Google said Thursday that it has recently adjusted its algorithms and the guidelines used by the people that rate its search results to elevate original reporting. Why it matters: The moves aim to provide an incentive for news organizations to focus on fresh reporting as opposed to quick aggregation of other news reports. Details: Google has rolled out 2 updates over the past few months. The company has adjusted its algorithms to ensure that original reporting stays near the top of search results longer. It has updated the guidelines that people use to evaluate search ratings to help...…Google said Thursday that it has recently adjusted its algorithms and the guidelines used by the people that rate its search results to elevate original reporting. Why it matters: The moves aim to provide an incentive for news organizations to focus on fresh reporting as opposed to quick aggregation of other news reports. Details: Google has rolled out 2 updates over the past few months. The company has adjusted its algorithms to ensure that original reporting stays near the top of search results longer. It has updated the guidelines that people use to evaluate search ratings to help...WW…

Despite polling in the top 6 of the Democratic primary and getting plenty of online attention, businessman Andrew Yang is being treated by the media like a bottom-tier candidate. Why it matters: The discrepancy between demonstrated voter support and the level of media coverage — both on cable and in the online world — shows that the press is in unfamiliar territory in covering a candidate from outside the political world who keeps a low profile. Driving the news: Last week, Yang supporters complained of a #YangMediaBlackout after CNN left their candidate off on-screen polling graphics of...…Despite polling in the top 6 of the Democratic primary and getting plenty of online attention, businessman Andrew Yang is being treated by the media like a bottom-tier candidate. Why it matters: The discrepancy between demonstrated voter support and the level of media coverage — both on cable and in the online world — shows that the press is in unfamiliar territory in covering a candidate from outside the political world who keeps a low profile. Driving the news: Last week, Yang supporters complained of a #YangMediaBlackout after CNN left their candidate off on-screen polling graphics of...WW…

Reddit says it is banning its controversial subreddit channel r/The_Donald, one of the company's largest political communities and a longstanding hub of support for President Trump, along with 2,000 other subreddit groups and users that violate new content policies aimed at hate speech. Why it matters: Reddit becomes the latest social media platform, in the wake of George Floyd's death and the ensuing protests, to take action against Trump or his supporters for violating rules or misleading users. What they're saying: In a conversation with reporters, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman said that...…Reddit says it is banning its controversial subreddit channel r/The_Donald, one of the company's largest political communities and a longstanding hub of support for President Trump, along with 2,000 other subreddit groups and users that violate new content policies aimed at hate speech. Why it matters: Reddit becomes the latest social media platform, in the wake of George Floyd's death and the ensuing protests, to take action against Trump or his supporters for violating rules or misleading users. What they're saying: In a conversation with reporters, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman said that...WW…

More than 1,000 accounts across several different social media platforms with suspicious, bot-like characteristics helped push quote tweets, a tweet that is retweeted but additional text is added, from Donald Trump campaign accounts during the third primary debate, according to an analysis provided to Axios by social media intelligence company Storyful. Those tweets accounted for the top 3 most-shared links across several social media platforms, including Facebook, Reddit, etc., during the debate. Why it matters: Despite attempts by social media companies to weed out malicious behavior...…More than 1,000 accounts across several different social media platforms with suspicious, bot-like characteristics helped push quote tweets, a tweet that is retweeted but additional text is added, from Donald Trump campaign accounts during the third primary debate, according to an analysis provided to Axios by social media intelligence company Storyful. Those tweets accounted for the top 3 most-shared links across several social media platforms, including Facebook, Reddit, etc., during the debate. Why it matters: Despite attempts by social media companies to weed out malicious behavior...WW…

Photographer is Kelsey Kremer from Des Moines RegisterPress freedom advocates are celebrating a decision by jurors in Iowa to acquit Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri of all charges that she incurred while covering a Black Lives Matter protest last May.Why it matters: The verdict sets a critical precedent for journalists covering protests and political movements moving forward. were arrested while covering Black Lives Matter protests last year. While charges against most were , others are still pending.Details: The jury found that Sahouri and her then-boyfriend Spenser Robnett,...…Photographer is Kelsey Kremer from Des Moines RegisterPress freedom advocates are celebrating a decision by jurors in Iowa to acquit Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri of all charges that she incurred while covering a Black Lives Matter protest last May.Why it matters: The verdict sets a critical precedent for journalists covering protests and political movements moving forward. were arrested while covering Black Lives Matter protests last year. While charges against most were , others are still pending.Details: The jury found that Sahouri and her then-boyfriend Spenser Robnett,...WW…

