Mediagazer: Smartwatches and the digital future of news (Alastair Reid/Journalism.co.uk)

11:20 AM ET, January 21, 2014

Top News:

Why the Post passed on Ezra Klein — The Washington Post would do anything for Ezra Klein. Well, almost anything. — For nearly five years, the Post has steered a bounty of financial resources to its star economics columnist and blogger. It has allowed him to have a contributor deal with MSNBC …

Discussion: New York Times, Washington Post, FishbowlDC, Talking Points Memo, @ezraklein, @brianstelter, @drudge_report, @alexismadrigal, @leginsurrection, The Daily Caller, @hunterw, @cwarzel and New York Magazine

Dylan Byers / Politico:

Ezra Klein leaves Washington Post to launch new venture, takes staff with him — Ezra Klein out at Washington Post — The Washington Post announced Tuesday that its star economics blogger Ezra Klein will be leaving the paper to start a new venture. — The move comes after weeks …

Discussion: Poynter, @anupkaphle, @wonkblog, FishbowlNY, @fshakir, The Huffington Post, @mitrakalita, @brianstelter, @editorialiste, @edmundlee, @ezraklein, @lheron, @samsteinhp, @edsall, @elisefoley, @ejaxon and @dylanbyers

Bill Simmons / Grantland:

Grantland editor apologizes for publishing “Dr. V's Magical Putter” — The Dr. V Story: A Letter From the Editor — How “Dr. V's Magical Putter” came to be published — “How could you guys run that?” — We started hearing that question on Friday afternoon, West Coast time …

Discussion: Poynter, ThinkProgress, Guardian, Deadspin, @grammargirl, Shakesville, @johnknefel, The Huffington Post, @monteiro, @charsbooks, @riceid, @parkermolloy, @jeffsharlet, @aemccarthy, @thetomasrios, @amandahess, @emilynussbaum, @jason_pontin, @jsnell, @petersterne, @joshsternberg, @melissagira, @rocza, @glennf, @add, @canice, @transmediawatch, @sarahljaffe, @petersterne, @docfreeride, @rgay, @paulcarr, @jeffjohnroberts, @albertatrebla, @jaketapper, @jayrosen_nyu, The Dish, The Big Lead, @lukefritz64, @dandrezner, @robinjp, @mzhemingway, @zeynep, @buzzfeedandrew, @wccubbison, @carr2n, @katzish, @jonlovett, @sophiaphotos, @anildash, @gabydunn, @romenesko, @erinmdurkin, @themarkberman, @tabathasouthey, @rachelsklar, @shani_o, @ohheygreat, @chrisgeidner, @chrisgeidner, @sdkstl, @edgeofsports, @stevesilberman, @andytobo, @theferocity, @petersterne, @craigsj, @mattdpearce and @waxpancake

Christina Kahrl / Grantland:

What Grantland Got Wrong — Understanding the serious errors in “Dr. V's Magical Putter” — When you're a writer, you want something you create to have a long life, to be something that readers will remember and revisit for years to come. If such was Caleb Hannan's wish, it's been granted …

Mathew Ingram / Gigaom:
Grantland and Dr. V: What happens when niche journalism meets the network effect

Discussion: Aoifeschatology and Feministing

Janko Roettgers / Gigaom:

Why Verizon is buying Intel Media: it's all about taking on Comcast — Verizon made it official on the day of its Q4 2013 earnings call: The company is indeed buying the assets of Intel Media, the Intel subsidiary that has been developing an internet TV service called OnCue.

Discussion: Radio & Television …, CNET, VentureBeat, Forbes, Home Media Magazine, AdAge, @pkafka and Re/code

Aaron Souppouris / The Verge:

Verizon agrees to buy Intel's failed internet TV project — After publicly announcing and failing to follow through with a big plan to launch a set-top box, Intel is selling the project to Verizon. The telecoms company will purchase assets of Intel Media, a division set up to develop “over the top” TV services.

Discussion: Intel Newsroom, Bright Side Of News*, Advanced Television, TechCrunch and The Next Web

Ryan Graff / Knight Lab:

How an intern created the NYT's dialect quiz, the site's most-visited content in 2013 — Behind the dialect map interactive: How an intern created The New York Times' most popular piece of content in 2013 — " generates a personalized dialect map based upon user responses compared …

Discussion: Mediaite, The Huffington Post, @niemanlab, @simonhinde, @bydanielvictor, @clockwerks, @makautry, @jayrosen_nyu, @dylanmatt, @journochat, @knightlab, @brianabelson, @ar_shah and @jackseale

Roy Greenslade / Guardian:

Firing Tony Gallagher is a big mistake — Why was Tony Gallagher fired? After finding the best editor the Daily Telegraph has had since Charles Moore's exit in 2003, the management has thrown him out. — I am astonished at the decision by Telegraph Media Group's chief executive …

Fred McConnell / Guardian:
Tony Gallagher exits as Daily Telegraph editor

Discussion: BuzzFeed, @mediaguardian, @sparky000, @steve_hawkes, @janemartinson, @lisaocarroll, @dansabbagh, @jimwaterson, @chrisdeerin, Guy Fawkes' blog, @raju, @psmith, @flashboy, @charlesarthur, @dansabbagh and @annemcelvoy

Kyle Orland / Ars Technica:

Stealth marketing: Microsoft paying YouTubers for Xbox One mentions — Machinima campaign offered undisclosed money to videos promoting new console. — The line between traditional, paid advertising and organic editorial content on the Internet can sometimes be hazy.

Discussion: Guardian, Computerworld, Consumerist, Wired.co.uk, SlashGear, Polygon, The Verge, VG247, Forbes, MetaFilter and BGR

Edmund Lee / Bloomberg:

Carlos Slim Still Reaping Big Rewards From NY Times Loan — Billionaire Carlos Slim is poised to double his money after investing $250 million in a 2009 lending agreement with the New York Times, showing how dearly the newspaper's owners paid for his help. — Slim, who controls mobile …

Discussion: @bloombergtech and @edmundlee

Michael Wolff / USA Today:

Can it be? A return to big and rich media? — A net neutrality ruling means more clout for those who control content distribution. — What if you could put the media business back to where it was a generation ago? — That was when a set of large companies controlled access to most content.

Discussion: @mathewi, @michaelwolffnyc, @paulxharris and @alansmurray

Darren Boyle / Press Gazette:

Guardian set for £500m windfall after agreeing to sell stake in Trader Media Group — Guardian Media Group has agreed to sell its 50.1 per cent stake in the highly-profitable Trader Media Group, the company has announced. — No-one was available for comment this morning …

Discussion: Guardian and Reuters