Mediagazer: PBS Takes On the Premium Channels (Amy Chozick/New York Times)

12:40 PM ET, January 2, 2012

Top News:

Gordon Brown's Downing Street emails ‘hacked’ — Police investigating computer hacking by private investigators commissioned by national newspapers have uncovered evidence that emails sent and received by Gordon Brown during his time as Chancellor were illegally accessed.

Discussion: The Raw Story and Jon Slattery

Cahal Milmo / The Independent: Scale of email hacking is set to be this year's biggest story

Dylan Welch / Sydney Morning Herald:

New to Twitter: the tweet Murdoch took down ... fast — “Either @rupertmurdoch is genuinely now on Twitter, or some disgruntled ex-NOTW journo just won the hacking Olympics.” — Less than two days after joining Twitter, media mogul Rupert Murdoch appears to have had his first brush …

Discussion: Lost Remote, Mediaite, Storyful, CNN, Betabeat and Guardian, more at Techmeme »

Anthony De Rosa / @antderosa:

Looks like @rupertmurdoch joined Twitter and he's verified.

Discussion: @jack, @johnprescott, The Huffington Post, @paulcarr, @mattderienzo, @brianstelter, @piersmorgan, Mediaite, @fromedome, @anildash, @jeffjarvis, @ethank, @rupertmurdoch, @ivankatrump, @felixsalmon and @annielowrey

Matt Brian / The Next Web:
Rupert Murdoch joins Twitter, immediately comes under fire

Discussion: Hollywood Reporter, ZDNet, Guardian, Globe and Mail, Chickaboomer and Future of Journalism

Dylan Byers / Politico:

Romney's Huffington Post connection — Something The Huffington Post didn't mention when it published its exclusive interview with Mitt Romney last Thursday: AOL CEO Tim Armstrong gave $2,500 — the maximum campaign contribution — to Romney earlier this year, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Joe Pompeo / Capital New York:

Tim Armstrong trumpets AOL successes, urges ‘kaizen’ spiritual-business approach on employees in New Year's Eve missive — Via TechCrunch Disrupt — The road ahead for The Huffington Post: Nine months and a merger later, ‘Capital-J Journalism’ is still a work in progress

Discussion: TechCrunch

Mike Reynolds / Multichannel News:

Time Warner Cable: MSG Offered No ‘Credible Explanation’ For License Fee Hike — MSO Offers Subscribers January Freeview of Sports Package, As Two RSNs Are In Dark — Time Warner Cable, maintaining that a deal had been in reach before the programmer demanded a “whopping” …

Discussion: PC Magazine, Bloomberg and New York Times

Matt Jarzemsky / Wall Street Journal:
Time Warner, MSG Fail to Reach Agreement Ahead of Deadline

Discussion: Reuters, Gothamist and NY Daily News

Amy Chozick / New York Times:

PBS Takes On the Premium Channels — In an effort to freshen its image and lift revenue, the Public Broadcasting Service is trying to be more like HBO — without the monthly cable bill. — Emboldened by the success of the British period drama “Downton Abbey,” one of the most critically acclaimed shows …

Discussion: Media Buyer Planner

Jim Romenesko:

No mention of WP editor Brauchli in publisher's letter — The person who forwarded this year-end memo from Washington Post publisher Katharine Weymouth points out: There are roughly one kajillion people acknowledged in this Weymouth note — including Zaleski and Narisetti on the digital side …

Steven Waldman / CJR:

This News Story Is Brought to You By... Shouldn't TV news outlets admit that they offer pay-for-play? — One of the most disturbing trends in local TV news is the persistence of “pay for play”—when local TV newscasts allow sponsors to dictate content. — The Federal Communications Commission …

Discussion: Terry Heaton's PoMo Blog and Future of Journalism

Om Malik / GigaOM:

Shifting reading habits boost Read It Later in 2011 — Nate Weiner is one of those accidental entrepreneurs who make Silicon Valley somewhat of a magical place. Back in 2007, when he was working at a design shop in Minnesota, he was so busy that he didn't have time to read or see videos that he came across the web.

Dave Lee:

The Verge and The Kernel: Technology journalism's refreshing new face — “Hello humans,” he says, looking almost surprised that anyone has bothered to turn up. — “This is our first show. We have a million planned, literally.” — The scene resembles something from the mid-nineties …

Discussion: @mikepilarz

Jim Romenesko:

San Diego Union-Tribune staff told told to dress up, work longer hours — “Employees will transition to a 40 hour work week effective January 2, 2012,” from the old 37.5-hour work week. “Standard office hours will be, 8:30 - 5:30, with an hour for lunch,” says a memo to staff. About the dress code: