Top News:
Nellie Bowles / New York Times:
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.
Discussion:
TechCrunch, @jayrosen_nyu, @jameeljaffer, @juliaangwin, @jayrosen_nyu, @_hartsick, @jayohday, @sulliview, @jameeljaffer, @johnbattelle, @mer__edith, @craignewmark, @annaldavis1, @rafat, @loisbeckett, @mlcalderone, @aaschapiro, @justinelszasz, @dansinker, @mikeisaac, @vickynguyentv, @dangillmor, @loisbeckett and @cliffordlevy, more at Techmeme »
Wall Street Journal:
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:
@alexkoppelman, @benmullin, @jbenton, @mdudas, @jbenton, @benmullin, @rafat and @jrreed
Wall Street Journal:
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
Tiago Ramos Alfaro / Bloomberg:
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:
Variety, BBC, @sherman4949, TVWeek.com, New York Times, Sky News, @amolrajan, @msnabilaahmed, @sherman4949, @martinsfp, @sdkstl, @sherman4949, @marksweney, @jimwaterson, @skynewsbreak, @edmundlee, TechCrunch and The Wrap
Nyay Bhushan / Hollywood Reporter:
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 …
Jon Levine / 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:
@jasonmillerindc, Splinter, Deadline, @thegarance, @kyliesparks, @kath_krueger, @joshtpm and HuffPost
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: WPP is considering a merger between its digital-ad firm VML and Young & Rubicam, which WPP bought in 2000 for $4.7B — New CEO Mark Read is preparing to consolidate some of the ad giant's major properties to keep pace with the industry's digital shift
Amanda Meade / The Guardian:
Michelle Guthrie has been fired as managing director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation; David Anderson is now acting managing director — Chairman Justin Milne says board resolved to seek ‘fresh leadership’ and thanks Guthrie for her service — Michelle Guthrie has been sacked …
Discussion:
The Guardian, Variety, The Guardian, Crikey, Mumbrella and Hollywood Reporter
Joseph Bernstein / BuzzFeed News:
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, @rmac18, @atossaaraxia, @bernstein and The Verge
Cynthia Littleton / Variety:
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
Isaac Chotiner / Slate:
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
Douglas Busvine / Reuters:
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 …