What I've Been Reading: Don't poke the Google bear + the 'dark money' election

As well as News re:wired tid-bits plus we've got a new launch with The Lead - right here in Lancashire

Good evening,

On the wettest of Wednesday’s here in Preston, and by the looks of it in London, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced the thunderclouds and called a general election. There went the day and weeks ahead….

Here’s a quick spin-through some interesting links from across the digital journalism and media world right now for browsing.

Google threatens to pause Google News Initiative funding in U.S. - Sara Fischer, Axios - a good run-through from Sara of how Google is responding in the US where it is facing an ever-growing bill frm the 'Cali tax' as it calls it. As the Digital Markets Bill continues here in the UK we can expect to see Google ramp up its talk, and maybe spending, on News Initiative funding. For those who don't know, this is what Google puts into supporting new projects, innovations and programmes to support news publishers of varying size.

It was the news re:wired conference in London today, a few interesting bits I’ve spotted on socials from it

Andrew Strutt on the learnings from the newsletters session - and how important tone of voice is in building that loyalty, and being authentic too.

And John Crowley’s quote from Helen Philpott at The Sun - she spoke in a personal capacity - but the risk of ‘beige content’ becoming a thing with the rise of AI (this could apply to written and audio content, I think).

The Dark Money Election Has Officially Begun - Peter Geoghegan, Democracy For Sale - as soon as the election was called, the vertical videos were straight out there, from all sides, to ‘speak to the people’. Despite the PM having just ‘spoken to the people’. A sign of just how much they know getting a message out across social platforms and trying to amplify it will be a key part of the campaign. But, as Peter writes here, the amount of money bankrolling them and exactly where it comes from has become ever more shady than before… should be some good stories to come here.

The Dark Money Election Has Officially Begun

And lastly, and by no means least, we’ve had a spurt of new launches with The Lead who we’re working with. From The Altrincham & Sale Lead getting going, to Warrington launching next week, we’ve also got a first foray into Substack as Jamie Lopez authors The Lancashire Lead. Aiming to keep a close eye on every corner of the county, from coastline to fells and everything in-between. See Jamie’s Wednesday morning edition…

Eden Project Morecambe funding update brings construction work closer

And that’s a wrap for this evening, there will be no digest next week as it’s the school half-term holidays so normal service with the What I’ve Been Reading digest returns on Wed 3 June. When we’ll be just over a month out from the UK going to the polls and what’s an expected audience, and subscriptions, bounce for publications.

Have a great rest of the week and keep going.

Ed