Screens
Snap has decided to stop featuring President Donald Trump's account on its Discover platform, where users can watch curated videos.
The Santa Monica-based company issued a statement Wednesday:
"We are not currently promoting the President's content on Snapchat's Discover platform. We will not amplify voices who incite racial violence and injustice by giving them free promotion on Discover. Racial violence and injustice have no place in our society and we stand together with all who seek peace, love, equality, and justice in America."
<p>A Snap spokesperson said the company made the decision over the weekend. On Sunday, Snap CEO Even Spiegel wrote to his employees, condemning racial injustice. </p><p>"I am heartbroken and enraged by the treatment of black people and people of color in America," he wrote. </p><p>Though Spiegel did not specifically call out President Trump in that letter, he highlighted that Snap has a responsibility to monitor the content on its platform.</p><p>"We simply cannot promote accounts in America that are linked to people who incite racial violence, whether they do so on or off our platform." Spiegel wrote. "Our Discover content platform is a curated platform, where we decide what we promote. We have spoken time and again about working hard to make a positive impact, and we will walk the talk with the content we promote on Snapchat. We may continue to allow divisive people to maintain an account on Snapchat, as long as the content that is published on Snapchat is consistent with our community guidelines, but we will not promote that account or content in any way."</p><p>The president's account remains on the platform, and is accessible via search and to subscribers, a Snap spokesperson noted. Unlike some other social media platforms, the spokesperson also said that Snap does not consider itself a "'town square' where anyone can speak publicly to the entire Snapchat community." Rather, as the curator of content on its Discover platform, Snap says it has a "responsibility to our community to show them public content that we believe will enhance their experience on Snapchat." </p><p>President Trump's campaign manager Brad Parscale issued a response on the Trump campaign's website:</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Snapchat is trying to rig the 2020 election, illegally using their corporate funding to promote Joe Biden and suppress President Trump. Radical Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel would rather promote extreme left riot videos and encourage their users to destroy America than share the positive words of unity, justice, and law and order from our President.</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Snapchat hates that so many of their users watch the President's content and so they are actively engaging in voter suppression. If you're a conservative, they do not want to hear from you, they do not want you to vote. They view you as a deplorable and they do not want you to exist on their platform."</p><p>In May, Joe Biden <a href="https://dot.la/biden-takes-to-snapchat-to-woo-younger-voters-2645993115.html" target="_blank">appeared</a> on the featured "Good Luck America" program, where he was interviewed and asked to address the perception that he is "old, out of touch, and kind of lame."</p><p>As <a href="https://dot.la/snap-tiktok-grindr-section-230-2646118991.html" target="_self">dot.LA reported Monday</a>, Snap has been the platform of choice for some people and groups seeking to promote violence, theft and property damage in the recent civil unrest. <br/></p><p>The self-described camera company is protected from financial liability for such messages by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.</p><p>Last week, however, <a href="https://dot.la/snap-tiktok-grindr-section-230-2646118991.html" target="_self">Trump signed an executive order that may change all of that</a> by enabling federal regulators to punish social media companies for how they moderate content on their sites. Lawmakers and internet freedom advocates called the action illegal and improper under the First Amendment.</p><p>As of 12:45 p.m. PT, Snap's share price was down about 1.5% for the day. </p><p>---</p><p><em>Sam Blake covers media & entertainment for dot.LA. Find him on Twitter @hisamblake and email him at samblake@dot.LA </em><br/></p>
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George Floyd Update: Disney will donate $5M to Social Justice Groups; a16z Announces Diversity Fund
Jun 03 2020
Here are the latest headlines regarding how the protests around the killing of George Floyd are impacting the Los Angeles startup and tech communities. Sign up for our newsletter and follow dot.LA on Twitter for the latest update.
