Mediagazer: TheWrap Beats Deadline Hollywood and Variety's Web Traffic in December (The Wrap)

12:25 PM ET, January 15, 2014

Top News:

Michael Wolff / Slate:

The new Roger Ailes biography isn't just poorly written. It's telling the wrong story. — Gabriel Sherman is part of a group of young media reporters—many starting out at the New York Observer under the tutelage of then-Editor Peter Kaplan, an avowed media nostalgist—who have seen their subject …

Discussion: @buzzfeedben, @laurahelmuth, @michaelwolffnyc, @joneforeman, @adriennelaf, @david_rosenberg, @ryanchittum and @michaelwolffnyc

Paul Farhi / Washington Post: Q&A with author of book on Fox's Roger Ailes

Alex Leo / Newsweek:

The New New Newsweek.com — I know the past couple years have been confusing—it seems like every time you turn around there's a new Newsweek.com. When IBT Media purchased Newsweek last year, it inherited a beautiful site designed by Huge that was launched less than a year ago.

Discussion: @niemanlab

Joe Pompeo / Capital New York:

Jim Rutenberg joins Times Magazine — Jim Rutenberg has been named chief political correspondent for The New York Times Magazine, filling the spot created when Matt Bai jumped to Yahoo News in November. — He leaves the newspaper-side role of national political correspondent.

Discussion: FishbowlNY and Capital New York

Amol Sharma / Wall Street Journal:

Viacom to launch customizable kids' TV channel, My Nick Jr., on Verizon FiOS — Viacom to Launch Customized Kids' TV Channel — My Nickelodeon Junior to Combine Elements of Streaming Services Pandora and Netflix — Viacom Inc. plans to launch a children's TV channel in the U.S …

Discussion: Consumerist, The Verge and @zseward

Keith J. Kelly / New York Post:

After 97 years in NYC, Forbes heads to New Jersey — Forbes Media surprised staffers Tuesday with the news that the “capitalist tool” is moving to New Jersey — vacating the Greenwich Village HQ it has occupied for 49 years. — CEO Mike Perlis gave the word but said the company is looking for …

Discussion: Capital New York and @michaelroston

Jason Deans / Guardian:

James Harding offers the BBC reasons to be cheerful in the digital age — In his debut public speech for the BBC, its news chief seemed on top of his brief - and was remarkably upbeat about the future — “I am, in fact, extremely optimistic about the future of journalism,” …

Discussion: bbc.co.uk and BBC

Eliot Brown / Wall Street Journal:

Time Warner Nears Deal to Sell Headquarters — When Related Cos. needed financing for its $1.3 billion bid for Manhattan's Time Warner Center, it turned to a ready source of money: foreign buyers. — It found willing backers in sovereign-wealth funds from Abu Dhabi and Singapore …

Discussion: FishbowlNY and @aleclefort

Mark Stone / Sky News:

China Defends Blocking Some Western Websites — Video: Chinese Ambassador: ‘China Is Open’ — China's ambassador to the UK has defended his country's long-standing decision to block some Western media companies, in an interview with Sky News. — Speaking to Sky's Jeff Randall …

Discussion: Press Gazette

Desiree Everts / Idea Lab:

Knight News Challenge Winners: Health Care Meets Big Data — The Knight Foundation today announced the latest winners of its News Challenge grantees. This latest round focused on health data and included projects from youth counseling via text messaging to chemical analysis tools and connecting communities with local health services.

