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A Russian journalist who writes about propaganda lays out parallels between Putin's yearly pressers and Trump's first news conference — Congratulations, US media! You've just covered your first press conference of an authoritarian leader with a massive ego and a deep disdain for your trade and everything you hold dear.
Discussion:
New York Times, Media Matters for America, @jayrosen_nyu, Fortune, USA Today, Mediaite, The Huffington Post, @albertocairo, @runvc, @alexey__kovalev, @juliaioffe, @shoq, @jamisonfoser, @lilitaylor, @oknox, @garyforman, @leicheru, Washington Post, @davidfolkenflik, Vox, @mathewi, bookforum.com, @jayrosen_nyu, Hollywood Reporter, Common Dreams, The Atlantic and New York Daily News


Former Breitbart News reporters are launching a pro-Trump advocacy group, the America First Project, with a media arm called Big League Politics — Patrick Howley, a former Breitbart News reporter, left the site under vague circumstances back in November. Howley told me at the time that he was leaving …
Discussion:
@dylanbyers, @owillis, @owillis, @resnikoff, @mekosoff, @alexckaufman, @yappelbaum, @adamserwer, @brendannyhan, @taylorjwofford, @rosiegray, @rosiegray, @mattdpearce, @jonathanhsinger, @espuelasvox, @shanegoldmacher, @dataeditor, @rosiegray, @mckaycoppins, @mckaycoppins, @mlcalderone, @willsommer and @rosiegray


The tabloid press, whose bogus stories are amplified by Drudge, Hannity, and Breitbart, is poised to become a chief propaganda arm of the Trump administration — The 2016 campaign hadn't even begun when America's supermarket tabloids picked their guy. “New Poll: Donald Trump's The One!” …
Discussion:
@brendannyhan, @aaronfullerton, @nkingofdc, @deggans, @mlcalderone, @politico, @erikwemple, @mikelevinca, @craigwinneker, @jackshafer, @abeaujon, @ajreid, @blakehounshell, @politico and @markdery

Kate Bennett and Hunter Schwarz are leaving the Independent Journal Review for CNN, where they will launch a newsletter and work as White House reporters — Kate Bennett and Hunter Schwarz, two top political reporters at the Independent Journal Review, are leaving the right-leaning viral news site for CNN …
Discussion:
@gregmitch, @kelseymsutton, @mckaycoppins, @jasonmillerindc, @mattyglesias, @oliverdarcy, @nowthised and @alexweprin


YouTube launches Super Chat in beta, letting viewers pay to pin comments on live streams, with a broad rollout on January 31 — But you'll have to do your own troll patrol — YouTube today is announcing a new feature to help creators monetize when they go live.
Discussion:
YouTube Blog, Droid Life, @samsheffer, the Econsultancy blog, The Drum, Pocket-lint, BetaNews, Engadget, Digital Trends, hypebot, SocialTimes, New York Magazine, TechCrunch and Android Police


BBC commits a team to debunk false stories masquerading as real news and being shared on social media — Permanent Reality Check team will target false stories or facts being shared on social media — The BBC is to assemble a team to fact check and debunk deliberately misleading and false stories masquerading as real news.
Discussion:
@louisa_compton, @quantick, @bpopken, @emilybell, @dw_innovation, @ellardent, @marklittlenews, @paulbradshaw and Mashable


Research says Americans' bias against the political party they oppose is so strong that it acts as a partisan prism for facts, which fuels the rise of fake news — In his farewell address as president Tuesday, Barack Obama warned of the dangers of uncontrolled partisanship.
Discussion:
@tomcoates, @tomeblen, @dancow, @mollycastelloe, @ognyanova, @adriennelaf, @leedrutman, @dgardner, @stoweboyd, @max_fisher, @larrydiamond, @upshotnyt, @mrjakeabel, @alextichenor and @sapinker


WSJ says a libel lawsuit brought by Sheldon Adelson against one of its reporters, Kate O'Keefe, has been settled; no money is being paid to settle the suit — The Wall Street Journal said a libel lawsuit brought by casino magnate Sheldon Adelson against one of its reporters has been settled.
Discussion:
@pkafka, @sapna, @jayrosen_nyu, @pkafka, @kenvogel, @bcappelbaum, @kate_okeeffe, @tomgara, @amyfiscus, @robertfaturechi, @kmpensiero, @raju, @byrontau, @byjasonng, @eorden, @alexandraberzon, @mattdpearce, @scottmaustin, @ese_journo, @maloneyfiles, @amacker, @jessbravin, @johncarreyrou, @chayesmatthew, NetNewsCheck Latest and Politico


First Draft launches NewsCheck Chrome extension allowing users to investigate authenticity of online images or videos — Today we're launching First Draft's NewsCheck Chrome extension. A year ago, I was incredibly fortunate to receive a flash grant from the Shuttleworth Foundation …
Discussion:
@earleyedition, @darrenwaters, @stephanekoch, @grovesprof, @firstdraftnews, @mathewi and @cward1e


French daily newspaper Le Parisien abandons opinion polls in run-up to presidential vote, shifting focus from horse race journalism to on-the-ground reporting — Le Parisien shifts focus from ‘horse race’ journalism to on-the-ground reporting ahead of presidential vote


Amazon rolls out its first branded VOD subscription service, Anime Strike, with 1K+ titles, available for $4.99/month for Prime members — Ecommerce giant plans additional subscription VOD channels — Amazon is rolling out its first branded on-demand subscription service for Amazon Channels …
Discussion:
Fortune, @juiceboxca, The Verge, @richbtig, The Next Web, Engadget, Forbes, Digital Trends, RAIN News and TechCrunch

Hungarian camerawoman Petra Laszlo, filmed kicking and possibly tripping migrants at Serbian border, sentenced to three years probation for disorderly conduct — SZEGED, Hungary - The Hungarian camerawoman who was filmed kicking and possibly tripping migrants along the country's border …
Discussion:
International Business Times, UPI, Hollywood Reporter, @scottnover, NPR, Reuters and Al Jazeera English