Media Insider: MSNBC Staffers Form Union, Drew Barrymore Launches Magazine, Univision To Add Streaming

Welcome to Media Insider, PR Newswire’s roundup of media news stories from the week.

MEDIAPOST | FERN SIEGEL
MSNBC News Staffers Have Joined A Union, WGA East

MSNBC is the latest media entity to join the workers’-rights movement and has formed a union. Staffers, including news writers, producers, booking producers, and fact-checkers, unionized with WGA East. The bargaining unit’s statement read, “We organized because our voices must be heard in the newsroom for the future of our industry.”

Related: Nearly 40 Chicago Tribune journalists take voluntary buyout offered by Tribune Publishing.

NEW YORK POST | KEITH J. KELLY
Drew Barrymore is launching her own magazine

Drew Barrymore has partnered with German publisher Bauer Media to launch her own magazine. Bauer says the new quarterly magazine is “a feel-good print product devoted to beauty, love, and fun.” The magazine will include photography and stories about what to see, where to go, products spotlights, recipes, and more. This is the second female-led magazine Bauer has launched in the recession, aligning with its pledge to grow its women’s business portfolio. The first issue hit newsstands this week with a cover price of $9.99.

More launch news: Quartz co-founders and New York Times veteran launch new media company that is centered around the future of work.

MEDIAPOST | FERN SIEGEL
Univision To Launch Two-Tier Global Streamer In 2022

Univision plans to launch a global streaming service in the U.S. and in Latin America in 2022. The service will combine Univision NOW, PrendeTV, and VIX into one platform and utilize Televisa’s content library and create new originals. The service will include a two-tier offering. The ad-supported tier includes 100+ linear channels and more than 40,000 hours of content available for streaming. The premium subscription tier will feature 6,000+ hours of Spanish-language content and more than 30 original productions in its first year. The name, pricing, and launch date will be announced once the Televisa-Univision merger closes.

In other streaming news, Netflix tapped Allure editor in chief Michelle Lee to oversee new social-media initiatives.

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER | J. CLARA CHAN
Jemele Hill Launches Podcast Network With Spotify

Jemele Hill will be launching a podcast network exclusively with Spotify. The Unbothered Network will focus on elevating the voices and stories of Black women. “The Unbothered Network is more than just a content hub, it’s a space where Black women can hopefully see their full selves,” Hill said in a statement. Hill and her current production company, Lodge Freeway Media, will develop series for the new podcast network. Other executives leading The Unbothered Network include Christina M. Tapper, former deputy editor of Medium’s ZORA publication, and producer Rich Boerner, former senior vp programming and operations at Cadence13.

Read Next: Facebook officially launches Live Audio Rooms and podcasts in the US.

THE TRACE | SABRINA IGLESIAS 
Up the Block, Our Website for Philadelphians Affected by Gun Violence, Is Live

This week, The Trace debuted its community engagement website Up the Block. The website includes information on organizations focused on supporting people affected by gun violence and incarceration. The searchable guide connects survivors and their families to resources for therapy, employment, transitional housing, post-incarceration, and more. Future plans for the website include adding resources to help kids and young adults find after-school activities and safe community spaces. The website is offered in both English and Spanish.

ICYMI: TikTok’s Chinese nemesis Kuaishou hits 1 billion monthly users worldwide.

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Erin Wade is a Senior Customer Content Specialist with PR Newswire. She is also an animal lover and aspiring world traveler. Tune into her insights as a social curator at @TotalCSR.