Mediagazer: Sonoma Index-Tribune drops paywall on news website (Santa Rosa Press-Democrat)

4:10 AM ET, December 9, 2010

Top News:

Jim Romenesko / Poynter:

Pulitzer board announces changes for 2011 competition — Romenesko Misc. — The rules for 12 of the 14 categories now state explicitly that entries may use any available journalistic tool, including text reporting, videos, databases, multimedia or interactive presentations or any combination of those formats.

Cpen / Twitter Blog:

To Trend or Not to Trend... Since Twitter first introduced the Trends feature in the summer of 2008, one frequently asked question has been “Why isn't X trending?” This question has come up around a variety of subjects, from #justinbieber and #adamlambert to #flotilla, #iranelection and #demo2010.

Discussion: Guardian, VentureBeat, The Next Web, Social Medium, ResourceShelf, SAI and The Atlantic Online, more at Techmeme »

Santa Rosa Press-Democrat:

Sonoma Index-Tribune drops paywall on news website — The Sonoma Index-Tribune has ended its three-month-long practice of charging readers to view online content, even as another news website begins operation in the community. — In September, the twice-weekly Index-Tribune started charging viewers $5 …

Discussion: paidContent, mediabistro.com and WebNewser

Yahoo / Yodel Anecdotal:

Yahoo! Gets Hyper-Local — Here at Yahoo! we are constantly redefining how people experience and interact with content on the Web. Users today want to go beyond words presented on the screen. They want videos. They want social activity. They want it anywhere and anytime.

Discussion: Y! Mobile Blog, SAI, paidContent, GigaOM, Search Engine Land and Bits, more at Techmeme »

Hamilton Nolan / Gawker:

New York Post Political Editor Quits After Fight With Tyrant Boss — Gregg Birnbaum was the well-liked political editor of the New York Post, a 17-year veteran of the paper. Until yesterday, when he left abruptly. The reason, we hear: he got sick of NYP chief Col Allan's obnoxious behavior.

Discussion: Poynter

Greg Sandoval / Media Maverick:

Netflix signs new Disney-ABC deal, shows up doubters — Disney apparently doesn't think Netflix is a threat. The company has struck a deal to offer content via Netflix's streaming service. — Netflix has signed a new licensing agreement with one of the biggest Hollywood studios …

Discussion: The Digital Home, PR Newswire, New York Post, Mashable!, MediaMemo and The Wrap

David Kaplan / paidContent:
Correction: Netflix And Disney Agree On 15-Day Window For Some Streaming

Discussion: MediaPost, The Official Netflix Blog, Company Town, Multichannel, NetNewsCheck Latest, MediaPost, Fast Company, rbr.com, GigaOM and Broadcasting & Cable

NPR:

NYT Reporter Defends Publishing WikiLeaks Cables … Sen. Joe Lieberman, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, has suggested that The New York Times should be investigated for publishing classified diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks. — “To me The New York Times has committed …

Discussion: American Journalism Review, Techdirt and The Huffington Post

Jeff Bercovici / Mixed Media:

News Corp. COO: Please Don't Associate Us With Our Newspapers — Rupert Murdoch may have printer's ink flowing through his veins, as is often said of the News Corp. chairman, but for his No. 2, president and COO Chase Carey, newspapers are more like an albatross around the neck.

Discussion: rbr.com and Multichannel

Patricia Cohen / Media Decoder:

Foer Steps Down at The New Republic — The New Republic is getting a new editor in the new year. Richard Just, currently the executive editor, is taking over Jan. 1 from Franklin Foer, who is stepping down after a five-year stint. — Mr. Foer, 36, who closed his last issue of the magazine on Tuesday …

Discussion: New York Observer, Yahoo! News, Poynter, The Huffington Post and bookforum.com

Jessica E. Vascellaro / Speakeasy:

Departing NBCU Chief Zucker Considers Private Equity, Other Options … Departing NBC Universal Chief Executive Jeff Zucker has added to his list of possible next acts one more item: joining a private-equity firm. — Zucker has been approached by several, according to people familiar with the matter.

Kara Swisher / BoomTown:

CBS Interactive Head Neil Ashe Stepping Down — Neil Ashe (pictured here), president of CBS Interactive, is stepping down from his post. — CBS confirmed the move after BoomTown made inquiries recently, after hearing of various executives who had been contacted by the media giant about the position.

Discussion: paidContent, Company Town, WebNewser and ClickZ, more at Techmeme »

Jodiolson / Twitter Blog:

Now Playing on #newTwitter: Embedded Music, TV Shows, Slides and More — One of the most popular features of #newTwitter is the ability to check out photos, videos, and music directly in the details pane. Click on a Tweet with a link to media, and the details pane on the right lets …

Discussion: Mashable!, GigaOM, TechCrunch, Lost Remote, L.A. Times Tech Blog, Shaping the Future …, The Wall Blog, paidContent, WebNewser and The Next Web

David Folkenflik / NPR:

TV Network Expands Bloomberg News' Horizon … Just last year, Margaret Brennan walked away from the nation's leading financial cable news channel to a rival with such small ratings that its executives currently do not pay to find out how many people are watching. — “Yeah, it was a gamble,” Brennan concedes.

Discussion: Inside Cable News