Discussion: 10,000 Words, Co.Exist and Solutions Journalism Network

Justin Ellis / Nieman Journalism Lab:
With Knight funding, Solutions Journalism Network wants to grow reporting on positive results in health reporting

Discussion: @jsb, Knight Foundation, Columbia Journalism Review and Poynter

William Launder / Wall Street Journal:

Half A Dozen Bidders Remain For Forbes, Mostly From Outside The U.S. — Bidders for Forbes Include Axel Springer, Fosun International and Spice Global — The auction of Forbes Media LLC is drawing interest from an array of international companies, including Germany's Axel Springer SE …

Discussion: NetNewsCheck Latest, Hollywood Reporter, @weigu, VCPOST, Reuters and Talking Biz News

Leila Haddou / Guardian:

Blogger broke news of alleged UK role in 1984 Amritsar attack — Independent researcher and journalist uncovered government papers in the National Archives released under the 30-year rule — The revelation of alleged SAS involvement in the planning of the 1984 expulsion of militants …

Discussion: New York Times and BBC

Mathew Ingram / Gigaom:

What you need to know about the court decision that just struck down net neutrality — The principle behind the phrase “net neutrality” is that internet service providers of all kinds should treat data flowing over the open internet equally, without giving preferential treatment to data from one provider or platform.

Tom Wheeler / Official FCC Blog:
Ensuring an Open Internet Now and for the Future

Discussion: Gigaom, The Switch, Bloomberg, The Verge, @digiphile, @billmcgev, @davidisen, @tomwheelerfcc, Medium, Guardian, Salon and Digits

Stuart Kemp / Hollywood Reporter:

Ex-BBC Exec, Sony Pictures TV Launch U.K. Production Banner — Karl Warner and SPT pacts with Electric Ray to produce factual entertainment and entertainment shows. — LONDON - Former BBC entertainment commissioner Karl Warner and Sony Pictures Television (SPT) are teaming to launch a U.K. production banner named Electric Ray.

Discussion: Deadline.com

Steve Donohue / FierceCable:

Dish Network CEO weighs in on broadband wireless, virtual cable, pay TV consolidation — with Joseph Clayton, President & CEO, Dish Network … FierceCable: Sony announced that it plans to test a virtual cable product later this year. Is that something Dish would like to do as well?

Discussion: FierceOnlineVideo News

Liz Goodwin / Yahoo! News:

Why isn't the media allowed to talk to Guantanamo detainees? — GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba — It's now been more than 12 years since the first terror suspects arrived at what was then a makeshift, open-air military prison at Guantanamo Bay. Since then, thousands of journalists …

Discussion: Latest News & Headlines, @yahoonews and @lizcgoodwin

The Wrap:

TheWrap Beats Deadline Hollywood and Variety's Web Traffic in December — TheWrap is pleased to announce that it has achieved its highest traffic month in the history of the site, surpassing both industry trades Variety and Deadline. — According to comScore, TheWrap scored 3.4 million unique visitors …

Discussion: FishbowlNY

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Vimeo Inks Exclusive Digital Deals for 13 Films from Toronto International Film Festival — IAC-owned Internet video company is giving TIFF filmmakers $10,000 up front in exchange for exclusive distribution window — Vimeo starting next month will offer online rentals of a baker's dozen …

Discussion: Hollywood Reporter, PR Newswire, @josh_diamond, The Wrap, thedrum.com and Home Media Magazine

Paul Sawers / The Next Web:

Smart TV: Sky officially launches targeted adverts to the UK public — Just like how you're served personalized ads (to a degree) on the Internet, UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB ('Sky') has officially launched its own tailored TV ad program to the public after a six-month trial period.

Discussion: Engadget

BBC:

Phone-hacking trial: Charlie Brooks CCTV released — CCTV showing Rebekah Brooks' husband Charlie and security staff allegedly trying to hide computers and documents from police has been released. — The hacking trial jury has been shown excerpts from CCTV footage recorded around the building in Chelsea …

Discussion: Daily Mail, ABC, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, @richardvranch, Guardian and Telegraph

David Gelles / DealBook:

How Much Time Warner May Be Worth to a Suitor — Charter Communications says it is offering a full price for Time Warner Cable. At $132.50 a share, its proposal amounts to a 40 percent premium above where Time Warner Cable's stock was trading in June, before rumors of a deal surfaced.

Discussion: Los Angeles Times