Top News:
Nick Evershed / The Guardian:
The Guardian Australia publishes its first story written by an automated system called Reporter Mate, which automates analysis and writing of formulaic stories — Guardian Australia has just published its first automated article but reporters fear not - you're still needed for a while yet
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, The Guardian, @whatthebit, @paulbradshaw, @ndiakopoulos, @petersterne and @petersterne
Daniel Funke / Poynter:
Snopes pulls out of Facebook partnership, says Facebook's closed, manual fact-checking entry system is too labor intensive and fails to benefit the whole web — Snopes is no longer debunking misinformation in partnership with Facebook. In a statement published Friday …
Discussion:
@steevill, @kimlacapria, @rmac18, @samtlevin, @samtlevin, @shortformernie, @sarahfrier, @tmclaughlin3, @tarletong, @bendwalsh, @dpfunke, BBC, Bloomberg, The Guardian, Adweek, Engadget, The Verge, Boing Boing, CNBC and Mashable, more at Techmeme »
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Devin Coldewey / TechCrunch:
AP says it is “not currently doing fact-checking work for Facebook”, after Snopes said it also stopped; both leave possiblity for future collaboration open — Snopes, which recently rebuffed reports that its relationship with Facebook was strained, has stopped working for the program …
Discussion:
The Atlantic, Snopes.com, @shiraovide, Mediaite, Snopes.com and Fortune
Peter Kafka / Recode:
Source: Spotify in advanced talks to acquire popular podcast producer Gimlet for $200M+; Gimlet would be Spotify's first purchase of an original content maker — Spotify wants to break out of the music streaming business. Gimlet, the company behind shows like Crimetown and Reply All, can help.
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, @julien, Gizmodo, @andrewchen, 9to5Mac, @dcseifert, @khoi, @mathowie, @nicktheandersen, @nicktheandersen, @nicktheandersen, @nicktheandersen, @blakeir, Fortune, @evoterra, Business Insider, Engadget, Fast Company, The Verge, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap and Music Business Worldwide
Natalie Jarvey / Hollywood Reporter:
Vice to lay off 10% of staff, or ~250 people, across the company as part of restructuring effort; weekly “Vice” show on HBO also ending — The cuts, which will impact around 250 people, are part of new CEO Nancy Dubuc's strategic plan to tighten spending and achieve profitability.
Discussion:
Poynter, Wall Street Journal, @levinejonathan, Nieman Lab, Digiday, @dataeditor, Press Gazette, Business Insider, MediaPost, @leonlazaroff, @hshaban, @grimkim, TechCrunch, CNN, Big League Politics, @melissagira, @hshaban, @rafat, @zachdcarter, Mumbrella, Mumbrella Asia, Variety, Broadcasting & Cable, Fortune, Top Digital Journal News, The Daily Caller, Splinter and Adweek
Maura Judkis / Washington Post:
The Washington Post is airing a 60-second ad during the Super Bowl's fourth quarter on Sunday, with Tom Hanks describing journalism's importance to society — The Washington Post will debut its first Super Bowl commercial — a message underscoring the importance of newsgathering …
Discussion:
USA Today, Washington Post, The Daily Caller, @rsf_en, @ahmed, @emilyaheil, @postbaron, Big League Politics, The A.V. Club, KTLA, @jason_kint, CNBC, @maurajudkis, @maurajudkis, Deadline, Adweek, Variety, Skift Table and The Week
Martin Scott / Nieman Reports:
Interviews with 74 journalists and foundation representatives show concerns with relying on philanthropy because funding shapes which issues get covered and how — New research raises questions about unintended consequences when it comes to foundation funding of international coverage
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review
Chuck Strouse / Miami New Times:
Memo: McClatchy is offering a voluntary early retirement program to about 450 employees, says it will be a one-time opportunity — This morning, Craig Forman, CEO of McClatchy Company, emailed all staff to say about 10 percent of the newspaper chain's employees would be offered voluntary buyouts.
Discussion:
Poynter, Charlotte Magazine, @lindseywasson, The Hill, @poynter, @karlbode, @hannahallam, @sulliview, @cliomiso, @parkermolloy, @charlesapple, @jeffdomingues, @stevejanoski and @romenesko
Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:
In interview with Trump, NYT journalists and publisher try explaining the global effect of “fake news” claims but his focus shifted to his personal grievances — President Trump takes credit for popularizing the term “fake news.” — But the consequences? Not his concern.
Los Angeles Times:
Two press photographers, who had documented the migrant caravan, say authorities denied them entry into Mexico due to flagged passports by an unknown government — Two U.S. immigrant rights attorneys and two journalists who have worked closely with members of a migrant caravan in Tijuana …
Discussion:
@mariaskennedy, @humanrights1st and @latimes
Global Editors Network:
Interviews with two R&D managers on their daily routines, specific projects, and the future of news: Tristan Ferne of BBC and Kourtney Bitterly of NYT — For most publishers around, there is a constant need to reinvent the ways to present news, fight digital challenges, and satisfy an audience.
Variety:
Amazon spent over $41M at the Sundance Film Festival to buy three films — They came. They saw. They bought a lot. — That's more or less the story of the 2019 edition of the Sundance Film Festival. It was a return to the free-spending days of a couple of years ago …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Deadline, Business Insider and /Film