Today:
- Disney will donate $5M to Social Justice Groups
- Blck VC group launches 'We Won't Wait' campaign
- a16z VC firm launches fund to target diverse founders
- Snap stops promoting Trump's account in its Discover feature
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Disney will donate $5M to Social Justice Groups
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://dot.la/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2OTY2MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMjY2MTY2NX0._jc-luWmLRd9-UnBFZgyZJTm33I9_3T6Ssz9nZ3lkVY/image.jpg?width=980" id="7082f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c602ad745e2c03d3c0175cf24139e96f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />ABC's TV sitcom Blackish aired two "monumental and timely episodes" this week.
<p>The Walt Disney company announced Wednesday that it will donate $5 million to nonprofit groups fighting for social justice, starting with a $2 million donation to the NAACP. </p><p>"The killing of George Floyd has forced our nation to once again confront the long history of injustice that black people in America have suffered, and it is critical that we stand together, speak out and do everything in our power to ensure that acts of racism and violence are never tolerated," said Disney chief Bob Chapek in a statement. "This $5 million pledge will continue to support the efforts of nonprofit organizations such as the NAACP that have worked tirelessly to ensure equality and justice."</p><p>In a statement, the company pointed to its previous social justice initiatives, including providing "millions of dollars in grants to help students from underrepresented groups make the dream of higher education a reality, including $2.5 million to the United Negro College Fund." Disney also noted that it matches employee donations to "eligible organizations" and that on Tuesday it re-aired two "monumental and timely episodes" of <em>Black-ish </em>on its ABC television networks before a primetime special titled "America in Pain: What Comes Next?" </p><p>In its quarterly earnings released last month, Disney reported nearly $40 billion in revenue in the six months to March 28, 2020. Net income over the same period was down 68% from the year prior, however, as most of the company's business units have been battered by the coronavirus pandemic.</p><p><em>— Sam Blake</em></p>Blck VC group launches 'We Won't Wait' campaign
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://dot.la/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2OTYzNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0OTg1NjgyOX0.Slh0ELzeW9DWblh2PyPxbOBhprxqdU6UhlN8slDMBOY/image.jpg?width=2000&coordinates=0%2C57%2C0%2C42&height=1500" id="97bd1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="267038b66b1b79bab468b27e79b053c4" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>Venture capital has fueled billions of dollars in wealth but it has largely excluded black Americans. Only 1% of venture-funded startup founders are black and more than 80% of venture firms don't have a single black investor.</p><p>Blck VC, a group of young black investors and entrepreneurs are calling on the venture capitalist community to diversify their ranks and support the black community. Declaring Thursday, June 4th, a day of action, the group launched a campaign called "We Won't Wait." <a href="https://dot.la/blck-vc-2646151711.html" target="_blank">Read more >></a></p><p><em>— Rachel Uranga</em></p>a16z VC firm launches fund to target diverse founders
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://dot.la/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2OTQ0MC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MDkwMzg3MH0.dhLyHYGgwtjLRdt65OFroB4fgSdsiZTeTSSEG88d7Mw/image.png?width=980" id="a1f14" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7a1c9842c8f468c18e05cdfc2be667a5" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Ben and Felicia Horowitz will match up to an additional $5,000,000 total in any other donations.
