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:
The Wrap, 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:
@jeremymbarr, @elongreen, @cjr, @mattdpearce, @awinston, @weareyourfek, @daviduberti, @pkafka, @mathewi and L.A. Times Guild
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, Variety, Broadcasting & Cable, Gizmodo, MacRumors, Engadget, @jwgreer3, @matthewstoller, @karlbode, The Wrap, Mother Jones and Politico, 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 and TechCrunch, 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, Thanks:@lucas_shaw
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
Reveal:
A Netflix documentary about the opiod 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:
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:
Washington Post, Reporters Without Borders, @kantrowitz, Gizmodo, Business Insider, @inthesedeserts, PinkNews, @sivavaid, @profcarroll, @sivavaid, @sivavaid, @wiczipedia, @mosseri, Fast Company, @caseynewton, @willoremus, @willoremus, @stevekovach, Engadget, The New York Observer, @mosseri, Mashable, Quartz, @sarahfrier, @david_ingram, @matthewknell, @louisgray, @pashulman, @asharma, @braddybb and @scottthurm, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
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 …
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.
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 …
MPR News:
As Garrison Keillor and MPR finalize severance negotiations, staff interviews show troubling incidents and relationships, and a star heedless of power dynamics — When Minnesota Public Radio abruptly severed ties with Garrison Keillor in November, the sole explanation offered by the company was …
Discussion:
The Wrap, @kpcc, thecut, Mediaite, @n_yang, @caitlin__kelly, @drmabuse, @kempadimes, @stevehuff, @bachyns, @carlazanoni, @laura_yuen, Vox, @eekshecried, @dancow, @morninggloria, @lauren_kelley, @aaronraganfore and @glennf