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…

Photo by MOHAMMED AL-SHAIKH / AFP) (Photo credit should read MOHAMMED AL-SHAIKH/AFP via Getty ImagesReporters without Borders (RSF), a global non-profit defending press freedoms, filed a against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and four other Saudi officials for the assassination of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi and for other crimes against journalists. Why it matters: It's the latest organization to demand accountability from top Saudi officials following a released last week that assessed the Saudi prince approved the 2018 operation to "capture or kill" Khashoggi, a...…Photo by MOHAMMED AL-SHAIKH / AFP) (Photo credit should read MOHAMMED AL-SHAIKH/AFP via Getty ImagesReporters without Borders (RSF), a global non-profit defending press freedoms, filed a against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and four other Saudi officials for the assassination of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi and for other crimes against journalists. Why it matters: It's the latest organization to demand accountability from top Saudi officials following a released last week that assessed the Saudi prince approved the 2018 operation to "capture or kill" Khashoggi, a...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…

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…

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/AxiosBad actors are hijacking journalist names, photos and bylines to help give credibility to fake storylines or hoaxes on the internet. Why it matters: Even when platforms try to police this type of content, memes and fake stories often still circulate indefinitely, making it hard for victims to fully recover from the hoax. Driving the news: , a Congress and Industry reporter for Defense News, tells Axios about how his identity was hacked to fuel a right-wing meme conspiracy that the incoming Defense Secretary planned to outsource U.S. defense systems to...…Illustration: Sarah Grillo/AxiosBad actors are hijacking journalist names, photos and bylines to help give credibility to fake storylines or hoaxes on the internet. Why it matters: Even when platforms try to police this type of content, memes and fake stories often still circulate indefinitely, making it hard for victims to fully recover from the hoax. Driving the news: , a Congress and Industry reporter for Defense News, tells Axios about how his identity was hacked to fuel a right-wing meme conspiracy that the incoming Defense Secretary planned to outsource U.S. defense systems to...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…

Illustration: Aïda Amer/AxiosReddit that it raised more than $250 million in Series E funding from existing and new investors. Sources say the company raised the new funding at a $6 billion pre-money valuation.Why it matters: The company has since its last funding round of $300 million at a $3 billion valuation in 2019. Be smart: It's a great time for Reddit to raise money. The company is experiencing record downloads and traffic amid the that was seeded by retail investors on Reddit.Details: In a statement, the company said it will use the funds to make more strategic investments in Reddit...…Illustration: Aïda Amer/AxiosReddit that it raised more than $250 million in Series E funding from existing and new investors. Sources say the company raised the new funding at a $6 billion pre-money valuation.Why it matters: The company has since its last funding round of $300 million at a $3 billion valuation in 2019. Be smart: It's a great time for Reddit to raise money. The company is experiencing record downloads and traffic amid the that was seeded by retail investors on Reddit.Details: In a statement, the company said it will use the funds to make more strategic investments in Reddit...WW…