Media Insider: WSJ Adds Three Dozen Jobs, Financial Times Acquires The Next Web, NBC Launches News Streaming Service

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

THE WRAP | JON LEVINE
Wall Street Journal to Add More Than 3 Dozen New Jobs

The Wall Street Journal will add more than three dozen positions to its newsroom, the paper’s editor-in-chief, Matt Murray, revealed in an internal memo to staff last week. The memo said the new positions would aim to strengthen the paper in five areas: Young Audiences, Membership Engagement, Newsroom Innovation, Audience Data, and R&D. The slate of new jobs includes developers, designers, product managers, data specialists and journalists, said Murray. Among the new editorial spots now being advertised on the Wall Street Journal include a video journalist, a banking reporter, and a “WSJ newsroom innovation chief.”

On the flip side, New York Media announced it is cutting 16 full-time and 16 part-time/freelance staffers as part of a restructuring.

FAST COMPANY | CALE GUTHRIE WEISSMAN
The Financial Times Has Acquired The Next Web

The Financial Times has purchased a controlling stake in Amsterdam-based media company The Next Web. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. It’s the Financial Times’ first acquisition in continental Europe. Since its founding in 2006, The Next Web has become a source of predominately Europe-centric tech news. It also has expanded its offerings over the years with event forays and a market intelligence platform. The two companies also had announced editorial partnerships in the past. The Financial Times said the acquisition is part of its overall acquisition strategy going forward, and has been both purchasing and investing in various businesses, including the research provider Longitude and the media company Alpha Grid.

Meanwhile, News Corp has expressed interest in the financial news company Acuris.

MEDIAPOST | ALEX WELPRIN
NBC News Streaming Service to Launch in May

NBC News President Noah Oppenheim revealed during a SXSW panel that the company’s upcoming streaming video service will launch in May. The service, which had been tentatively called NBC News Signal, will instead be called NBC News Now. NBC News has been streaming segments and shows since late last year in preparation. At its official launch, NBC News Now will have eight hours of programming per day, including live coverage of breaking news and live updates at the top of every hour. There also will be regular shows at specific times of the day. As with other streaming services, NBC News Now will launch on connected TV devices, such as Roku or Apple TV, and likely will be available inside the NBC News apps.

Apple is expected to announce a new streaming TV and subscription news service at a press event later this month.

THE NEW YORK TIMES | JACLYN PEISER
Slate Picks a Skilled Storyteller as Its New Top Editor

Slate, the online publication known for counterintuitive analysis and its many podcasts, has chosen a specialist in narrative journalism as its next editor-in-chief. Jared Hohlt, a veteran of New York magazine, will succeed Julia Turner, who left Slate to become a deputy managing editor of The Los Angeles Times. Hohlt is scheduled to start April 1. During his 18 years at New York, Hohlt served in a variety of roles, including editorial director and top editor of the print version of the magazine.

Over at Meredith, Catherine Levene takes over as president/chief digital officer for Meredith’s National Media Group.

TECHCRUNCH | ANTHONY HA
Facebook Announces New Program for Premium Video Ads

Facebook is expanding its efforts around premium video advertising with a new program called Facebook Showcase. This follows the announcement last fall of what the company calls In-Stream Reserve advertising — video ads with a curated list of hundreds of publishers, at a set price, with Nielsen-verified audiences. Facebook Showcase combines this video advertising with the ability to run ads on a specific content category (including sports, fashion/beauty, and the new additions of food and news), and to exclusively sponsor individual shows. Facebook also announced that In-Stream Reserve ads are reaching nearly 100 million U.S. viewers each month.

In more Facebook news, Sen. Elizabeth Warren has proposed a regulatory plan aimed at breaking up tech giants like Amazon, Google, Apple and Facebook.

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Maria Perez is Director, Web Experience & Operations at PR Newswire. An animal lover, she curates content for @PRNPets – that is, when she’s not busy cuddling with her 11-year-old blind Maltese, Toody.