Top News:


The New Republic's Legacy on Race — A historical reflection — Legacies are never simple; they create victims as well as beneficiaries. The more substantial the legacy, the more heated the disputes are over who has title of ownership, who gets to enjoy an inheritance, and who is left out in the cold.
Discussion:
Gawker, @tomsugrue, @rortybomb, @nickfoxnyt, @seanmcelwee, @clairegroden and @mazmhussain
RELATED:


The New Republic's next issue to discuss its “perceived legacy of racism”, directly addresses past criticism — The New Republic addresses its ‘perceived legacy of racism’ — The forthcoming issue of The New Republic — its first since a mass staff shakeup in December …

Mashable raises $17M in series B funding led by Time Warner, Business Insider raises additional $25M led by Axel Springer — Mashable and Business Insider close large new financing rounds — Mashable announced late Wednesday night that it has closed a new round of financing worth $17 million …


Amazon Spent $1.3 Billion on Prime Instant Video in 2014 — Amazon.com, which is gunning for Netflix in the subscription-video space, invested $1.3 billion in its Prime Instant Video last year, according to founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. — Netflix, by contrast, spent $3.8 billion in 2014 …
Discussion:
BuzzFeed and @emilysteel
RELATED:

After New York Times ends a focused beat on race, proof of its commitment to coverage of the topic remains to be seen — In a Time of Racial Turmoil, Why Change Course on Covering Race? — To state the obvious, it seems like an odd time to discontinue the one Times beat devoted solely to race and ethnicity.
Discussion:
The Maynard Institute …, Columbia Journalism Review, Poynter, @sdkstl, @sulliview, @justinnxt, @aaronmedwards, @jamilsmith, @bluechoochoo and FishbowlNY


Emily Bell says digital news is askew, journalists need to be technically proficient and technologists need to be adept at news — Emily Bell's 2015 Hugh Cudlipp lecture - full text — The 12th annual Hugh Cudlipp lecture, as delivered by the director of Columbia University's Tow centre for digital journalism
Discussion:
@sulliview, @marklittlenews, @dgtedford, @lavrusik, @lisaocarroll, @cityofsound, @acuity_design, @miskaknapek, @mattmcalister, @lisaocarroll, @rifish, @emilybell, Guardian and Press Gazette


NYT featured nine Instagram photos on its front page, but didn't tell photographers before publication — Instagrammers discover front-page NYT placement by chance — It was an exciting moment for user-generated content. The New York Times featured nine Instagram photos on the front page of its Wednesday edition.
Discussion:
@mdeziel, @mathewi, @antderosa, @alexjamesfitz, @digiphile and BAGnewsNotes


Super Bowl Halftime: Katy Perry to Pitch Merch on YouTube, Twitter, Roku and Connected TVs — Katy Perry will use her time in the spotlight of the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show as a launchpad to flog limited-edition products to her fans. — The songstress, in partnership with Universal Music Group …
Discussion:
Forbes, Media & Entertainment, LostRemote, Adweek, Wall Street Journal, Globe and Mail, AdAge, Mediaite, AgencySpy, The Awl and CraveOnline

Indiana governor cancels controversial news site — Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has told the Indiana press corps that he plans to cancel “Just IN,” a proposed state-run news source that some feared would be used as an end-around the press. — Maureen Hayden, Indiana statehouse bureau chief …
Discussion:
Indianapolis Star


Time Warner Cable Q4: 38K cable subscribers lost, revenue up 3.8% year over year to $5.8B — Sub Losses Improve At Time Warner Cable — Q4 Is Best Subscriber Period in 7 Years — Time Warner Cable, in perhaps its last quarterly earnings release before it is acquired by Comcast …
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, Media & Entertainment, Home Media Magazine, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Reuters, Bloomberg Business and @multinews


Associated Press now writes 3K stories per quarter on US earning reports after teaming with Automated Insights, plans to expand globally — AP's ‘robot journalists’ are writing their own stories now — Minutes after Apple released its record-breaking quarterly earnings this week …
Discussion:
@eamonjavers, Washington Post, THE DEFINITIVE SOURCE, @mtdukes, Poynter and @jameskotecki

Talks with ISIS for release of Japanese journalist and Jordanian pilot said to have failed — Jordan's Talks With ISIS for Hostage Release Said to Fail — AMMAN — Negotiations between Jordan and the Islamic State over the fate of two hostages appeared to have collapsed on Thursday …
Discussion:
Rory Peck Trust, The Independent, Reuters, Telegraph, Canadian Press, CNN, The Independent and Latest News & Headlines
RELATED:

Kenji Goto's reporting is voice of humanity in times of atrocity
Discussion:
@ishaantharoor, @camanpour, @dgisserious and DW.DE


Nickelodeon to unveil stand-alone streaming video subscription service in February — Nickelodeon to Unveil Stand-Alone Subscription Video Service in February — Kid-entertainment giant Nickelodeon intends to follow the example of HBO and unveil a direct-to-consumer subscription service in February …
Discussion:
CNBC, CNNMoney, Reuters, New York Times, New York Post, @sub8u, AdAge, @zseward, The Verge, Deadline, Ubergizmo, @xpangler, TechCrunch, Mashable, Hollywood Reporter, Consumerist, Gizmodo, Broadcasting & Cable, Gigaom, WebProNews and Digital Spy


Facebook challenges Twitter with targeted ads during Super Bowl based on what people are talking about in real-time — Facebook to sell real-time Super Bowl ads, taking on Twitter — (Reuters) - This Super Bowl Facebook is taking a page from Twitter's playbook, for the first time during …
Discussion:
Facebook, Forbes, The Content Strategist, SocialTimes, LostRemote, @lavrusik, Wired, Adweek, New York Times, AdExchanger, TIME, The Next Web, Pocket-lint, Engadget, VentureBeat, AdAge, Business Insider, Gigaom and AgencySpy


NBA players and fans turn to Vine for game highlights — Vine: The Best Way to Watch the NBA — How Six-Second Videos Are Changing the Game for Fans; See Ballmer Dance and LeBron Ignore Waiters — It was a play that, in the olden days, no one would have remembered.


Spotify working with Goldman Sachs to raise $500M at possible $6B+ valuation; could delay IPO for another year — Spotify Is Looking To Raise $500 Million In New Funding — Spotify is looking to raise $500 million with help from Goldman Sachs, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
Discussion:
Mashable

Dish's Reverse AutoHop to let viewers skip the Super Bowl and watch only the commercials — Attention Football-Hating TV Commercial Lovers - This Dish is For You — All those football haters who only watch the Super Bowl for the commercials have a new ally: Dish Network.
Discussion:
Multichannel News, Gizmodo, AdAge, GeekDad, Consumerist, Big Picture Big Sound and CNBC


BBC releases report looking at its plans to cover news as it prepares for 2017 charter renewal — Here's how the BBC, disrupted by technology and new habits, is thinking about its future — As the United Kingdom's national broadcaster, the BBC operates under a royal charter …
Discussion:
@lakitalki, @nywici, @amlwhere and @katieyaeger
RELATED:

BBC News director James Harding's multimedia look at the past, present, and future of news
Discussion:
Jon Slattery, allmediascotland, @joannauk, Press Gazette, Washington Post and Guardian