle of breaking political headlines has created the biggest moment of opportunity for television news in 21 years. According to Variety, staffs are doing their regular duty, only to have stories scrapped for the latest twist in the Capitol or White House. Commentary online and on social media also has contributed to the rapid pace of the news cycle. The competition between the big three — CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News — has intensified as they race to bring in new viewers via linear or digital platforms.

A recent study found that half of Snapchat users who follow news outlets and/or journalists believe their presence on the app helps their overall credibility, and CNN is one of eight publishers that CJR suggests following on Snapchat Discover.

RECODE | KURT WAGNER
A New Twitter Test Puts a Bunch of Current Events Across The Top of User Timelines

Twitter is testing a feature that places a carousel of current events at the top of user timelines. Users can scroll left to right to view the topics, according to Recode, and click on a particular topic that then will take users to a timeline of tweets specifically focused on the topic. Placing the topics at the top of user timelines could increase viewership of major events. A Twitter spokesperson confirmed the feature still is in experimental phase.

You probably heard that Twitter wants to be a go-to source for news, but the social platform has lost its value as a news source.

THE GUARDIAN | GUARDIAN STAFF
Fox News Drops ‘Fair And Balanced’ Slogan

Fox News dropped its ‘fair and balanced’ slogan and replaced it with ‘Most watched. Most trusted.’ The former slogan frequently was mocked by critics because many of the channel’s most successful shows had a clear rightwing agenda, reports The Guardian. The old slogan has not been used in external marketing or on-air promotions since Aug. 2016, but “the shift has nothing to do with programming or editorial decisions,” according to a Fox News spokesperson.

Perspective: Is Media coverage of Trump too negative? You’re asking the wrong question.

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Tabresha B. Langham is a Customer Content Specialist with PR Newswire. She also is a social media junkie, foodie, music fiend and Auburn University Alumn (War Eagle!). Tune into her insights as a social curator at @PRNmedia, or follow @TabreshaL.