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BuzzFeed proposes cutting 17 of BuzzFeed UK's 37 editorial staff, with most losses to the Buzz section covering pop culture — Buzzfeed UK's editorial team will be cut by nearly half, its own media reporter has claimed, down from 37 to 20 journalists based in London.
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BuzzFeed laid off its Director of Quizzes because lots of people are willing to make quizzes for free — “This post has not been vetted or endorsed by BuzzFeed's editorial staff. BuzzFeed Community is a place where anyone create a post. Learn more or post your buzz!”
Discussion:
Fluxblog, @karaschlegl, @niemanlab, @johnastoehr, @conroyforreal, @robferdman, @kwameopam and @kateotherkate

Even as companies like Digital First Media strip-mine local newspapers for profit, their journalists continue doing important work and deserve support — Jeffrey Miller might be the ideal news consumer: He's well-informed, thoughtful and understands the role good journalism plays in American democracy.
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, @ehernandez, @alanmillernlp, @dangillmor, The Rural Blog, @thomas_peele and @sulliview
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How Gannett hollowed out newspapers in Tennessee over decades, leaving stories like hospital mergers and local elections now under-covered — Wednesday was a bloodbath for journalists. BuzzFeed said it would lay off 15 percent of its employees, and Verizon Media announced it would cut 7 percent …
Discussion:
@jmartnyt, @rpetty, @kensands, @carlyewisel, @jrovner, @alecmacgillis, @mattdpearce, @ralstonreports, @jayrosen_nyu and @charlesornstein

Internal docs and sources describe how Facebook educates moderators about political issues and potential “PR fires” that are particular to different elections — Internal Facebook documents obtained by Motherboard show specific steps and strategies taken by the company …
Discussion:
Facebook, The Hill, @tonyajoriley and Fortune, more at Techmeme »

Changes to Facebook's site break plugins created by ProPublica and others to track and report on exactly how Facebook users are being targeted by advertisers — Our tool had let the public see exactly how users were being targeted by advertisers. The social media giant urged us to shut it down last year.

Facebook shares draft proposal describing how its new content review board could work, suggesting it have 40 diverse members, none of whom are Facebook staff — In November, Facebook announced a new plan that would revamp how the company makes content policy decisions on its social network …

Bill Simmons says The Ringer, focused on its network of 28 podcasts with ~35M downloads a month is profitable; sources say it made $15M+ on podcasts in 2018 — Four years after his acrimonious split with ESPN, the sports entrepreneur is building a different kind of network

Condé Nast International launches Vogue Business, a twice-weekly newsletter for professionals in the fashion and luxury industries, with 21 staffers — Condé Nast International, home to magazine brands like Vogue, GQ and Wired, is making a more direct play for professionals …
Discussion:
@wblau, Financial Times, Folio, @sarahmarshall, @digiday, @hugopw, @wblau, MediaPost, Marketing Week and Media Star

NBC veteran Tom Brokaw apologizes after saying “Hispanics should work harder at assimilation” on Sunday's Meet the Press, evoking further criticism — Tom Brokaw, the veteran NBC newsman, has apologized for saying that Hispanic immigrants need to do a better job of assimilating …
Discussion:
@tombrokaw, Politico, New York Post, @tombrokaw, Mediaite, NAHJ, @tombrokaw, Fox News, @neidasandoval, @ananavarro, @mariasacchetti, @julito77, @walshfreedom, New York Times, @jayrosen_nyu, @lesleyhandel, @rebel19, @sulliview, USA Today and CNN

Cheddar to launch “Cheddar Nights” evening block in February, with a slate of acquired shows, and monetizing it via dynamic ad insertion on Roku, Sling TV, more — The streaming news network Cheddar is launching an evening block of entertainment-focused programming Feb. 4, featuring a slate of acquired shows.
Discussion:
@libbycwatson, @alexweprin and @alexweprin, Thanks:@jonsteinberg

Tow Center report examines blockchain's journalistic applications, focusing on solutions for storing metadata and business models driven by cryptocurrencies — EXECUTIVE SUMMARY — Blockchain, like the internet, or democracy, or money, is many overlapping things.
Discussion:
@spj_tweets