Mediagazer: Human rights groups release open-source Detekt anti-surveillance software for activists, journalists; available for free, only on Windows for now (Liat Clark/Wired.co.uk)

6:15 AM ET, November 20, 2014

Top News:

Jack Shafer on losing his job, and the state of things — I called up the legendary media critic Jack Shafer after word got out he'd been laid off at Reuters. There was some idea of putting it all together into an article but he speaks too well for himself for us to publish it any other way than as a Q and A. So here you go.

Discussion: @tcarmody, @jordanginsberg, @jason_pontin, @tmcgev, @sashak, @tomgara, @johnjcook, @lucia_graves, @dangillmor and @digiphile

Erik Wemple / Washington Post:
Media critic Jack Shafer leaves Reuters

Discussion: Poynter, @jackshafer, @carr2n and Talking Biz News

Matthew Zeitlin / BuzzFeed:
Reuters To Cut Jobs Despite Budget Increase

Discussion: @mattzeitlin, @oliverburkeman, @tomgara, The Wrap, Talking Biz News and @s_m_i

Michael Wolff / USA Today:

BuzzFeed misled by suggesting everyone present at Uber dinner heard Emil Michael's remarks — Behind the scenes at Uber/BuzzFeed fracas — Uber is at the forefront of a vast reordering of ground transportation and how we use cars. It is also in the middle of many publicity storms.

Al Franken:

Sen. Al Franken asks Uber CEO Travis Kalanick for answers on privacy, God view tool, discipline for Emil Michael, and tracking journalists — Dear Mr Kalanick — I am writing in regard to reports of recent comments and actions by top Uber executives concerning journalists.

Stuart Dredge / Guardian:
Ashton Kutcher, here's what's wrong with Uber ‘digging up dirt’ on journalists

Discussion: MarketWatch, The Next Web, VatorNews, Business Insider and @stuartdredge

Ben Sisario / New York Times:

Billboard Top 200 album chart will incorporate streaming data starting Dec. 3 from services including Spotify, Beats Music, Google Play, Xbox Music — Billboard, Changing the Charts, Will Count Streaming Services — Streaming music services like Spotify have brought big changes to the music industry.

Discussion: VentureBeat, Variety, USA Today, Mashable, Stereogum, @hunterschwarz, Hollywood Reporter, Billboard and TIME

Steve Albini / Guardian:

Music producer Steve Albini discusses how the music industry is thriving on the internet, the death of labels, and copyright law — Steve Albini on the surprisingly sturdy state of the music industry - in full — The music producer, Shellac frontman and author of seminal 1993 essay …

Discussion: @makeitinmusic, @braxtonpope, @xor, @silviakillings, @raypride, @asilentfilm, @robertloerzel and @illywhacker_

Justin Ellis / Nieman Lab:

Jennifer Preston on leaving The New York Times, joining the Knight Foundation, and spurring innovation in newsrooms — Jennifer Preston has plenty of experience in the journalism business: “I've worked as a city hall bureau chief, a circulation marketing manager, a deputy metro editor, a senior newsroom manager.

Discussion: @lauraelizdavis and @niemanlab

Liat Clark / Wired.co.uk:

Human rights groups release open-source Detekt anti-surveillance software for activists, journalists; available for free, only on Windows for now — Amnesty helps launch free anti-spyware tool for activists — A security researcher has created a free, downloadable tool that journalists …

Discussion: TechCrunch, Associated Press, The Irish Times, ITProPortal, Amnesty International, BBC, Engadget, Guardian and BetaNews

Jason Lynch / Quartz:

Sorry, Netflix: Serial proves that the best shows shouldn't be binged on — It's Wednesday, and I can barely stand the anticipation. After six agonizing days, I'm less than 24 hours away from being able to download a new episode of my newest obsession, and fall's most riveting, addictive show: the weekly podcast Serial.

Discussion: Poynter and Columbia Journalism Review

Alexandra Bruell / AdAge:

Condé Nast Agrees to GroupM's Tougher Ad Viewability Standards — Condé Nast, the publisher of brands such as Vogue and Style.com, has agreed to GroupM's demand to pay only for online ads that are entirely viewable by consumers, a tougher standard than the industry has been pushing.

Discussion: MediaPost, WWD, @mwalrath and @rmaster

Leslie Kaufman / New York Times:

NBCUniversal invests in analytics startup Kensho for deeper news analysis and statistics at CNBC starting Thursday — A Partnership With CNBC Adds Context to Its News — Fans of CNBC will wake up on Thursday to see a new set of sophisticated analytics putting daily financial news into historical context.

Discussion: PR Newswire

Benjamin Mullin / Poynter:

Pop Up Archive releases new audio transcription features — New podcasting initiatives, including “Serial”, “StartUp” and “Radiotopia” have lately attracted a lot of attention from reporters and investors. — But with all this new audio being gathered and posted to the Web, how can journalists and their audiences parse it?

Discussion: Medium, @annikascline, @benleubsdorf and Knight Foundation

Stuart Dredge / Guardian:

8tracks introducing recommendations to make the site more user-friendly to newcomers — 8tracks streaming music service aims to be a ‘better friend’ to indie labels — With 8m users, site also wants to be ‘better about how we matchmake between listener and DJ’

David L. Ulin / Los Angeles Times:

2014 National Book Awards go to Phil Klay, Evan Osnos, Ursula Le Guin — Let's be honest: At the 2014 National Book Awards ceremony Wednesday night, Ursula K. Le Guin stole the show. Speaking from the stage at a black-tie ceremony at the Manhattan restaurant Cipriani …

Discussion: GalleyCat and Guardian

Joseph Lichterman / Nieman Lab:

The Seattle Times has partnered with the Solutions Journalism Network and launched the Education Lab to offer solutions through stories — Solutions in Seattle: A partnership has helped The Seattle Times rethink its education coverage — For nearly two decades, a community group …

Discussion: @jayrosen_nyu and @niemanlab

Angela Doland / AdAge:

For the First Time, TV Will Account For Less Than Half of China's Ad Spending This Year — For the First Time, TV Will Account For Less Than Half of China's Ad Spending This Year — Going Native: Content Marketing Strategies — It was a tradition of China's ad world …

Tara Conlan / Guardian:

War journalists ‘being targeted and silenced’, says Rory Peck Trust chief — Tina Carr warns of worst-ever conditions for freelance journalists as winners of the 2014 Rory Peck awards are announced — Freelance journalists are “being targeted and silenced more than ever” in warzones …

Discussion: Rory Peck Trust, @stkonrath and @pjpeterpower

Satta Sarmah / Fast Company:

Female Journalists are Launching Their Own Media Ventures That Could Rewrite How the Industry Produces and Funds Content — Not many journalists would leave a high-profile job at one of America's most storied newspapers to create their own startup. — But that's exactly what former Wall …

Discussion: @pmarca, @damon, @_workingmother_, @jyarbrough and @iwflf