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Google has pledged to help bolster the struggling news and publishing businesses- and the search giant is apparently seeing some positive results.
Two weeks ago, Chartbeat, a media analytics company, reported that it found that the Google Chrome browser for smartphones - specifically, a feature known as "Articles for You" - has grown 2,100 percent and now sends 341 million visits per month to the web sites of publishers all over the globe.
This week, Chartbeat provided more details about its research, saying news sites are far likelier to benefit from Chrome article suggestions than "evergreen" publishers, who publish how-to guides and other less-timely content.
To read more about how "Articles for You" is helping publishers, click here.
In other news:
Zuckerberg's Congressional appearance went okay, but some on Wall Street still worry the Cambridge Analytica scandal will hurt its business. Instead, Facebook faces higher risks of regulation and a hit to its business amid the backlash, Pivotal analyst Brian Wieser says.
The 'Facebook is bad for society' narrative isn't flying with advertisers, Barclays says. Facebook advertisers aren't going anywhere, according to Barclays analyst Ross Sandler.
The Cambridge Analytica data breach also harvested people's private Facebook messages. Facebook hinted that inboxes may have been compromised earlier this week, and further reporting from The Guardian confirmed it.
The EU is likely to hit Google with a multi-billion-dollar fine in the next few months, but no one really expects it to dent Google's dominance. The final ruling in the EU's antitrust case around Google's Android is expected in the next few months.
Backpage.com's CEO pleaded guilty to money-laundering charges in California, and has promised to co-operate with prosecutors. Carl Ferrer will serve no more than five years in prison.
Tronc saw several dozen employees, including former Los Angeles Times editor in chief and Tribune Interactive Chief Content Officer Lewis D'Vorkin, out the door on Thursday. D'Vorkin said the decision to leave the company was mutual.
