Top News:
New York Times:
Text messages show how former CBS CEO Les Moonves tried to bury an old sex assault claim amid a probe that could decide whether he collects a $120M exit package — A trove of text messages details a plan by Mr. Moonves and a faded Hollywood manager to bury a sexual assault allegation.
Discussion:
The Wrap, @kimmasters, @jodikantor, @jfleming2870, @davepell, @rachelabramsny, @flitteronfraud, @jimrutenberg, @lam_barrett and @davidenrich
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Ronan Farrow / New Yorker:
Six women who had business dealings with Les Moonves in the 1980s to late 2000s say he sexually harassed or intimidated them; others detail a toxic CBS culture — Six women accuse the C.E.O. of harassment and intimidation, and dozens more describe abuse at his company.
Discussion:
@newyorker
Matthew Singer / Willamette Week:
Thrillist article on Portland restaurant Stanich's, which launched a debate about food criticism, left out important context about the owner's legal troubles — The personal life of the owner had been spiraling into chaos long before his restaurant landed on the national radar.
Ben Strauss / Washington Post:
ESPN's Darren Rovell moves to the Action Network, a media startup about sports gambling created last year by the Chernin Group: “They're buying me as a brand” — If sports gambling is going to sweep the country, Darren Rovell wants a piece of it.
Discussion:
@dcsportsbog, @steverubel, @nickbromberg, @markjburns88, @phkeane, @benjstrauss, @richarddeitsch, @jbflint and Awful Announcing
Voice of America:
Paul Manafort and WikiLeaks both deny that Manafort met with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange; Manafort threatens legal action against The Guardian — Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort is denying a Guardian newspaper report that he met with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange three times …
Discussion:
New York Times, Fortune, VICE News, Talking Points Memo, @joepompeo, @emptywheel, @wikileaks, CNN, @tribelaw, The Daily Beast, gofundme.com and Vanity Fair
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Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange threatens The Guardian with legal action over “fabricated” story alleging he met Paul Manafort three times
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange threatens The Guardian with legal action over “fabricated” story alleging he met Paul Manafort three times
Discussion:
CNN, The Daily Caller and Vanity Fair
The Guardian:
Sources: Paul Manafort had multiple meetings with WikiLeaks, including one meeting in 2016, just months before WikiLeaks released DNC dossier
Sources: Paul Manafort had multiple meetings with WikiLeaks, including one meeting in 2016, just months before WikiLeaks released DNC dossier
Discussion:
New York Times, @woodruffbets, Variety, The Week, NBC News, Mediaite, Vanity Fair, CNBC, Politico, VICE News, NPR, @tribelaw, The Gateway Pundit, @rising_serpent, The Daily Beast, The Daily Caller, Fox News Insider, The Intercept, @natashabertrand, CNN, @ggreenwald, @ggreenwald, @emptywheel, @benjaminwittes, Fast Company, Wired, Slate, @drdenagrayson, @rschooley, @delavegalaw, @tribelaw, @kenbensinger, @k_jeanpierre, @repadamschiff, @tribelaw, @shadowingtrump, @joycewhitevance, @kylegriffin1, @sethabramson, @marcushjohnson, @mollyjongfast, @davidcorndc, @armandodkos, @kylegriffin1, @brianklaas, @kylegriffin1, NBC4 Washington, FOX News Radio, Boing Boing, Fortune, Associated Press, NPR, Vox, Washington Post, Renato Mariotti, KTLA, Observer, The Verge, Hit & Run and ABC News
Josh Constine / TechCrunch:
Facebook is launching its “Today In” local news digest in 400 US cities, after beginning testing it in January — Facebook has a new area of its app it will have to police for fake news and biased sensationalism. Facebook is launching “Today In”, its local news aggregator …
Discussion:
Facebook, VentureBeat, The Hill, @joshconstine, Engadget and @mattnavarra, more at Techmeme »
Amanda Bennett / Washington Post:
Trump recently suggested the US needs a state-controlled “Worldwide Network” as he again criticized media; it already exists as the independent Voice of America — “Something has to be done,” President Trump tweeted Monday. — Frustrated by CNN, with which he has an ongoing beef …
Discussion:
@realdonaldtrump, @kgyp, @27khv, @bearsaremean, @insidevoa, @kaedotcom, @w7voa, @w7voa, @w7voa, @greta and Ars Technica
Tim Molloy / The Wrap:
NPR fires film critic David Edelstein after he made a joke which alluded to a rape scene in Bernardo Bertolucci's"Last Tango in Paris" — NPR has fired film critic David Edelstein because of a joke he made after Bernardo Bertolucci's death that alluded to a much-discussed rape scene in the director's film “Last Tango in Paris.”
Azam Ahmed / New York Times:
Friends of slain journalist Javier Valdez say there was an attempt to hack their phones the day after his murder — MEXICO CITY — The messages arrived at a familiar moment of crisis for Mexico's fragile journalist community — another reporter killed in the line of duty.
Discussion:
@nytimesworld, @nbits60 and Metacurity
Craig Silverman / BuzzFeed News:
The DOJ indicts eight men on charges related to a global ad fraud scheme discovered with the help of about 15 tech companies, including Google and White Ops — In August 2017, the FBI organized a secret meeting of digital advertising and cybersecurity experts in a secure room in a Manhattan federal building.
Amanda Meade / The Guardian:
Philanthropist Judith Neilson says she is funding a AU$100M institute, The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism & Ideas, in Sydney — Neilson wants to 'support evidence-based journalism and the pursuit of truth in an increasingly complicated world' — Billionaire philanthropist …
Discussion:
jninstitute.org, Khaleej Times and Financial Review
Keith J. Kelly / New York Post:
New York-based weekly magazine City & State is launching a daily newsletter covering the intersection of tech and government regulation on January 6 — The political storm over Amazon's pending arrival with HQ2 in Long Island City has seemingly inspired one publishing entrepreneur …
Discussion:
Talking Biz News
Media Matters for America:
Sinclair is forcing its ~100 news stations to air a segment featuring Boris Epshteyn defending the tear-gassing of migrants at the border, including children — The Trump administration has again unleashed particular cruelty and violence on Central American immigrants …
Discussion:
New York Times, HuffPost, @jayrosen_nyu, @theplumlinegs, Politico, CNN, The Wrap and The Gateway Pundit