Top News:
Wall Street Journal:
In SEC filing, Lions Gate discloses interest in merging with cable network Starz — Lions Gate to Explore Combination With Starz — Lions Gate Entertainment said it has rekindled merger talks with Starz, a year after cable mogul John Malone set the table for a tie up.
Discussion:
Bloomberg Business, Variety, The Wrap, Broadcasting & Cable, Ad Age, Fortune, Variety, USA Today, Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Los Angeles Times and Reuters
Mădălina Ciobanu / Journalism.co.uk:
Al Jazeera launches live audio streaming service for mobile-first audiences — The web application is primarily aimed at people in the Middle East, Africa and South-East Asia, where video news consumption is limited by poor internet connectivity — A new audio streaming service …
Discussion:
@mohamed, @niemanlab and Al Jazeera English
Ken Doctor / Politico:
Sources: New editor to be installed at Las Vegas Review-Journal as early as Friday, stories involving owner Adelson are being reviewed, changed, or killed daily — Sheldon Adelson tightens grip on Review-Journal — After a brief spell of normalcy seemed to return to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, all bets are now off.
Discussion:
New Republic, Washington Post, Politico, The Forward, Deadspin, Gawker, @nicktimiraos, @benjysarlin, @alexweprin, @jayrosen_nyu and @alexweprin
RELATED:
Ken Doctor / Politico:
Amid GateHouse Media's fading role in managing the Las Vegas Review-Journal, CEO Mike Reed defends investigation of judges, criticizes newsroom — The lingering mystery plaguing new management at the Las Vegas Review-Journal — Several mysteries tumbled out of Sheldon Adelson's secret …
Discussion:
@stephgrimes
Rich Juzwiak / Gawker:
Some new writers for Bustle face a probing survey asking about sensitive topics including trauma, sex, and medical issues — Bustle and the Industrialization of Confession — Imagine you just started at a new job. You work remotely and have never met your boss in person.
Discussion:
@sarah___waldron, @hannahgais, @theseantcollins, @lisamcintire, @cal_beu, @allegrakirkland, @mccarthyryanj, @mseling, @sapna, @amandakhurley, @mseling, @joshhterry and @libbyanelson
Shan Wang / Nieman Lab:
The Conversation expands across the U.S., freshly funded by universities and foundations — January was a good month for The Conversation U.S. (TCUS), the American edition of the nonprofit site first launched in Australia as a platform seeking to offer in-depth, reliable takes on the news cycle.
Emiko Jozuka / Motherboard:
Publishing company Visual Editions and Google Australia create immersive, interactive ebooks for mobile — The Future of Books Could Be Somewhere Between a Game and an App — In the not so distant future, reading might feel more like a cross between gaming and watching a film.
Lacey Rose / Hollywood Reporter:
Inside the planning, hiring, and programming for Vice's new cable channel Viceland, which launches February 29 — Vice's Shane Smith Asks, “You Think I Could Hoodwink Bob Iger, Jeff Bewkes and Rupert Murdoch?” — On the eve of Viceland's launch, Vice's CEO and the channel's co-president Spike Jonze reveal …
Discussion:
Variety, The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Business Insider, Variety, The Drum, TVNewser, @pkafka and @laceyvrose
Shan Wang / Nieman Lab:
Public radio staffers across the U.S. lay out new guidelines for podcast audience measurement — If you work with podcasts, how many times have you heard complaints about the difficulty of getting accurate data on audiences and their listening habits, and the lack of an industry standard?
Discussion:
Google Docs and AllAccess.com
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Apple TV Adds App for Brit-Television Streaming Service Acorn TV — RLJ Entertainment's Acorn TV subscription-video service, which specializes in bringing British television fare to U.S. audiences, is now available on Apple TV. — Acorn TV, priced at $4.99 per month, offers access to more than 1,800 hours of programming.
Discussion:
Multichannel News, Los Angeles Times, Tech Times and International Business Times
Michael Calderone / The Huffington Post:
New York Times' Dean Baquet launches strategic newsroom planning effort, led by David Leonhardt, cites need to “turn some things off”, build on unique strengths — New York Times Eyes Ambitious Overhaul In Quest For ‘Journalistic Dominance’ — The paper's top editors plan to rethink pretty much everything.
Discussion:
The Awl, Street Fight, New York Times, Seeking Alpha, bookforum.com, American Press Institute, The Tico Times, @rasmus_kleis, News & Tech, The Wrap, Ad Age, The Wrap, Poynter, Politico, @jbenton, @rafat, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, @sulliview, @mlcalderone, @mlcalderone, O'Dwyer's Blog, Daily Political, Wallstreet.org, Los Angeles Mirror, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, MarketWatch and Bloomberg Business
Krysia Lenzo / CNBC:
News Corp reports Q2 revenue of $2.16B, down 4% year over year, blames currency changes, print revenue; will focus on streamlining newspapers in Australia, UK — News Corp earnings: 20 cents per share, vs expected EPS of 21 cents — News Corp. reported mixed results on Thursday …
Discussion:
Guardian, Press Gazette, Reuters, Reuters, FishbowlNY, Agence France-Presse, New York Post, Bloomberg Business, MarketWatch, Motley Fool Australia, The Drum, Business Insider, Business Insider Australia, AdNews, @alexgspence, Editor & Publisher, Sydney Morning Herald, Reuters, Business Spectator, The Wrap, mUmBRELLA, Guardian, News Corp and @gerryfsmith