Photo: Tobias TylerDes Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri, who was that she incurred while covering a Black Lives Matter protest last May, tells Axios she believes her race played a significant role in not only her arrest last summer, but also the push to uphold the charges so she would be forced to stand trial. Why it matters: There's irony in the fact that while covering an anti-racism protest last summer, Sahouri felt as though she was targeted by the police for her race. Sahouri is Palestinian.Details: In an interview with Axios hours after she was found non-guilty on two...…Photo: Tobias TylerDes Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri, who was that she incurred while covering a Black Lives Matter protest last May, tells Axios she believes her race played a significant role in not only her arrest last summer, but also the push to uphold the charges so she would be forced to stand trial. Why it matters: There's irony in the fact that while covering an anti-racism protest last summer, Sahouri felt as though she was targeted by the police for her race. Sahouri is Palestinian.Details: In an interview with Axios hours after she was found non-guilty on two...WW…

The COVID-19 crisis has triggered a massive uptick in news media unionization efforts, union leaders tell Axios.Why it matters: The trend is only going to grow bigger once people head back to work in-person, says Jon Schleuss, president of the NewsGuild. More consolidation in the industry via SPACs and local news takeovers will also drive record unionization efforts. Three key trends have pushed journalists to unionize over the past year, union executives tell Axios.Financial uncertainty: Journalists rushed to unionize early on in the pandemic following rounds of layoffs that were triggered...…The COVID-19 crisis has triggered a massive uptick in news media unionization efforts, union leaders tell Axios.Why it matters: The trend is only going to grow bigger once people head back to work in-person, says Jon Schleuss, president of the NewsGuild. More consolidation in the industry via SPACs and local news takeovers will also drive record unionization efforts. Three key trends have pushed journalists to unionize over the past year, union executives tell Axios.Financial uncertainty: Journalists rushed to unionize early on in the pandemic following rounds of layoffs that were triggered...WW…

Illustration: Aïda Amer/AxiosReddit Tuesday the company removed 6% of the content uploaded to its site last year, up from in 2019.Why it matters: Reddit attributes the uptick in removals in part to it made last year giving company moderators clearer positions against hate and racism.By the numbers: Of the content taken down, 2% was removed by Reddit staff and 4% was removed by moderators, both Reddit channel moderators and automated tools. The amount of content removed by moderators on Reddit — both human and automated — increased by 61% last year.The big picture: Reddit says the vast...…Illustration: Aïda Amer/AxiosReddit Tuesday the company removed 6% of the content uploaded to its site last year, up from in 2019.Why it matters: Reddit attributes the uptick in removals in part to it made last year giving company moderators clearer positions against hate and racism.By the numbers: Of the content taken down, 2% was removed by Reddit staff and 4% was removed by moderators, both Reddit channel moderators and automated tools. The amount of content removed by moderators on Reddit — both human and automated — increased by 61% last year.The big picture: Reddit says the vast...WW…

Illustration: Sarah Grillo / AxiosGoogle made clear Wednesday that after it finished third-party cookies over the next year or so, it won't introduce other forms of identifiers to track individuals as they browse across the web.Why it matters: The move comes amid increased scrutiny over the way tech giants use consumer data to reinforce their dominance, particularly around personalized advertising.Details: At this point, most of the advertising industry is preparing for third-party tracking cookies, which allow advertisers to follow users with personalized ads from one website to another,...…Illustration: Sarah Grillo / AxiosGoogle made clear Wednesday that after it finished third-party cookies over the next year or so, it won't introduce other forms of identifiers to track individuals as they browse across the web.Why it matters: The move comes amid increased scrutiny over the way tech giants use consumer data to reinforce their dominance, particularly around personalized advertising.Details: At this point, most of the advertising industry is preparing for third-party tracking cookies, which allow advertisers to follow users with personalized ads from one website to another,...WW…

Snap Inc.'s stock hit an all-time high Tuesday after the company told investors it anticipates 50% annual growth in top-line revenue for the next several years. Its market cap reached over $100 billion for the first time on the news. The big picture: Since its founding a decade ago, Snapchat has quietly grown its product to build a loyal audience of people mostly under the age of 30. Now, it says it's ready to finally start making money off of those users.Details: Snap on Wednesday walked investors through its strategy to significantly grow its ad revenue by creating more opportunities to...…Snap Inc.'s stock hit an all-time high Tuesday after the company told investors it anticipates 50% annual growth in top-line revenue for the next several years. Its market cap reached over $100 billion for the first time on the news. The big picture: Since its founding a decade ago, Snapchat has quietly grown its product to build a loyal audience of people mostly under the age of 30. Now, it says it's ready to finally start making money off of those users.Details: Snap on Wednesday walked investors through its strategy to significantly grow its ad revenue by creating more opportunities to...WW…