Top News:
Luke Ottenhof / Observer:
A look at how freelancers are affected by media layoffs and at their efforts to organize to ensure better working conditions, including timely payment — It's been a tough year for workers in the media industry. Though we're less than two months removed from 2018, the first stretch …
Discussion:
@michellemanafy, @freelancersu and @rl_bynum
Mark Di Stefano / BuzzFeed:
Writer and editor Emily Sheffield to launch #ThisMuchIKnow, a media startup backed by Guardian that will deliver news through Instagram posts and stories — Emily Sheffield told potential reporters and editors she had the backing of the Guardian's £42 million venture capital fund.
Max Willens / Digiday:
VC investors see growth in sports digital media like Overtime and Chernin Group's Action Network because their loyal fan bases offer revenue sources beyond ads — Venture capital firms might have soured on digital media companies over the past few years, but many sports media companies continue to draw backing.
Isaac Lee / Columbia Journalism Review:
A look at the tactics used by the Venezuelan government to eliminate most independent media, from censorship to having government sympathizers buy outlets — Earlier this week, the Nicolás Maduro regime detained and expelled journalist Jorge Ramos, one of the most famous news anchors in the world …
Discussion:
@samuelcnn
Paul Mozur / New York Times:
Interview with NYT's Paul Mozur, a tech reporter in Shanghai, about his most important tools, especially in a country with a government known for surveillance — To protect himself and his sources from prying eyes in China, Paul Mozur, a technology reporter in Shanghai, leaves just an “innocent trace” of digital exhaust.
Discussion:
Fortune
Sahil Patel / Digiday:
To increase its media rights value, Spain's soccer league La Liga is creating a media business that includes long-form productions for streamers and TV networks — The European soccer league that's home to Real Madrid and Barcelona is making a bigger media play in the U.S. …
Discussion:
@digiday, @borisgartner, @luseesworld and @rebsdg
Andrew McCormick / The Atlantic:
How Radio Free Asia's Uighur journalists based in Washington are painstakingly reporting on China's internment of hundreds of thousands of the country's Muslims — Radio Free Asia's Uighur journalists report on China's internment of hundreds of thousands of members of the country's Muslim minority …
Discussion:
@hwclarence
Laura Hazard Owen / Nieman Lab:
Q&A with the NYT Opinion Video director and senior editor on their first year, lessons learned, and how they're trying to appeal to a YouTube-native audience — “Hi. I'm Niecy Nash, actress, inventor, and advocate for not calling 911 on black people for no goddamn reason."
Discussion:
@niemanlab, @niemanlab, @laurahazardowen, @jayrosen_nyu and @nytimespr
Gavin J. Blair / Hollywood Reporter:
In Japan, Disney and mobile carrier Docomo are launching a streaming service in March with the latest content from Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, and Disney Studios — Content from all four Disney studios will be available next month in preparation for 5G. Japan's other two main carriers are already partnered with Netflix.
Discussion:
@richbtig and @lucas_shaw
Adi Robertson / The Verge:
Fortnite dance emote lawsuits set a precedent for media companies to abuse copyright law further and turn shared culture of dance moves into private property — Fortnite is one of the most popular and profitable video games in history, and its publisher Epic is copying creative work …
Discussion:
@reckless, @joshconstine, @reckless, @johnkwhite and @terrencehart
Anne Thompson / IndieWire:
With reports that Spielberg will urge the Academy to block streaming services like Netflix from Oscars, some fear indie movies can end up as collateral damage — Post “Roma,” the Academy will discuss rules that would level the playing field — but adjusting for Netflix could affect indie titles as well.
Discussion:
The Wrap, @indiewire, @moorehn, Variety, @adam_tyler89, @skeisaulnier, Decider, Vulture, NME, Deadline, Los Angeles Times, The Wrap, Variety, Vanity Fair, The A.V. Club, The Playlist, Observer and /Film
Amanda Kooser / CNET:
Reddit is testing tipping users starting with a single user, shittymorph; the user, Reddit, and card processor Stripe receive 78.5%, 18.5%, and 3%, respectively — Enlarge Image — Reddit has several ways you can express your appreciation of a good post or comment.
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