Mediagazer: Tax on Newspaper Sales Is America's Worst Tax Idea (Hamilton Nolan/Gawker)

8:15 AM ET, January 13, 2012

Top News:

Arthur S. Brisbane / The Public Editor's Journal:

Should The Times Be a Truth Vigilante? — I'm looking for reader input on whether and when New York Times news reporters should challenge “facts” that are asserted by newsmakers they write about. — One example mentioned recently by a reader: As cited in an Adam Liptak article on the Supreme Court …

Arthur S. Brisbane / The Public Editor's Journal:

Update to my Previous Post on Truth Vigilantes — I have appended a note statement from Jill Abramson, the executive editor, responding to this post. — First, though, I must lament that “truth vigilante” generated way more heat than light. A large majority of respondents weighed in with …

Jim Romenesko:

NYT public editor on reaction to Truth Vigilante post — What I was trying to ask was whether reporters should always rebut dubious facts in the body of the stories they are writing. I was hoping for diverse and even nuanced responses to what I think is a difficult question.

Discussion: The Huffington Post, FishbowlNY and Poynter

Steve Myers / Poynter:

Keller: 'I wonder if Art hasn't confused matters a bit' — It's ironic that one of the examples New York Times Public Editor Arthur Brisbane used in asking whether reporters should be “truth vigilantes” has already been fact-checked. — In March 2010 PolitiFact ruled that it's not true …

Jay Rosen / Pressthink:

So whaddaya think: should we put truthtelling back up there at number one? — Somewhere along the way, telling truth from falsehood was surpassed by other priorities to which the press felt a stronger duty. Arthur Brisbane, public editor of the New York Times, was unaware of this history …

Craig Silverman / Poynter:
Journalists incredulous as Times public editor asks: ‘Should the Times be a Truth Vigilante?’

Discussion: Future of Journalism

Nat Ives / AdAge:

Newsweek Reviving Its 1960s Design for ‘Mad Men’ Issue, Down to the Ads — Effort Marks Season-Five Premiere of AMC Show — Newsweek is planning an issue marking the return of “Mad Men” this March by adopting the magazine's 1960s design throughout — all the way, it hopes, to the ads.

Discussion: PopWatch, Gothamist, FishbowlNY and Newsweek

Michael Calderone / The Huffington Post:

Chris Hughes, Facebook Co-Founder, Interested In Buying The New Republic — NEW YORK — Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes is a candidate to buy the New Republic, according to sources familiar with the matter. A deal has not yet been reached. While Hughes has made his fortune in the tech world …

Discussion: Washington Post

Brian Stelter / Media Decoder:

Summing Up Andy Rooney, Who Long Had the Last Word — “He actually thought death did not apply to him,” said Andy Rooney's son, Brian, “which is a great way to go.” — So began a memorial service on Thursday morning for Andy Rooney, the CBS News commentator who died Nov. 4 at the age of 92.

Discussion: TVNewser

Lucas Shaw / The Wrap:

Larry King, Carlos Slim Planning ‘Huge’ Online Venture (Exclusive) — Larry King is launching a “huge” online initiative backed by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, TheWrap has learned. — Two individuals close to King confirmed that the venture was underway, though details remain sketchy.

Discussion: JIMROMENESKO.COM

Joe Pompeo / Capital New York:

Jodi Kantor gets a grilling from Upper West Side Barnes & Noble Patrons about her book, ‘The Obamas’ — It's been a busy, rough week for Jodi Kantor, the New York Times reporter whose new book about the first family, The Obamas, entered the world on Tuesday to mixed reviews and controversy …

Discussion: BuzzFeed, Politico, Erik Wemple, Globe and Mail, Politico and The Huffington Post

Erik Wemple:
How did the Tennessean scoop the White House press corps on the Johnny Depp Halloween party?

Discussion: NetNewsCheck Latest and Future of Journalism, Thanks:erikwemple

Jasmin Ramsey / AJE - Al Jazeera English:

Story of a changing headline: Iran ‘regime collapse’ — Statements by certain officials that run counter to official policy could further harm prospects of US-Iran relations. — Vancouver, Canada - Here's how it goes. On Tuesday morning, the Washington Post published an article …

Mark Sweney / Guardian:

Future sells New York operation for $3m — Magazine publisher Future has sold its loss-making New York division to NewBay Media — Future Publishing has sold off its loss-making New York operation - home to magazines including Guitar World, Revolver and Guitar Aficionado - in a deal worth $3m (£1.9m).

Discussion: Media Week

Kevin Lincoln / Business Insider:

Hulu's 2011 Revenue Comes In At $420 Million — Hulu CEO Jason Kilar just revealed some big numbers from 2011 on the company's blog. — The web video startup generated $420 million in revenue, up 60% from the year prior. — Other key stats from Kilar:

Discussion: GigaOM, Hulu Blog, AllThingsD, Electronista and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »

Lisa O'Carroll / Guardian:

‘Daily Express right to quit PCC because it failed to stop McCann libels’ — Paper's editor tells Leveson inquiry that regulator was not proactive enough in preventing excesses in press coverage — The editor of the Daily Express has justified its decision to quit the Press Complaints Commission …

Discussion: Press Gazette and themediablog.typepad.com