Mediagazer: Spotify cancels Russian launch because of economic crisis, political situation, and new laws restricting Internet (Ilya Khrennikov/Bloomberg Business)

5:25 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 — Touchdown! NBC's Super Bowl Scores Record-Smashing Viewership - Update — UPDATE, 1:30PM: The final results for Super Bowl XLIX are in and they're probably doing a victory dance over at NBC to rival …

Discussion: Super Bowl XLIX Ad Meter, The New York Observer, NetNewsCheck Latest, The Wrap, ProFootballTalk, Forbes, Mediaite, AdAge, Aljazeera, Associated Press, @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

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

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, Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, @alexjamesfitz, Re/code, Engadget, @nancyscola, Guardian and Gizmodo

Ilya Khrennikov / Bloomberg Business:

Spotify cancels Russian launch because of economic crisis, political situation, and new laws restricting Internet — Spotify Drops Russia Start on Slowing Economy, Web Rules — Don't Miss Out — (Bloomberg) — Spotify Ltd., the music-streaming service seeking new funding for its expansion …

Discussion: TASS and The Independent

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

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

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

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