<p>One of Silicon Valley's most prominent venture capital firms <a href="https://a16z.com/2020/06/03/talent-x-opportunity/" target="_blank">announced Wednesday</a> it is launching a new fund designed for entrepreneurs who have the talent, drive and ideas to build great businesses, but lack the background and resources to do so.</p><p>In a blog post, the firm says it has been working on the fund for six months. However, the timing of the news this week is fortunate for an industry with a <a href="https://pitchbook.com/news/articles/vc-firms-have-a-diversity-problem-do-they-care" target="_blank">serious diversity problem. </a><span></span></p><p>a16z plans to fund a small group of founders in the first year, then expand after that. The initial capital will come from $2.2 million in donations from partners. Ben and Felicia Horowitz will match up to an additional $5 from other donations as well. The firm will invest in exchange for equity in the business, but all returns will stay in the fund to finance future entrepreneurs, which aims to back products from underserved communities that also have an "interesting model, niche market, and/or a little traction to indicate the promise and potential."</p><p>"We're venture capitalists, not activists," the firm said in its post. "Entrepreneurship hasn't been accessible to everyone, but the fact remains that being an entrepreneur is one of the most powerful ways to own your own future, to increase mobility across time and place, to invent new ways of doing things, and to forge a new system. As we emerge from this tragic moment, let's build.</p><p><em>dot.LA co-founder and executive chairman Spencer Rascoff is a board partner at a16z.</em></p><p><em><span></span>— Ben Bergman </em></p>Snap removes Trump's account from its Discover feature
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY0ODQzMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MzYwNjI2NX0.iAteI6t1-vdRIqymUzeX5uJwPuIsRS9rqxTPuXASQBo/img.jpg?width=980" id="01215" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f65582f8f474f612c8af0ff7acd0cc3f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Sam Blake<p>Snap has decided to no longer feature President Donald Trump's account on its Discover platform, where users can watch curated videos. </p><p>The Santa Monica-based company issued a statement Wednesday:</p><p>"We are not currently promoting the President's content on Snapchat's Discover platform. We will not amplify voices who incite racial violence and injustice by giving them free promotion on Discover. Racial violence and injustice have no place in our society and we stand together with all who seek peace, love, equality, and justice in America."</p><p>A Snap spokesperson said the company made the decision over the weekend. On Sunday, Snap CEO Even Spiegel wrote to his employees, condemning racial injustice. <a href="https://dot.la/trump-snapchat-2646151172.html" target="_blank">Read more >></a></p><p><em>— Sam Blake</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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A task force composed of entertainment companies, unions and guilds sent recommendations for resuming film production to California Gov. Gavin Newsom and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday.
The 22-page document detailed 19 guiding principles underlying the recommendations, which were spread across five "critical areas of concern":
- Infection control
- Protecting and supporting cast and crew health and safety
- Physical distancing
- Training and education
- Unique production-specific concerns
<ul class="ee-ul"></ul><p>"A staged reopening process may be necessary," the document noted, "with entertainment industry sectors reopening sequentially based on risk and public health authority approval. For example, aspects of pre- and post-production activities may be deemed lower risk and could reopen sooner than production activities." </p><p>FilmLA, a non-profit that administers the film permitting process in Los Angeles, is still unable to provide guidance on the expected timing for resumption of film production in L.A. County. That decision remains the responsibility of public officials.</p><p>"We await guidance from the County of Los Angeles and Department of Public Health with regard to the timing of the safe and responsible return of on-location production to Los Angeles County," a FilmLA representative told dot.LA </p><p>The task force's report acknowledged that many facts about COVID-19 are yet to be determined, meaning that safety protocols are "subject to further discussion and agreement." The report also noted that filming in adherence to the recommended protocols represents a notable departure from the common practices before the pandemic.</p><p>"The Task Force recognizes that many of the recommendations outlined in this document represent considerable changes in current workflows and processes," the report said.</p><p>Specific recommendations include providing regular, periodic testing of cast and crew; limiting face-to-face contact; designating a COVID-19 compliance officer; and instituting mandatory COVID-19 training on or before the first day of shooting. </p><p>Netflix, Walt Disney Pictures, Apple Studios, NBCUniversal and HBO were among the task force participants.</p><ul class="ee-ul"></ul><p>The coronavirus pandemic has hit Hollywood hard, with <a href="https://dot.la/hollywood-layoffs-2645997837.html" target="_blank">thousands left unemployed</a> and <a href="https://dot.la/disney-the-most-magical-place-on-streaming-2645928478.html" target="_blank">company finances upended</a>. And the longer the production pipeline remains crimped, the more squeezed companies will be, from streaming to the silver screen. </p>
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