Mediagazer: Uber exec, at NYC dinner with CEO present, suggested digging up dirt on critical journalists (Ben Smith/BuzzFeed)

11:20 AM ET, November 18, 2014

Top News:

Ben Smith / BuzzFeed:

Uber exec, at NYC dinner with CEO present, suggested digging up dirt on critical journalists — Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt On Journalists — Emil Michael floated making critics' personal lives fair game. Michael apologized Monday for the remarks.

Discussion: Vox, Poynter, Gawker, New York Times, Re/code, The New York Observer, CNNMoney.com, FishbowlNY, Street Fight, Business Insider, PandoDaily, Forbes, Vanity Fair, @dylanbyers, The Verge, Newsy, @andreagrimes, BetaBoston, @dhh, @caseynewton, Gizmodo, @thom_wong, NPR, @andykroll, @over_rated, @jpressler, BBC, @hodgman, @juliebosman, @lpolgreen, Talking Biz News, @jamilsmith, @emilmichael, @espiers, @biancorobert, @tomcheshiresky, @oliverburkeman, @lifewinning, @kenlerer, @dangillmor, @pkafka, The Daily Beast, @zpower, @atotalmonet, @pkafka, @dancow, The Wrap, @mat, @fieldproducer, Forbes, @anildash, @sg, @glinner, @buzzfeedben, @kagrox, TechCrunch, @markamesexiled, New York Magazine, @daveweigel, @heoj, @clarajeffery, @elisewho, @jackshafer, @daweiner, @moorehn, @thegarance, @carr2n, @emilmichael, @bplewis, @amir, @daveweigel, @janinegibson, @jmbooyah, @robertmackey, @tomgara, @tomgara, @nitashatiku, @flaneur, @tonyromm, @sacca, @bydanielvictor, @jessicaelgot, The Technology Chronicles, @clarajeffery, @gaberivera, @dovseidman, @sarahcuda, @jbarro, @billmon1, VatorNews, @tomgara, @shaneferro, Engadget, @doreeshafrir, @cerenomri, Gigaom, @emjbanks, @jason_pontin, @markberman, @karaswisher, @mattgarrahan, @mollywood, @cshirky, @darlin, @joeruiz, @heyheyesj, @jacobwe, @funnymonkey, @nycjim, @karaswisher, @dearauthor, @ryanlawler, @heyfeifer, @digiphile, @mikeindustries, @mims, @caitleg, @greenhousenyt, @aterkel, @elcush, @haasbenjamin, @ashleyrparker, @willbrinson, @socarolinesays, @annehelen, @mims, @kristyt, Jalopnik, Mashable and Boing Boing

Sarah Lacy / PandoDaily:

Sarah Lacy, the journalist named as a target by Uber's Emil Michael, says Uber went too far — The moment I learned just how far Uber will go to silence journalists and attack women — A big debate among the Pando staff for the past two years has been over just how morally bankrupt Uber is.

Alex Hern / Guardian:

Uber executive apologises after suggesting the firm dig dirt on hostile journalists — Emil Michael says he regretted saying that a female journalist should have her private life exposed after criticising the site — Luxury cab firm Uber has been forced to apologise after a senior executive suggested …

Discussion: TIME, @mattdpearce, Daily Mail, @jeffjarvis, @moorehn, @janole and Business Insider

Russ Mitchell / Los Angeles Times:

L.A. Times names Internet strategist Nicco Mele deputy publisher — Nicco Mele, the Internet strategist credited with pushing political campaigns into the digital era, has been named deputy publisher of the Los Angeles Times. — “We intend to be one of the great journalism organizations …

Discussion: @dangillmor, @marcduvoisin, @shorensteinctr, @vermontgmg, @garveylatimes, RTTNews, @npalmerrothman, @joetrippi and @nicco

Steve Dyson / Guardian:

By closing down healthy regional papers, Trinity Mirror indicates it could ditch print soon — Regional newspaper group has abandoned a market-leading print position in Berkshire to chase a low-cost online-only future — Trinity Mirror's decision on Friday to close seven local newspapers …

Discussion: @stevedyson and @mediaguardian

Paul Linford / HoldTheFrontPage:
Mirror editor to oversee group's regional brands

Discussion: allmediascotland and Guardian

Michael Sebastian / AdAge:

Outbrain strikes $100M deal with Time Inc. to become exclusive external provider of recommended stories — Time Inc. Locks in Outbrain's Headline Recommendations in $100 Million Deal — Content Recommendation Widgets Push Traffic Around the Web — An Outbrain box that appeared beneath an article on Time.com.

Discussion: @mashplant, @raju, @msebastian, @jeffjarvis and @j_feller

Kevin Roderick / LA Observed:

Huge change: No more set vacation or sick days at LA Times — First, a little background. Dating to even before Tribune Company ownership of the LA Times, the cost cutters looked for a way to reduce the huge commitment on the books to pay for vacation days banked by employees.

Discussion: @raju, @nadineoregan, @amzam, @chillmage and @carr2n

Patrick Frater / Variety:

Japan's SoftBank Launches A La Carte TV Service for Mobile Users — TOKYO — Softbank, the Japanese investment conglomerate that recently held acquisition talks with DreamWorks Animation, has launched a new streaming service for Japanese smartphone users. It allows them to sign …

Discussion: Digital TV Europe, Telecompaper and Hollywood Reporter

Jason Abbruzzese / Mashable:

Amazon and Hachette: Bad for everyone but consumers — The can has been kicked. — Amazon and Hachette have resolved a months-long conflict that had been closely watched as a dispute that would indicate the future of the publishing industry. — The core of the disagreement reportedly centered on e-book pricing.

Discussion: The Huffington Post and Hollywood Reporter

Jack Marshall / Wall Street Journal:

Meet PetFlow, The Retailer that Hatched a Media Business — Brands and retailers are increasingly trying to become publishers of sorts. They use blogs, social media and other forms of content to attract and entertain online audiences, with the ultimate goal of selling them something.

Discussion: @jackmarshall

Amanda Meade / Guardian:

Australian communications minister says ABC budget will be cut by 5%, or $50M/year, will result in loss of up to 500 jobs by year end — ABC budget will be cut by 5%, says Malcolm Turnbull — Communications minister tells Q&A program reductions can easily be made in office and administration costs

Discussion: @meadea, @tonykevin, @ockhamsbeard, @albericie, Business Insider, BBC, The Age and The Age

Rem Rieder / USA Today:

How the 84-year-old owner of Philly newspapers is trying to save them by slimming down staff — Rieder: Philanthropist determined to save Philly papers — WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — Gerry Lenfest never anticipated that, at age 84, he'd find himself the sole owner of a beleaguered media company …

Discussion: @will_bunch, @dhm, @ckrewson, @will_bunch and @ckrewson