Top News:
Lyz Lenz / Columbia Journalism Review:
Profile of Lewis D'Vorkin, the recently installed editor-in-chief of the LA Times who has ruffled feathers in the newsroom — Lewis D'Vorkin speaks at the Forbes Centennial Celebration in September 2017. Photo: Stephen Smith/SIPA USA via AP. — Lewis D'Vorkin's voice is tranquil as he threatens his staff.
Discussion:
@ckrewson, @mccarthyryanj, @laobserved, @cmonstah, @elongreen, @cjr, @mattdpearce, @awinston, @jeremymbarr, @mathewi, @weareyourfek, @niemanlab, @daviduberti, @pkafka and @kellymcb
Jason Horowitz / New York Times:
Pope Francis condemns “fake news”, praises journalists as “protectors of news”, and lauds educational efforts aimed at helping people recognize misinformation — ROME — The serpent in the Garden of Eden hissed the first fake news to Eve and it all went downhill from there …
Discussion:
vatican.va, Variety, @tcarmody, @report4america, @samanthacortese, Reuters, CNN, AOL, @mlcalderone, The Daily Caller and The Guardian
Andrew Wallenstein / Variety:
Meg Whitman takes CEO role at Jeffrey Katzenberg's new startup that produces short-form content aimed at mobile consumption — Meg Whitman has been appointed CEO of a new venture backed by Jeffrey Katzenberg that aims to revolutionize entertainment with short-form premium content customized for mobile consumption.
Discussion:
Ad Age, The Wrap, @awallenstein, Recode, Fortune and @businessinsider, more at Techmeme »
Brian Fung / Washington Post:
AT&T CEO pushes for an “Internet Bill of Rights”, a net neutrality law covering ISPs and tech firms, in a series of full-page ads in major newspapers — AT&T is calling on Congress for a national net neutrality law that would govern Internet providers and tech companies alike …
Discussion:
AT&T, Fast Company, The Daily Caller, @fawfulfan, @sinak, @jwgreer3, @matthewstoller, Engadget, @karlbode, Variety, @berinszoka, @gigibsohn, Gizmodo, MacRumors, Multichannel News, The Wrap, Mother Jones and Politico, more at Techmeme »
Josh Constine / TechCrunch:
Snap says its VP of Product, Tom Conrad, is leaving the company in March after two years in the post; director of growth Jacob Andreou to temporarily step in — One of Snap CEO Evan Spiegel's top lieutenants Tom Conrad will leave Snapchat, and the whole tech industry, in March.
Discussion:
Cheddar and Business Insider, more at Techmeme »
Todd Spangler / Variety:
YouTube says it will invest $5M in its Creators for Change program in 2018, aimed at YouTubers who “counter hate and promote tolerance” — YouTube is looking for some upbeat PR — pushing the idea that the Google-owned global video platform can be a force for social good …
Discussion:
YouTube Blog, TechCrunch and Engadget, more at Techmeme »
Natalie Jarvey / Hollywood Reporter:
Ze Frank steps down from role as president of BuzzFeed Entertainment Group, moves into newly-created role of chief research and development officer — The executive will retool a development partner program as the digital publisher largely disbands the Entertainment Group it formed in summer 2016.
Discussion:
@delrey, Business Insider, @peretti, @pkafka and @oliverdarcy
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Sources: YouTube is asking musicians to sign non-disparagement agreements in exchange for promotional support, has asked other creators to agree to same terms — Artists are said to be asked to sign non-disparagement clauses — Google-owned site has been working to improve relations
Discussion:
RAIN News, Variety, Tubefilter, Engadget, Gizmodo and The Verge, more at Techmeme », Thanks:@lucas_shaw
Reveal:
A Netflix documentary about the opioid crisis, funded by the Center for Investigative Reporting's Glassbreaker initiative, has been nominated for an Oscar — “Heroin(e),” the story of three women battling the opioid epidemic in West Virginia, has been nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary short subject.
Discussion:
The Ringer and Engadget
RELATED:
Cynthia Littleton / Variety:
Comcast's Q4 revenue was up 4.2% to $21.9B; cable division lost 33K video customers; cable networks saw revenue grow 7.5% to $2.7B — Gains in the cable division and double-digit increases in content licensing for NBCUniversal's film and TV units boosted Comcast's fourth-quarter earnings.
Discussion:
Broadcasting & Cable, Multichannel News and Hollywood Reporter
Jon Brodkin / Ars Technica:
US Government Accountability Office says it will investigate fake net neutrality comments made on FCC website before repeal vote, starting in five months — Democrats requested investigation after millions of people were impersonated. — The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) …
Discussion:
BGR, The Hill, Engadget, TechCrunch, The Verge, Gizmodo and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »
Craig Silverman / BuzzFeed:
BuzzFeed identified 1700+ accounts Twitter censored in specific countries at the request of governments and “trusted flaggers” like NGOs — The second half of 2017 saw an unprecedented number of Twitter accounts banned in Germany and France thanks to an increase in removal requests …
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai / Motherboard:
Profile of Harlo Holmes, an activist developer who helps journalists learn to use the anonymous whistleblower platform SecureDrop and how to stay safe online — A couple of years ago, a journalist that used SecureDrop, the WikiLeaks-style submission system that allows sources …
Alex Kantrowitz / BuzzFeed:
Facebook's survey to rank trust of publications asks two questions: “Do you recognize the following websites” and “How much do you trust each of these domains?” — Last week, Facebook said its News Feed would prioritize links from publications its users deemed “trustworthy” in an upcoming survey.
Discussion:
Engadget, Washington Post, Reporters Without Borders, Gizmodo, PinkNews, Business Insider, @inthesedeserts, @sivavaid, @profcarroll, @sivavaid, @sivavaid, @wiczipedia, Fast Company, @mosseri, @caseynewton, @kantrowitz, @willoremus, @willoremus, @stevekovach, The New York Observer, @mosseri, Mashable, Quartz, @david_ingram, @matthewknell, @sarahfrier, @louisgray, @pashulman, @asharma, @braddybb and @scottthurm, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
Tim Carmody / Adweek:
Facebook's News Feed changes make sense amid the findings of Edelman's Trust Barometer, which shows plummeting trust in US media driven by mistrust of platforms
Facebook's News Feed changes make sense amid the findings of Edelman's Trust Barometer, which shows plummeting trust in US media driven by mistrust of platforms
Discussion:
The Guardian, Financial Times, Poynter, GeekWire, New York Magazine, Bloomberg, The Verge, @chutry, Engadget, @paulachertok, @tcarmody, @eyemadequiet and @page88