Mediagazer: Al-Jazeera journalist Fahmy's release from Egypt jail ‘imminent’ (Agence France-Presse)

4:50 PM ET, February 2, 2015

Top News:

Al-Jazeera journalist Fahmy's release from Egypt jail ‘imminent’ — Ottawa (AFP) - Egyptian-Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy's release from an Egyptian jail is “imminent,” Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Monday, a day after an Al-Jazeera colleague was freed.

Discussion: Canadian Press, BBC, @katz and Mada Masr

Mark Colvin / Guardian:
In the end, Peter Greste became an irritant for the Egyptian government

Discussion: Guardian

@skynewsbreak:
Freed al Jazeera journalist Peter #Greste says his release is a “step forward” and hopes his colleagues will be released

Discussion: BBC

Dominic Patten / Deadline:

Super Bowl XLIX sees highest overnight ratings in its history, up 4% from last year — Super Bowl Ratings Hit Historic High With Patriots Close Win Over Seahawks — It was so so close, so similar and yet so very different from last year. Last night's Super Bowl was of course similar …

Discussion: The New York Observer, Super Bowl XLIX Ad Meter, NetNewsCheck Latest, The Wrap, ProFootballTalk, Forbes, Mediaite, AdAge, Aljazeera, @lt, @bryanwesttv and TechCrunch

Martin Beck / Marketing Land:

Hashtags featured in 50% of Super Bowl ads; 4 Facebook mentions, 3 Twitter, 1 Snapchat — Super Bowl Commercials With Hashtags Slipped To 50% In 2015 — Facebook is the most mentioned social network with four; Snapchat makes its debut. — Fifty percent of 2015 Super Bowl ads carried hashtags …

Discussion: SocialTimes, GalleyCat, /Film, Forbes, Mashable, Wall Street Journal, The Next Web, @learmonth, @dannysullivan and New York Times

Carol Morello / Washington Post:

Hard-line judge reportedly assigned case of Post reporter Jason Rezaian, jailed in Iran — An Iranian judge known as the “hanging judge” for his harsh sentencing practices has been named to hear the case of a Washington Post reporter who has been imprisoned in Tehran for more than half a year, a human rights group said Saturday.

Discussion: International Campaign …, Associated Press, @anniegowen and New York Times

Carol Morello / Washington Post:

Family of Post reporter held in Iran issues statement — The family of Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post reporter who has been detained in Iran for more than half a year, issued the following statement Sunday in response to the naming of Judge Abolghassem Salavati to hear the case in Revolutionary Court:

Discussion: The Huffington Post, @lrozen, @erin_pelton, Poynter and @jeffreygoldberg

Ravi Somaiya / New York Times:

After Turmoil, The New Republic Re-emerges on Newsstands — The New Republic is a small magazine that set off a big commotion. — Late last year the magazine's owner, Chris Hughes, decided to replace Franklin Foer, a former top editor whom Mr. Hughes had lured back to run the magazine in 2012.

Discussion: @heerjeet, @gabrielsnyder, @jayrosen_nyu, FishbowlNY, @jamilsmith and @joepompeo

Ken Doctor / Capital New York:

The New York Times continues its search for a digital chief, announcement not expected soon — Times digital chief search hits a bump — On The New York Times Company's annual earnings conference call tomorrow, expect few surprises: 2014's four quarters won't be markedly different from 2013's …

Discussion: NetNewsCheck Latest

Steve Lohr / New York Times:

In Net Neutrality Push, F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as a Utility — The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission this week is widely expected to propose regulating Internet service like a public utility, a move certain to unleash another round of intense debate …

Discussion: Politico, Business Insider, Re/code, @nancyscola, Guardian and Gizmodo

Emily Bell / Guardian:

As it becomes harder to censor journalists, intimidation and violence increase — Journalists back in the firing line as digital media struggles to protect its own — As it has become harder to censor individual journalists and independent teams, the intimidation, violence and imprisonment has increased

Lydia DePillis / Washington Post:

Why internet journalists don't unionize: lack of leverage, transitory nature of the job market — Why Internet journalists don't organize — The booming world of web media is almost entirely non-union, for reasons that are as much generational as structural.

Discussion: @dangillmor, @erikwemple, @mrtimregan, @hoosteen, @errrica, @greenhousenyt and @robpegoraro, Thanks:@thestoryline

Brian Steinberg / Variety:

Univision Joins Lineup of Dish's Sling TV — Spanish-language broadcaster Univision Communications has struck a deal with Dish Network's over-the-top Sling video distribution service. Sling's rights will include both live and video-on-demand content. — The terms of the agreement include …

Discussion: Gigaom and NetNewsCheck Latest

Ewen MacAskill / Guardian:

British army creates team of Facebook warriors — Soldiers familiar with social media sought for 77th Brigade, which will be responsible for ‘non-lethal warfare’ — The British army is creating a special force of Facebook warriors, skilled in psychological operations and use of social media …

Discussion: Ubergizmo and Gizmodo

Peter Kafka / Re/code:

Louis CK's latest digital-only comedy special outsells his first with little buzz or promotion — Louis CK's New Straight-to-Fan Special Has No Buzz - and It's Doing Better Than His First One — Three years ago, Louis CK filmed his own stand-up comedy special, then sold it on his own Web site.

Discussion: @johnlegere, @seanludwig, @fmanjoo and @pmarca