Mediagazer: NY Times will build its digital empire on (metered) quality journalism (Dean Takahashi/VentureBeat)

2:30 PM ET, January 23, 2011

Top News:

Educating the journo-programmer — There's an idea, emanating from New York, that if we somehow combine the talents of programmers and journalists, we'll figure out how to make news work in the age of the Internet. I haven't been sure what to call this, but I agree that there's a lot of power in the combination.

Discussion: @macloo

Dean Takahashi / VentureBeat:

NY Times will build its digital empire on (metered) quality journalism — The New York Times is moving forward this quarter with its plan to put paid metering on its stories on the internet. And it believes it can do so because of its emphasis on quality journalism, says Arthur Sulzberger, publisher of the New York Times.

Discussion: Tech Europe, @felixsalmon and The Atlantic Online

Andrew Alexander / Washington Post:

Can The Post regain its legacy of excellence? — My fourth-floor office looks out over the main entrance to The Post. I often glance across 15th Street and see tourists taking photos of the newspaper's iconic nameplate. For so many, The Post has a reputation for journalistic excellence.

Discussion: Mediactive, @mathewi, @dangillmor and @stevebuttry

Amanda Andrews / Telegraph:

Virgin Media's Neil Berkett: It's all about ‘connectivity’ and broadband speed — Neil Berkett has an announcement to make: Virgin Media's battle with Sky for the pay-TV market is over. — “This is not a zero-sum game any more,” says the New Zealand-born media executive.

Nicholas Carlson / SAI:

AOL Is In Talks To Acquire Outside.In, Save It From Near Certain Death — AOL is talking to local news aggregator Outside.in about a possible acquisition, we've heard from multiple sources. — One source close to the deal told us that it would be “premature” to report that AOL has acquired Outside.in …

Joshua L. Weinstein / The Wrap:

Did Keith Olbermann Bolt MSNBC to Create Media Empire? — It was Keith Olbermann's decision to leave MSNBC, TheWrap has learned. — The outspoken host first told the network last April that he wanted to leave and began negotiating his exit then, according to an individual with knowledge of the situation.

Discussion: Media Decoder, Deadline.com, http://www.Stinkyjournalism …, The Daily Beast, The New Yorker Blog, American Journalism Review, The Daily Caller and Runnin' Scared

Guardian:

News of the World phone-hacking scandal threatens more newspapers — Lawyer confirms other red tops facing legal claims 24 hours after issue claimed Andy Coulson's job — Britain's tabloid newspapers are now facing a major crisis after being drawn into the News of the World phone-hacking scandal.

Discussion: The Independent, Spectator, The First Post, Telegraph and Daily Mail

Arthur S. Brisbane / New York Times:

A Necessary Clash of News and Advertising — Views from readers, responses from the staff and thoughts from Arthur S. Brisbane, the public editor. — I am writing to draw your attention to a recent two-page spread ("A Year Later, Haunted but Hopeful, Haiti Struggles Back," Jan. 4).

Sharon Waxman / The Wrap:

Sundance Deals: Buzz But No Money Yet (updated) — Updated at 5 pm: — There were multiple bids for “Like Crazy” even as the premiere screening for writer-director Drake Doremus's new love story debuted. Doremus was here last year with the offbeat and oft-hilarious “Douchebag,” …

Discussion: Inside Movies

Jim Romenesko / Poynter:

Charlotte Observer forces city to release e-mail subscriber list — The City of Charlotte has given residents on its e-mail list a heads-up about the Charlotte Observer obtaining the city list through an open records request. The paper's Director of Strategic Products and Audience Development …

Roy Peter Clark / Poynter:

How journalists are using Facebook, Twitter to write mini serial narratives — Since the mid 1990s I've been experimenting with serial narratives, stories of more than one serving, in which parts or episodes often end in cliffhangers, driving the reader or viewer to the next installment.

Justin Ellis / Nieman Journalism Lab:

Boston Hack Day Challenge: An open door to Boston.com — Count The Boston Globe among the growing number of organizations that want hackers to come in from the cold. On the weekend of Feb. 25 they're holding a three-day event called the “Boston Hack Day Challenge” where developers …