Top News:
Laura Hazard Owen / Nieman Lab:
Knight Foundation pledges $300M over five years to further local news and free speech, with the bulk going to national orgs working with local partners — The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation will provide a whopping $300 million over five years to organizations including …
Discussion:
Poynter, American Press Institute, miamiherald, Knight Foundation, @brianstelter, @cthomasclt, @markobbie, @lenfestinst and @jenniferpreston
Brooks Barnes / New York Times:
Inside the struggle between the Academy and Oscars producer Donna Gigliotti to shorten the awards ceremony, as ratings gradually decline — LOS ANGELES — The lead producer of the 91st Academy Awards, Donna Gigliotti, was in high spirits on Friday morning.
Discussion:
@marinafang, @ennisnyt, @nytimesarts, The Wrap, @davidkorins, @brooksbarnesnyt, @nytmedia, @hunteryharris, The Week, /Film, IndieWire, The Playlist and The A.V. Club
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Brooks Barnes / New York Times:
Inside Netflix's all-out effort to win its first Oscar for Roma, including the hiring of a savvy campaigner and over-the-top spending — LOS ANGELES — Netflix called it “'Roma' Experience Day.” — On a Sunday in December, the streaming giant rented two soundstages on a historic movie lot …
Discussion:
@kimmasters, @nytmedia, @davidmwessel, The Wrap and IndieWire
Rebecca Keegan / Hollywood Reporter:
Q&A with Amazon Studios Chief Jennifer Salke on her content acquisition strategy, potentially broadcasting a ceremony such as the Oscars one day, and more — The studio head opens up about her Sundance buying spree, blockbuster ambitions and the secret room where Amazon's 'Lord …
Discussion:
Business Insider, Deadline, Variety, Engadget, @thrmattbelloni, New York Times and The Playlist, more at Techmeme »
Caleb Howe / Mediaite:
Numerous journalists jumped the gun on the Jussie Smollett story, tweeting unverified claims as facts, further eroding trust amidst allegations of fake news — In light of new details in the investigation of the alleged assault on actor Jussie Smollett, fingers have been pointed at “the media” for jumping the gun on the story.
Discussion:
Contemptor, Deadline, CNN, @cnn, @davidaxelrod and The Daily Caller
Jacob Granger / Journalism.co.uk:
Google News Initiative aims to provide 4,000 journalists in Australia and New Zealand with training on new revenue streams, SEO, fighting misinformation, more — Students and publishers alike will learn about new revenue streams and optimising content for digital audiences under latest GNI training programme
Ian Sample / The Guardian:
Interviews with 30 flat Earth conference attendees finds most did not consider the Earth to be flat two years ago, but YouTube videos changed their minds — Conspiracy theories shown on video-sharing site persuade people to doubt Earth is round — Researchers believe they have identified …
Discussion:
New York Times, CNET, Boing Boing, @jimalkhalili, BBC, Daily Mail, BGR, The Economic Times, HuffPost, Engadget, The Independent and Peter O'Kelly's Reality Check, more at Techmeme »
Dominic Patten / Deadline:
Netflix has cancelled its last two Marvel series, The Punisher and Jessica Jones, with the latter's third season still to air — (UPDATED with Marvel Statement) EXCLUSIVE: Exactly a month after the launch of its second season on Netflix, Marvel's The Punisher has had to bite the bullet as has Jessica Jones.
Discussion:
Marvel Entertainment, @uberkryptonian, @themattfowler, @azalben, @deadlinedominic, The Week, @ragnamurdock, @sethamandel, @4eyedraven, @henereyg, @allyfreya, @sepinwall, Business Insider, CNN, Consequence of Sound, Vanity Fair, Engadget, /Film, IndieWire, The Playlist, Polygon, The Verge and Mashable
The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh:
The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh releases a new account of the Post-Gazette Publisher's newsroom visit describing how he manhandled his pre-teen daughter — The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh today released a recently received eyewitness account of the unhinged behavior …
Discussion:
@pgnewsguild
Alexandra Steigrad / New York Post:
Sources: companies are wary of bidding for Gizmodo Media Group as its independent editorial clause means it can criticize owners — Not only is Gizmodo Media losing money, its snarky news and gossip sites may trash you if you buy them. — That's the bizarre dilemma prospective bidders face …
Eric Johnson / Recode:
IAC Chairman Barry Diller says Hollywood movie studios are now “irrelevant” as the market has fragmented, says Netflix cannot be displaced in streaming — Diller, the former CEO of Paramount and Fox, talks about the diminished power of movie studios and why “Netflix has won this game” on the latest Recode Decode.
Melissa Brown / The Montgomery Advertiser:
Goodloe Sutton, publisher of the Alabama newspaper the Democrat-Reporter, authored an editorial calling on the KKK to “ride again” and “clean out DC” — The editor of a small-town Alabama newspaper published an editorial calling for “the Ku Klux Klan to night ride again” …
Discussion:
Newser, al.com and Boing Boing
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