Top News:
Laura McGann / Vox:
Study: male DC journalists reply on Twitter to other male journalists 92% of the time, retweet other men 69% of the time, and 62% of follows are other men — A new study reveals why female journalists are so much less influential on Twitter than men. — Anyone that follows Beltway Twitter knows it's …
Hollywood Reporter:
Netflix fires PR head Jonathan Friedland; CEO Hastings memo: his use of the N-word at least twice “showed unacceptably low racial awareness and sensitivity” — In lengthy internal memo, CEO Reed Hastings addressed letting go top communications executive Jonathan Friedland …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, Deadline, @pkafka, IndieWire, The Verge, New York Times, Gizmodo, CBS News, @karensd, Tubefilter, Fortune, Multichannel News, AOL, New York Post, Financial Times, BuzzFeed, The Guardian, Mediaite and Fast Company
Alex Kantrowitz / BuzzFeed:
Facebook has hired a team that will try to spot vulnerabilities in its systems before bad actors exploit them, to prevent abuses like 2016 US elections debacle — Silicon Valley's giants are looking for future crises before they happen. — In an attempt to spot vulnerabilities in its system …
Discussion:
@kantrowitz, The Hill, @facebook and @kantrowitz, more at Techmeme »
Jonathan Handel / Hollywood Reporter:
Study: 16% of 651 films released theatrically in 2017 were directed by women, 12% of films with $250K+ box office take directed by women, 10% by people of color — “Every aspect of the entire system disadvantages women and people of color," charged guild president Thomas Schlamme.
Rob Price / Business Insider:
Instagram deleted a 2017 ProPublica video identifying members of a violent white supremacist group citing “Community Guidelines” violation, later reinstated — - Instagram has taken down a video posted by news outlet ProPublica, saying it was in violation of its rules.
Discussion:
@lhwaldron, Gizmodo and WebProNews
Etan Vlessing / Hollywood Reporter:
SiriusXM Radio owner Liberty Media pulled proposed $1.16B cash injection for iHeartMedia after iHeartMedia rejected Liberty's ask for a 40% stake in return — The largest U.S. radio company rejected the proposed cash injection for a 40 percent stake from the investment company controlled by John Malone.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, Wall Street Journal and FMQB
Wall Street Journal:
How tensions between Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and 21st Century Fox Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch have complicated Comcast's efforts to buy 21st Century Fox — Tensions between Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and 21st Century Fox's Rupert Murdoch have complicated Comcast's pursuit of the biggest media deal in years
Rong-Gong Lin II / Los Angeles Times:
Sources: Trump administration directive instructs USGS scientist to seek approval before agreeing to interview requests — A new directive from the Trump administration instructs federal scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey to get approval from its parent agency before agreeing …
Discussion:
ScienceAlert, Popular Mechanics, The Scientist RSS, CNBC, EcoWatch, Common Dreams, The Hill and Washington Post
H.G. Watson / Nieman Lab:
Micropayments generate less than $100K/year for The Winnipeg Free Press after three years, but the data gathered helps with targeted subscription selling — Three years in, the Winnipeg Free Press' attempt to get readers to pay by the article is still producing less than $100,000 a year …
Kevin Roose / New York Times:
Facebook's blend of AI and humans to screen ads continues to snare non-political ads and legitimate news, angering some publishers as the process gets refined — What do a day care center, a vegetarian restaurant, a hair salon, an outdoor clothing maker and an investigative news publisher have in common?
Discussion:
Fortune, Business Insider, @reveal, @facebook, @robjective, @robjective, @11timezones and @reveal
Abby Seiff / Columbia Journalism Review:
A freelancer's rejection by the Washington Post after she retweeted a criticism of one of their articles exemplifies freelancers' precarious position — THE WASHINGTON POST killed my story over a retweeted criticism. They told me I couldn't pitch them for six months.
Sarah Ellison / Washington Post:
Sources: National Enquirer sent copies of stories and covers related to Trump and opponents to Michael Cohen in advance, sometimes making changes after feedback — During the presidential campaign, National Enquirer executives sent digital copies of the tabloid's articles and cover images related …
Discussion:
New Republic, AOL, The Wrap, VICE News, bookforum.com, @preetbharara, Splinter, @adamserwer, @stevekopack, @kimmasters and Mediaite