Top News:
Max Read / New York Magazine:
Studies suggest that less than 60% of web traffic is human, with fake metrics, news, and bot-driven conversations and transactions, leading to falling trust — In late November, the Justice Department unsealed indictments against eight people accused of fleecing advertisers of $36 million …
Discussion:
@chronotope, @seldo, @ekp, @taylorholiday, @sheril_, @slpng_giants, @mikeisaac, @saschasegan, @robpegoraro, @chronotope, @chronotope, @katienotopoulos, @mantzarlis and Boing Boing, more at Techmeme »
Austin Murphy / The Atlantic:
Austin Murphy, a former senior writer at Sports Illustrated, on switching from a career in journalism to working for Amazon delivering packages — There's a certain novelty, after decades at a legacy media company, in playing for the team that's winning big.
Discussion:
@ausmurph88, @veenavenugopal, @mickfoley76, @davidwohl, @brett_a_taylor, @grantwahl, @sternbergh, @alexandrascaggs, @ron_fournier, @sitimlayden, @alyssamastro44, @theatlantic, @johnsharkman, @jozenc, @lynn_henning, @kurtschlichter, @aliciakennedy, @davidfolkenflik, @jposnanski, @adamduerson, @abhishekmadan, @knittins, @bwilliamsonnfl and @freeblackgirl
Jeff Jarvis / Whither news?:
A look at what German media academics and journalists, including Mother Jones' CEO, are saying about the Der Spiegel scandal and the lessons to be learned — “Everyone who writes knows the seduction of the narrative.” — Bernhard Pörksen in Die Zeit
Ken Doctor / Nieman Lab:
Lessons for journalists from 2018 and a look ahead: emphasis on subscriptions, possible newspaper chain consolidation, and regional news network experiments — We live in transgressive, new-Orwellian times. Fact has been subverted by forces beyond our imagination, both newly minted and old school.
Discussion:
@jayrosen_nyu and @niemanlab
Margaret Sullivan / Washington Post:
A look at journalism in 2018, from the revival of the LA Times to the horrific murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi — In 2018, those who follow the fortunes of journalism in America probably heard a name — and, separately, a terrible nickname — for the first time.
Discussion:
@dabeard, @sewellchan, @lfung, @alanmillernlp, @knightfdn, @deborahblum, @noelle_phillips, @cmonstah, @danielledknight, @ibarguen, @lenfestinst and @sulliview
Nellie Bowles / New York Times:
As some prominent creators leave in protest after Patreon bans anti-feminist for hate speech, a look at its approach to policing speech with human moderators — Sam Harris, the polemical atheist neuroscientist known for his popular podcast “Waking Up,” was making tens of thousands of dollars …
Discussion:
@techethicist and @othersociology, more at Techmeme »
Peter Jukes / Byline:
BBC's failure to adequately cover important stories like Brexit in the name of “balance” can turn it into a hostage to politics, rather than an observer of it — 2018 has been a troubling year for those who support public service broadcasting and the national broadcaster's remit to INFORM not just entertain.
Discussion:
@chrislawsnp, @lizmcinnes_mp, @philippullman, @mikeh_pr and @mradamkaveney
Christian Shepherd / Reuters:
UK publisher Taylor and Francis has dropped more than 80 journals from its offerings to libraries in China at the Chinese government's request — BEIJING (Reuters) - A British academic publisher has dropped more than 80 journals from its offerings in China at the government's request …
Discussion:
@aaschapiro, @andrewserickson, @peterinexile, @rianthum, Variety and Inside Higher Ed
New York Times:
Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond, writers behind the “Dear Sugar” advice column which began in The Rumpus, discuss its history in their last piece — In their final column, the Dear Sugars offer insight and advice on ... giving it. — Cheryl Strayed: Dear readers, we have news: This will be the final Sweet Spot column.
Discussion:
@cherylstrayed, @laurenjcross and @nytstyles
Craig Mod / Wired:
Although the functionality of digital books has largely remained the same for 10 years, technology has improved everything that goes into publishing a book — THE FUTURE BOOK was meant to be interactive, moving, alive. Its pages were supposed to be lush with whirling doodads, responsive, hands-on.
Discussion:
@craigmod, @jeremycaplan, @janchip, @stoweboyd, @nxthompson, @aweissman, @hamishmckenzie, @craigmod, @kevin2kelly, @khoi, @doctor_v and @trengriffin
Wall Street Journal:
While Western companies publicly condemned Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi killing, many have retained their relationships with the Kingdom, including Bloomberg — Many businesses have linked their future to Saudi money and the kingdom's sweeping economic overhauls
Discussion:
@tonyfratto, @wsjforero, @keachhagey, @naderalihashemi, @benmullin, @keachhagey, @anujchopra, @keachhagey and @bradleyhope
Jon Lafayette / Broadcasting & Cable:
Disney has warned Verizon FiOS subscribers that they could lose access to ESPN and a number of other channels unless a new carriage deal is reached — The Disney Media Networks Group is warning subscribers to FiOS that they could lose access to several TV networks unless a new carriage deals is reached.
Discussion:
Variety, Awful Announcing and @bristei
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