Mediagazer: Ezra Klein illustrates why news orgs should embrace the network (Dan Kennedy/Nieman Journalism Lab)

9:45 PM ET, January 6, 2014

Top News:

Margaret Sullivan / The Public Editor's Journal:

When a (Partial) Tweet Becomes an Ad, What Are the Rules? — The media world gets weirder every day, but this moment still stands out as something of a stunner - the kind of thing that merits a place on the eternal timeline of “How the Internet Flipped the Media World on Its Head.” — Picture it:

Discussion: The Wrap, Adweek, @vosdscott, @markloundy, Boing Boing, @davewiner, @moorehn, @sulliview, @mathewi, @elanazak, @pkafka, PSFK, Re/code, Pressing Issues, Gothamist and ReadWrite

Emily Bell / Guardian:

Native advertising is the new paywall in media economics - but is it here to stay? — Many digital publishers have placed it at the heart of their business strategy - but there are concerns over transparency — In 1917, the American Federal Trade Commission settled a case with the Muensen Speciality Co. …

Discussion: @cantlin and mUmBRELLA

Brian Morrissey / Digiday:

The New York Times Embraces ‘Organic’ Ad Strategy — This week, The New York Times takes the wraps off its first Web redesign in five years. Along with the new look, the paper is rethinking its ad strategy, embracing the current trend toward weaving ads more closely with editorial content.

Discussion: Financial Times, The Atlantic Online, Kirk LaPointe's … and @rosepowell

Katie Roof / Fox Business:

Source: AOL Tried to Buy Business Insider for $100M+ — AOL Inc. (AOL) offered to purchase BusinessInsider.com, a popular business and technology news website, for more than $100 million but talks ultimately broke down when the two sides couldn't agree on price, the FOX Business Network has learned.

Eliana Johnson / National Review:

Rachel Maddow influencing MSNBC's editorial decisions, leading to falling ratings, say sources — Rachel's Show — MSNBC, the left-leaning cable-news network, has settled on one solution to its recent problems. It now has an executive reviewing scripts before they go on the air.

Discussion: TVNewser, @douthatnyt, Inside Cable News, Hot Air, @mlcalderone, @richlowry, @huffpostmedia, @dorseyshaw, PoliticusUSA, The Daily Caller, Mediaite, @stevekrak, @elianayjohnson and TheBlaze.com

Matt Wilstein / Mediaite:

Rachel Maddow Calls National Review Profile ‘Categorically False’ — The National Review published a lengthy piece Monday crowning Rachel Maddow “queen” of MSNBC, claiming the prime time host has more sway over editorial direction and personnel changes at the network than president Phil Griffin.

Discussion: Erik Wemple

Brian Stelter / CNNMoney.com:

Mashable raises $13 million to launch expansion effort — Nearly a decade into its existence, the news Web site Mashable is taking on outside investors for the first time. — The site plans to announce on Monday that it has raised $13.3 million in an equity investment round led by Updata Partners.

Discussion: Mashable, Folio, @benparr, @cdirusso, TechCrunch, @brianstelter, @pkafka, @adamostrow, @bahjournalist, @mathewi, @stacymartinet, @buzzfeedben, @mashable and Capital New York

Stuart Elliott / New York Times:

Advertising Age to Print Every Other Week — Advertising Age, the trade publication introduced in 1930, announced Monday that it would publish its print edition every other week rather than weekly. — The magazine, the largest publication in the ad trade field, will publish 25 issues in 2014 …

Discussion: Folio, Advertising Age, mUmBRELLA and @sfiegerman

Dan Kennedy / Nieman Journalism Lab:

Ezra Klein illustrates why news orgs should embrace the network — What should a 21st-century news organization look like? A single entity, run from the top, with a common set of values? Or a loose network of related projects, sharing a brand and to some extent a mission but operating semi-independently?

Discussion: Gigaom and The Huffington Post

Jeff Bercovici / Forbes:

Entrepreneurs dominate Forbes 30 Under 30 Media list — 30 Under 30: These People Are Building The Media Companies Of Tomorrow — It used to be easy to find the most promising young talent in the media business. All you had to do was search among the interns at The New Yorker …

Discussion: @ryanlawler, FishbowlNY, @mikeisaac, @feministabulous, @connorsimpson, @jasonwstein and @jeffbercovici

Hadas Gold / Politico:

Rep. Waxman puts pressure on Tribune Co. — Henry Waxman, representative of California's 33rd, sent a letter to the CEO of the embattled Tribune Co. on Monday asking for documents regarding their future plans for his local paper, The Los Angeles Times. — It's the second letter Waxman …

Discussion: @dylanbyers, @lachlan and The Breakdown

Paul Farhi / Washington Post:

Al Jazeera faces criticism in Egypt over its coverage of Muslim Brotherhood — Ever since the military's ouster of Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi in July, Al Jazeera, the pioneering Arab-language news broadcaster, hasn't shrunk from calling his removal something the American government won't: a coup.

Bloomberg:

Malone's Liberty Global Said Approaching Ziggo Agreement — Liberty Global Plc (LBTYA) is putting the final touches on an acquisition of Dutch broadband provider Ziggo NV (ZIGGO) as the cable company expands its European operations, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Discussion: Reuters and Gigaom

Maureen Farrell / Wall Street Journal:
John Malone's Next Chess Move to Take Control of Time Warner Cable

Discussion: MoneyBeat and Radio & Television …

Frédéric Filloux / Monday Note:

Surviving 2014 — 2014 won't be an easy year for the digital news business. The good news is the list of mandatory actions is coming into sharper focus. Today, we look at key items. — The hard part is finding positive signs. My own guess: for the news industry …

Discussion: @yurivictor and @niemanlab

Theo Leggett / BBC:

Is niche internet television broadcasting the future? — December in Mallorca is a relatively quiet time. While the sun still glitters on the deep blue waters of Palma harbour, the tourists who throng the island's resorts in summer are nowhere to be seen.

The Wrap:

How to Improve Hollywood in 2014: 9 Experts on the Future of Film and TV — From a distance, the Hollywood sign has never shone brighter. — The box office will hit record numbers this year and television continues to be a cash cow. Yet, a digital economy that roiled the industry continues to sweep away old business models.

Jeremy Barr / Poynter:

FAA says any commercial use of drones including journalism is not allowed yet — FAA on drone recordings by journalists: ‘There is no gray area’ — Last Wednesday, The (Spokane, Wash.) Spokesman-Review published a minute-long, aerial video of a local event.

Discussion: @elisewho, @fergle, @emilybell and Online NewsHour

Joe Pompeo / Capital New York:

Preparations begin for “blowback” against Gabriel Sherman's new Ailes book, out Jan. 21st — Big roll-out begins for Ailes book — Random House is preparing for a “s**tstorm,” to borrow the phrase Matt Drudge used in a tweet four months ago, that will surely ensue …

Discussion: Gawker, TVNewser, USA Today, Advertising Age, Mediaite, Capital New York, Politico, @sarahw and @mlcalderone

Tim Molloy / The Wrap:

NBC News Denies Report Ann Curry Is Leaving — NBC News says a report that Ann Curry's contract won't be renewed is “completely untrue.” — “It's completely untrue, and, as a matter of fact, she's going on a big assignment for NBC News this week,” a network spokeswoman told TheWrap.

Discussion: Mediaite, Daily Mail and National Enquirer