Top News:


Julia Angwin and Jeff Larson are starting The Markup, a news site to cover big tech using data science, with a $20M gift from Craig Newmark and other funding — The Markup, dedicated to investigating technology and its effect on society, will be led by two former ProPublica journalists.

Sources: digital publisher Vox Media will struggle to achieve double-digit percentage revenue growth this year, likely missing its goal by more than 15% — Other digital-media firms have struggled to live up to ambitious growth goals in a challenging online ad market
Discussion:
@mdudas, @alexkoppelman, @benmullin, @jbenton, @benmullin, @rafat and @jrreed


Sources: Apple delayed launch of a streaming video service twice, most recently until March, and spiked a Dr. Dre series as it seeks less edgy content — The tech giant wants to make scripted shows for streaming, only without violence, politics and risqué story lines


UK's Takeover Panel says Comcast emerged as the highest bidder in the auction for Sky, offering $39B — Comcast Corp. offered 17.28 pounds per share in auction for Sky Plc, topping 21st Century Fox's bid at 15.67 pounds per share, the U.K. Takeover Panel announced in a statement on Saturday.
Discussion:
BBC, Variety, New York Times, @sherman4949, Sky News, @amolrajan, @msnabilaahmed, @sherman4949, @martinsfp, @sdkstl, @sherman4949, @marksweney, @jimwaterson, @skynewsbreak, @edmundlee, New York Times, TechCrunch and The Wrap


CNN political commentator Jason Miller has left the network after court docs allege he secretly administered abortion pills to ex-lover; Miller denies claims — Pro-Trump CNN political commentator Jason Miller announced Saturday that he has “decided to step away” from the network …
Discussion:
Splinter, @jasonmillerindc, Deadline, @thegarance, @joshtpm, @kyliesparks, @kath_krueger and HuffPost


Q&A: Amazon Prime Video India head Vijay Subramaniam on Indian content for worldwide audiences, sparking conversation, and passing on film production for now — Led by Vijay Subramaniam, the service has been aggressively ramping up its slate with a mix of fiction and unscripted shows …


Sources: Ben Sherwood, president of Disney/ABC Television Group and Media Networks division co-chair, to leave Disney after 21st Century Fox deal is complete — Ben Sherwood is preparing to leave the Walt Disney Co. after Disney completes its acquisition of 21st Century Fox.
Discussion:
@rwmead, @dylanbyers, Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap


Profile of Marc Randazza, a lawyer who advocates for the online free speech of clients that include neo-Nazis and white supremacists — The new speech wars are a push and pull between individuals, governments, and platforms. At the center of this is attorney Marc Randazza, fighting for Nazis, satanists, and unapologetic trolls.
Discussion:
@bernstein, @katienotopoulos, The Verge, @rmac18, @atossaaraxia and @bernstein


Interview with NYT reporter Michael Schmidt about evaluating and protecting sources in his latest story on Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein — In a blockbuster story in Friday's New York Times, Adam Goldman and Michael S. Schmidt reported that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein …
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, @bmaz, @sennettreport, @selina_y_wang, @andygrewal, @gadyepstein, @brianstelter, @kbandersen, @jswatz, @maggienyt, @nytmike, @pgourevitch, @nycsouthpaw, @biannagolodryga, Wall Street Journal, Mediaite, CNN and Vox


Sources detail Andy Lack's mishandling of sexual misconduct allegations at Sony Music and how he and other NBC News execs mishandled #metoo stories and cases — A Sony executive who sent porn to women at work. An alleged harasser who reviewed NBC's Weinstein story.


Study: spending on digital marketing grew by 44% last year in the US and Britain to $52B, with global spending on “martech” estimated to near $100B — FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Spending on digital marketing grew by 44 percent last year in the United States and Britain to $52 billion …


Pluto TV's partner content providers say it has become a “consistent and reliable” source of ad dollars; sources say Pluto TV's total revenue is up 100%+ YoY — Unlike its namesake planet, video streaming startup Pluto TV hasn't been relegated to the shadows …
Discussion:
@digiday, @danielpmcdermot, @digiday and @spencershanson