Media Roundup: Google May be in Talks to Acquire Twitter, Hulu Close to Breaking Even and More

Google may be in talks to acquire Twitter – According to TechCrunch, the search engine giant Google is in talks to acquire the micro-blogging site Twitter for well over its $250 million evaluation. Google is said to have an interest in Twitter’s ability to search the thoughts of the Web in real time. In separate reporting, BoomTown’s Kara Swisher denies the two are close to a deal. Instead the companies are in “some product related discussions.” In the past, Twitter has turned down acquisition offers from Facebook and Twitter’s founders have previously sold a product to Google. [Source: TechCrunch, All Things Digital]

Hulu close to breaking even — The online video site owned by News Corp. and NBC is close to breaking even. Although Hulu has come under some criticism for only selling 60 percent of ad inventory, the Internet TV service seen a surge in traffic, growing 50 percent since last October. The company is filling unsold space with public service ads. Many traditional media outlets only sell 70 percent of ads and, once network ads are discounted, many Web sites only move 50 percent of inventory. Disney is currently negotiating to place content on Hulu. [Source: paidContent]

Wired.com lays off 12 percent of staff — The online branch of Wired Magazine has laid off 3 of its 25 staffers. The cuts are the second in five months for the digital culture Web site. Among those let go were the managing editor and the writer of the site’s ListeningPost blog. Wired’s parent company, Conde Nast, has been actively trimming back many of its digital properties including the technology news site Ars Technica. [Source: CNET]

Richmond Times-Dispatch cuts 90 jobs — Across all departments, the Richmond Times-Dispatch is laying off 59 workers while leaving 31 jobs unfilled. Additionally, the paper announced there will be no new pay increases for non-union employees. After the cuts, the Times-Dispatch is down to 602 employees from 772. Management denied that the paper would have to cut publication days. [Source: Editor & Publisher]

News Corp. to invest in e-reader — While at the cable industry’s trade show, Rupert Murdoch said his company is investing in a mobile e-reader device. The exact target of Murdoch’s investment has yet to be revealed, but it could be Hearst or PlasticLogic. Both companies are developing new e-readers. The CEO of News Corp. expressed admiration for Amazon’s Kindle and said the company was working on a four-color e-reader device. Whether Murdoch was using the print industry term “four-color” or literally meant four colors is unclear. [Source: All Things Digital]