Top News:
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:
Politico, The Guardian, vatican.va, The Hill, @sulliview, @jasondhorowitz, @kevinloker, @jcstearns, @report4america, @samanthacortese, @mlcalderone, The Daily Caller, AOL, @tcarmody, Variety and CNN
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, GeekWire, Los Angeles Times, ZDNet, Ad Age, Recode, Fortune, @lucas_shaw, The Wrap, @awallenstein, @businessinsider and @latseema, 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:
LA Observed, @paulgoldberger, @mccullarmebad, @tedrall, @ckrewson, @mccarthyryanj, @laobserved, @cmonstah, @kellymcb, @niemanlab, @jeremymbarr, @elongreen, @cjr, @mattdpearce, @awinston, @weareyourfek, @daviduberti, @mathewi and @pkafka
John Biggs / TechCrunch:
NPD analysis: US print book sales rose by 1.9% in 2017, less than the 3% growth in 2013-2016, with few blockbusters to drive interest — In what amounts to faint praise for the strength of the physical book NPD reported that print book sales rose 1.9 percent in 2017, less than the 3 percent growth posted in 2013-2016.
Discussion:
NPD Group and Publishers Weekly
Ei Ei Toe Lwin / The Myanmar Times:
Interview with Ma Pan Ei, wife of reporter Wa Lone, one of two Reuters journalists still being held after more than a month on charges of taking state secrets — “I knew he was missing but I had no idea why, and that made me insane. I wondered ...was he dead or abandoned on the street after being beaten?
Discussion:
@clarebaldwin and @journotopia
Associated Press:
Prosecutor credits Indianapolis Star probe for prompting victims of Larry Nassar to speak up: “We as a society need investigative journalists more than ever” — https://www.apnews.com/a14ec4963945411a bb6d10b54a75ac1d — INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Former sports doctor Larry Nassar likely still …
Discussion:
@farhip, @charlesminshew, @greggdoyelstar, @apcentralregion, @tonyleys, Poynter, @lacolacioppo, @geostanley, @billshaikin, Deadspin, @sandrawthr and Indianapolis Star
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.
Josh Constine / TechCrunch:
Snap's VP of Product Tom Conrad leaving in March after 2 years; director of growth Jacob Andreou steps in at executive level, but no new title assigned to him — One of Snap CEO Evan Spiegel's top lieutenants Tom Conrad will leave Snapchat, and the whole tech industry, in March.
Discussion:
The Verge, @joshconstine, Variety, @chrismessina, @bizcarson, Business Insider, @taylorlorenz, Recode and Seeking Alpha, 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:
@oliverdarcy, Tubefilter, @delrey, @peretti, Business Insider, @pkafka and @oliverdarcy
Bloomberg:
Sources: comScore is working with Goldman Sachs to explore strategic options, including a potential sale — Media analytics company working with Goldman Sachs on review — Company settled with activist investor Starboard in September — ComScore Inc. is working with financial advisers …
Discussion:
Seeking Alpha, more at Techmeme »
Ted Johnson / Variety:
Bipartisan group of senators introduces the Music Modernization Act, mirroring a House bill, to streamline music licensing on services like Spotify, Pandora — WASHINGTON — A group of senators introduced legislation on Wednesday to streamline the music licensing process and to increase royalty payments to rights holders.
Discussion:
Radio & Television …, Broadcasting & Cable, Tennessean.com and Billboard
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