Top News:
Jim Rutenberg / New York Times:
The persistent questioning by CNN's Jake Tapper of Mike Pence should be the rule on TV news, not the exception, as false assertions and deflections grow — Too often television news, especially on cable, serves as a megaphone for politicians who use it to forward lies and propaganda …
Discussion:
New York Times, @penamerican, @senatorshoshana, @ktumulty, @owillis, @blakehounshell, @philiprucker, @senatorshoshana, @jsteinbeck1939 and @pkafka
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
In a letter sent Monday, National Amusements instructs Viacom and CBS to scrap merger talks, saying there is renewed confidence in Viacom under CEO Bob Bakish — In a letter sent Monday, National Amusements instructs Viacom and CBS to scrap merger talks
Discussion:
Recode, The Wrap, Ad Age, Radio & Television …, Adweek, Media Wire Daily, Globe and Mail, @lucas_shaw, Broadcasting & Cable and Fortune
Ken Meyer / Mediaite:
Trump tweets another attack on the press on Monday, criticizes NBC Nightly News; it may have been in response to segment about Russian interference in election — President-elect Donald Trump saw someone say something about him on TV that he didn't approve of, so naturally, he's making sure everyone on Twitter knows about it.
Discussion:
@realdonaldtrump, Broadcasting & Cable, The Wrap, New York Post, Vox, Law News and CNET
Benjamin Mullin / Poynter:
The Craig Newmark Foundation, charity founded by Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, donates $1M to Poynter to fund faculty chair in journalism ethics position — Some exciting news on the homefront: The Craig Newmark Foundation, the charitable organization established by Craigslist Founder Craig Newmark …
Discussion:
Politico and @katiehawk
Mark Sweney / The Guardian:
Murdoch pursues “scheme of arrangement” tactic which would require shareholders opposed to Fox-Sky deal to sell if the deal is approved — Use of court-approved ‘schedule of agreement’ would require 75% approval from shareholders, rather than usual 90%
Discussion:
The Guardian
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Peter Sterne / Politico:
Experts: expansion of prosecutions using Espionage Act, started under Obama, could be a larger threat to media during Trump's presidency than libel law changes — Worry about the Espionage Act, not libel laws. — Anyone who doubts that Donald Trump could use the levers of the presidency …
Michael Calderone / The Huffington Post:
Politico's Chief Political Correspondent Glenn Thrush is joining the NYT to cover the White House; Thrush's roots are in tabloid journalism — The political journalist wil be reunited with former Politico stars Maggie Haberman, Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns.
Discussion:
FishbowlNY, @rosiegray, @leahmcelrath, @davidfolkenflik, @morningmoneyben, @demfromct, @thefix, @buzzfeedben, @sinderbrand and @mlcalderone
Kerry Flynn / Mashable:
Facebook is hiring a Head of News Partnerships, seeking a news executive with 20+ years experience, as it struggles with the fallout from the fake news scandal — Facebook may be cleaning up its image with journalism. — The company is looking to hire an “experienced news executive” …
Discussion:
@markham, @shaneschick, @torstenbeeck, @hadas_gold, @duncanhooper, @lheron and @lheron
Tara Palmeri / Politico:
Under a US government bill, the bipartisan board overseeing Voice of America will be disbanded, replaced by a CEO, sparking fears VOA will become “Trump TV” — A provision tucked into the defense bill guts the Voice of America board, stoking fears that Trump could wield a powerful propaganda arm.
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, @gregghoush, @jilldlawrence, @michikokakutani, @anthony, @rvawonk and @politico
Jake Romm / The Forward:
Deconstructing the color, pose, and chair in Time's Trump photo, a layered field of references that place the image among the magazine's greatest covers — Time Magazine's annual “Person of the Year” announcement is, year after year, grossly misunderstood.
Discussion:
@shashitharoor, @laurahelmuth, @alisonloat, @metasynthie, @timharford, @jdforward and @caitlin__kelly
Ken Kurson / Observer:
Bloomberg poaches business writer Joe Nocera from The New York Times to write magazine stories and columns — Mike Bloomberg personally intervenes to hire biz legend who'd been exiled to sports — Even billionaires covet that which they cannot possess. The Observer has learned that former …
Discussion:
FishbowlNY, @joepompeo, @bookgirl96 and @nycjamescobb
Carole Cadwalladr / The Guardian:
Google's first search result for “Did the Holocaust happen?” is a post from neo-Nazi site Stormfront, showing how Google's algorithm is helping disseminate hate — Last week, we reported how extremist sites ‘game’ the search engine, boosting their propaganda.
Discussion:
@tom_parkin_, @vmosco, @carlbialik, @burke_jason, @lynrobinson, @joolzdenby and @woodgnomology
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