Top News:
Jenna Amatulli / HuffPost:
Netflix has removed an episode of “Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj” in Saudi Arabia after the country complained about MBS criticism over Khashoggi murder in show — In an episode of “Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj,” the host criticizes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Yemen war.
Discussion:
Financial Times, @anujchopra, Variety, NPR, New York Times, @dabeard, CNN, Vanity Fair, @sarahleah1, @karenattiah, @dennisperkins5, @bartongellman, @stephenjmcmanus, @jamesaalongman, @jonrosenberg, @john_hudson, Business Insider, @hashashintag, @hawthornrants, @teymoornabili, @bungdan, @karenattiah, @dangillmor, @iyad_elbaghdadi, @kimmasters, @amiraminimd, @borzou, @djrothkopf, @pranavdixit, @bencnn, @theseantcollins, @bintabuahmed_ and TechCrunch
Duke University School of Law:
Books, movies, and songs published in 1923 have become free to use as copyrights expired January 1, the first significant US Public Domain Day in 20 years — For the first time in over 20 years, on January 1, 2019, published works will enter the US public domain.1 Works from 1923 will be free …
Discussion:
WHYY, Ars Technica, Fortune, Open Culture, Boing Boing, @spielerman, @gwenckatz, @pamelapaulnyt, @levistahl, @xor, @thepublicdomain, @harikunzru, @dolladollabille, @waxy, @scottmbeggs, Cincinnati.com, Quartz, Techdirt and The Verge
Howard Kurtz / Fox News:
In her new book “Merchants of Truth”, former NYT Executive Editor Jill Abramson says the paper has become “unmistakably anti-Trump” under Dean Baquet — President Trump appears content to ride out partial government shutdown stalemate over border security funding
Discussion:
@howardkurtz, @byronyork, @cjr, @politicalshort, @howardkurtz, @petehegseth, @piersmorgan and @martinsfp
Chris Welch / The Verge:
Roku Channel adds premium subscriptions, with networks including Showtime, Starz, and Epix available on Roku devices and apps, Samsung smart TVs, and more — Pay for everything on one bill with your Roku account — The Roku Channel, which offers free-to-watch, ad-supported movies …
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Sources: CBS and Nielsen failed to agree to a new contract by 12:01am Tuesday, with Nielsen execs concerned no-deal could destabilize the marketplace for TV ads — CBS, which distributes some of TV's most-watched programs, may have to use a new way to count its viewers.
Discussion:
MediaPost, @richbtig and @producercoop
Sara Fischer / Axios:
The rise of cord-cutting is hurting profit margins at cable and satellite providers, leading to programming blackouts and niche channels being dropped — Cable and satellite companies are struggling to reach deals with TV channels over how much they should have to pay for the content those channels provide.
Discussion:
Deadline
Jon Levine / The Wrap:
Ex-Fox News Chief Washington Correspondent James Rosen, who was ousted amid allegations of sexual misconduct, joins Sinclair as an investigative reporter in DC — “Proud to start the New Year by joining @WeAreSinclair as an investigative reporter," James Rosen says in a tweet
Discussion:
TVNewser and @levinejonathan
Sharon Waxman / The Wrap:
The dominance of Netflix, Facebook, Google, and Amazon means the media industry will continue to consolidate in 2019, with smaller players losing out — There's no one I know in media who isn't scared of what the next 12 months will bring. — Here's the general picture:
Freddy Mayhew / Press Gazette:
BuzzFeed UK reduced its losses by £1M YoY in 2017 to £2.3M on revenues of £33.4M — Buzzfeed UK made a pre-tax loss of £1.9m on turnover of 33.4m in 2017, new financial figures filed on Christmas Eve last year show. — The digital-only news website …
Robert P. Baird / Columbia Journalism Review:
The history of Jacobin, a socialist magazine with 40K print circulation, 1M monthly visitors to its site, a podcast, a book imprint, and more — The unlikely success of a socialist print magazine — Every successful magazine, like every successful revolution, condenses an atmosphere.
Columbia Journalism Review:
Designed to be heard, Serial isn't overburdened with quotes and statistics, as Sarah Koenig records her observations, doubts, and methods to guide narration — At the top of the transcripts page for the third season of Serial, a favorite on numerous year-end podcast lists, is a warning …
Emma Best / Muckrock News:
In 1976, FBI investigated The Village Voice and Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press for espionage after magazine published a secret report on the CIA — WikiLeaks wasn't the first organization investigated for espionage over publishing classified information