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IJR retracts story that implied a link between Obama's Hawaii trip and judge's immigration order, saying it “does not meet our editorial standards” — Independent Journal Review on Thursday took down a story that implied Barack Obama's recent trip to Hawaii had something …
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IJR, @woodruffbets, @oliverdarcy, Washington Post, @jeneps, @hadas_gold, @oliverdarcy, @oliverdarcy, @ijrviraleditor, @oliverdarcy, @bencjacobs, @sdkstl and @chrisgeidner
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Sources: congressional reporter quits IJR over site's direction and concern over his credibility from the association, cites post about Obama trip as last straw — The congressional reporter for Independent Journal Review, the conservative web site whose profile has risen during the Trump administration …
Discussion:
@kelseymsutton, @carloslozadawp, @stephanhokanson, @sdkstl, @daviduberti, @jillgeisler and @hadas_gold


Documents show RT paid $45K for Michael Flynn to fly to Moscow to speak at its 10th anniversary celebration in December 2015; trip included Flynn Jr. — RT, the Russian state-owned television network described by U.S. intelligence officials as “the Kremlin's principal international propaganda outlet …


Some users report Google Home playing a promo for “Beauty and the Beast”; Google says it “wasn't intended” to be an ad, will keep experimenting — Google Assistant now does advertising — Today some Google Home owners are hearing something extra when they ask …
Discussion:
The Register, @brysonmeunier, Wall Street Journal, @dannysullivan, The Next Web, Business Insider, CNNMoney, Forbes, 9to5Google, @brianroemmele, Gizmodo, Engadget, VentureBeat, Android Police, @internetofs**t, @lexnfx, @backlon, @caseynewton, Daring Fireball and Mashable, more at Techmeme »


The Guardian pulls all ads from Google and YouTube after ads were placed next to extremist content; news site urges other brands to do the same — Ads for membership scheme were inadvertently placed by Google next to extremist material — The Guardian has withdrawn all its online advertising …
Discussion:
Talking New Media, @slpng_giants, Business Insider and BetaNews


Netflix to replace star ratings with thumbs up and thumbs down in coming weeks after A/B testing showed thumbs got 200% more ratings — Get ready to say goodbye to star ratings on Netflix: The company is getting ready to replace stars with Pandora-like thumbs ups and thumbs downs in the coming weeks.
Discussion:
The Verge, Softpedia News, The A.V. Club, Gizmodo, The Next Web, Business Insider and FOX6Now.com, more at Techmeme »


Trump's budget cuts would cause “the collapse of the public media system itself” and the end of an “essential national service”, says CPB CEO Patricia Harrison — Funding for PBS, NPR in the crosshairs — President Trump is proposing to end all federal funding for public broadcasting.
Discussion:
Media Matters for America, @emilybell, Deadline, @sesameworkshop, The Wrap, CPB, Variety, NPR, Consequence of Sound, The Daily Beast, Mashable, The Verge, The Huffington Post, Current, New York Times, Common Cause, @mlcalderone, @nycjim, Fortune, @mlcalderone, @mlcalderone, @brianstelter and @brianstelter
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Trump proposes eliminating national endowments for the arts and humanities and scrapping the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Discussion:
CNN, Washington Post, The Wrap, Consequence of Sound, Talking New Media, Mashable, Rolling Stone, Variety, Hit & Run, Mediaite, New York Magazine, The Guardian, Vanity Fair, Forbes, The Daily Caller, The Week, Bryan Alexander, PEN America, Bookseller News, @vivian, @brianstelter, Poynter, @hirokotabuchi, @penamerican and @monicaraymund


The majority of editorial staff at Slate have voted to unionize with the Writers Guild of America, East — The majority of editorial staff at Slate have voted to unionize with the Writers Guild of America, East. More than 90 percent of Slate's editorial staff have signed cards …
Discussion:
Variety, @hamiltonnolan, The Wrap, @mccanner, @alexckaufman, @bypetevernon, @daviduberti, @shelleymiranda and @paulblu


NYT expands its investigative unit with Michael LaForgia of Tampa Bay Times, Ellen Gabler of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Brian Rosenthal of Houston Chronicle — In the months since the election, America's major newsrooms have been recruiting investigative journalists with the knowledge …
Discussion:
@evanasmith, @wesleylowery, @johnlpitts, @mlcalderone, @patricksvitek, @poynter, @votreami, @danielleiat, @benmullin and @mccanner


Filing: Charter CEO Rutledge received $78M in stock options, $2M in salary, $10.1M in awards and $7.54M bonus in 2016 after signing to stay with firm until 2021 — Most of his pay comes from stock options tied to share price — Follows aquisitions of Time Warner Cable and Bright House
Discussion:
Multichannel News and Wall Street Journal


YouTube signs a multi-year deal with esports platform FACEIT to stream its competitive gaming league, the Esports Championship Series — Alphabet Inc's YouTube is doubling down on the lucrative business of competitive gaming, where players square off on virtual games for big prize money in tournaments.
Discussion:
9to5Google, more at Techmeme »


Sources: Politico reassigning two media reporters to other beats, has moved a third; one source says plan is to focus media team more on Washington and politics — Politico is reassigning several of its media reporters to other beats as the publication shifts the tone of its media section …
Discussion:
@joepompeo, @oliverdarcy, @oliverdarcy and @oliverdarcy