Top News:
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:
Business Wire, Ad Age, GeekWire, ZDNet, The Wrap, @awallenstein, Recode, @businessinsider, Fortune and Los Angeles Times, more at Techmeme »
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, @elongreen, @cjr, @mattdpearce, @awinston, @jeremymbarr, @cmonstah, @mathewi, @mccarthyryanj, @laobserved, @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, @tcarmody, Reuters, Variety, AOL, @mlcalderone, CNN, @report4america, The Daily Caller, @samanthacortese and The Guardian
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, @jwgreer3, The Daily Caller, @matthewstoller, Engadget, @karlbode, Variety, @sinak, @berinszoka, @fawfulfan, @gigibsohn, Gizmodo, MacRumors, Multichannel News, The Wrap, Mother Jones and Politico, 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
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 Tubefilter, 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:
Variety, Recode, The Verge, Seeking Alpha and Cheddar, more at Techmeme »
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
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, The Verge, TechCrunch, Gizmodo and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »
Washington Post:
How Madison Marriage, a journalist for the Financial Times, went undercover to report on harassment of hostesses at an exclusive London charity event for men — LONDON — Wanted: attractive young women wearing sexy underpants to serve as hostesses for British business bigwigs at a drunken old-boys-only charity affair.
Discussion:
The Guardian, Business Insider, @postworldnews, @jonahfisherbbc, @yvettecoopermp and Mashable
Alexandra Ellerbeck / Committee to Protect Journalists:
How the extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act could expose US journalists to surveillance — The U.S. Senate last week approved a six-year extension to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Amendments Act (FISA), in a move that could put journalists at risk.
Discussion:
@tsausten11, @cendemtech, @eff, @emptywheel, @pressfreedom, @pressfreedom, @pressfreedom, @pressfreedom and @moorehn
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:
Multichannel News and Hollywood Reporter
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