Top News:
Jackie Spinner / Columbia Journalism Review:
Gapers Block, a 12-year-old Chicago local news and culture blog, on hiatus from Jan. 1, faced hurdles competing with Facebook, Twitter, and adapting to mobile — One of Chicago's original bloggers discusses why he's signing off — AP file photo of the Chicago skyline at night.
Discussion:
Gapers Block, Vouchification, @harper, @ejacqui, @d_holli, @corybe, @reckless, @woodtang, @weightshift, @1001chicago, @robinkimball, @anildash, @urbanophile, @samstecky, @kelseyproud, @swanksalot and @planabby
Noah Kulwin / Re/code:
FTC issues new rules for native advertising on the Internet, which are in line with FTC's broader stance on deceptive advertising — FTC Issues New Rules for Native Advertising on the Internet — The Federal Trade Commission today unveiled its rules for how native advertising on the Internet has to look …
Chris Roush / Talking Biz News:
Subscription-based tech news site The Information names Martin Peers as managing editor — The Information names Peers its ME — Martin Peers has been named managing editor of The Information, a subscription tech news site. — Before joining The Information in October 2014 …
Discussion:
FishbowlNY
Shan Wang / Nieman Lab:
How Crain personalizes its city-based email newsletters using software and human editors — Crain, known for its business weeklies, is diving into newsletters based on who and where readers are — Email newsletters are highly personal: Landing directly in our inboxes …
Janko Roettgers / Variety:
Pandora announces multi-year licensing deals with ASCAP and BMI, covering 20M musical works — Pandora Strikes Two Licensing Deals on Day of Rdio Shut-Down — Pandora took another step towards launching a full-blown Spotify competitor Tuesday: The music service announced …
Discussion:
Broadcasting & Cable, Tennessean.com, Billboard and Business Wire
Mike Shields / Wall Street Journal:
Hearst partners with video ad tech firm Reelio for content produced for brands by social influencers like YouTube stars — Hearst Partners With Reelio to Build Social Influencer Network — Magazines Seventeen and Cosmopolitan will help brands working with YouTube creators
Discussion:
Digiday
Jessica Davies / Digiday:
Incisive Media becomes second UK publisher to ban ad blocker users — Incisive Media, home to titles including The Inquirer and Risk, could become the second British publisher to ban ad blocker users on some of its websites in the new year. — The publisher, which has a mix of subscription-based …
Discussion:
Canadian Magazines, mUmBRELLA, @mathewi, @jason_kint, One Man & His Blog and @digiday
Mark Sweney / Guardian:
ITV shares fall as investors cool on bid after Comcast denies holding talks — NBC Universal owner says no talks have been held about possible takeover causing shares in broadcaster to fall by almost 3% in early trading — ITV's share price has fallen by almost 3% in early trading …
Discussion:
FierceCable, Variety, BGR, broadcastnow.co.uk, Telegraph, City A.M. and Advanced Television
Brian Fung / Washington Post:
Cable TV cord cutters now 15% of US population, with “cord nevers” at 9%; 42% of cord cutters don't have broadband at home — 42 percent of cord-cutters don't even subscribe to home broadband — Fed up with your cable TV? Tired of paying for an expensive satellite package you barely use?
Discussion:
Business Insider, Free Press Blog, Fortune, Pew Internet, FierceCable, @kwerb, Consumerist, @jonsteinberg, @hanabel, DSLreports, Pew Internet, Pocketnow, @pewresearch, @jbrodkin, @pewinternet, Bob Sullivan, @lrainie and @pewinternet
Lori Weisberg / The San Diego Union-Tribune:
The San Diego Union-Tribune's Russ Newton takes a buyout offer, leaves seven months after being named president and COO — 💬 — Newspaper veteran Russ Newton is leaving his job this week as president and chief operating officer of The San Diego Union-Tribune seven months after being named to the position.
Thanks:@jbruin
Shan Wang / Nieman Lab:
Frontline is diving deeper into VR with $580,000 from the Knight Foundation — Virtual reality in journalism is definitely not going away anytime soon — not with news organizations like The New York Times building and prominently promoting new VR projects (including some created as sponsored content) …
Discussion:
Business Insider, @frontlinepbs and New York Times
Kevin Nguyen / The Awl:
As Rdio shuts down, a look back at its appeal to an audience of “snobby album purists” and focus on exclusivity, minimalism — Burying Rdio, the Music App for Annoying Men — Last month, the streaming music service Rdio filed for bankruptcy and announced that its assets were being purchased by Pandora.
Discussion:
@arainert, @knguyen, @hallithbates, @pkafka and @pkafka