Top News:
Maxwell Strachan / HuffPost:
Lessons from the fall of Mic, the millennial-focused, Facebook-dependent site which left staffers exhausted, distrustful of leadership, and financially insecure — “I don't need a pair of Nikes. I need a 401(k)" — and other lessons from the death of a venture-backed, Facebook-dependent, millennial-focused news site.
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, @perlberg, @eveewing, @taylorlorenz, @k_trendacosta, @taylorlorenz, @s_m_i, @scottbix, @jamilahking, @danielmarans, @adamserwer, @hlmacmillen, @rubinafillion, @lauren_kelley, @sophiekleeman, @itstheannmarie, @reckless, @andreagonram, @nicktheandersen, @mitrakalita, @mattgertz, @nataliesurely, @rmc031, @seanblanda, @kciesemier, @lainnafader, @timherrera, @mcastimovies, @pkafka and @lkherman
Max Willens / Digiday:
Bustle Digital Group acquires Inverse, a science- and geek culture-focused site, which was founded by Bleacher Report cofounder Dave Nemetz and had raised $6M — Bustle Digital Group has made another acquisition in an attempt to grow beyond its female-focused audience.
Discussion:
Variety, Business Insider, Adweek, @davenemetz, @timmulk and @joshuatopolsky, Thanks:@kerrymflynn
Christine Schmidt / Nieman Lab:
Pew survey of 10,618 Americans from last fall: 61% say the news media intentionally ignores important stories, 19% say media is biased or focused on opinions — It's not just the media institutions — Americans' trust in the federal government, and each other, is dropping.
Discussion:
@lrainie, Pew Research Center, @baekdal, @marklittlenews, @pewresearch, @pewresearch, @pewresearch and New York Times
Jessica Dolcourt / CNET:
Profile of Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, who has donated $100M+ to charities and who champions “vigorous, trustworthy journalism” and women in tech — Craig Newmark is a self-proclaimed nerd and reformed jerk. Now he's putting money behind his politics.
Discussion:
@georgiadreid1, @richardjnieva, @blkbaer, @jdolcourt and @jasonhiner, more at Techmeme »
Ruth Graham / Slate:
Air Mail, Graydon Carter's new weekly email newsletter that costs $50 annually, is a big glossy magazine stuffed awkwardly into your inbox — Carter's old-school editorial mode might not be in tune with the medium he now occupies. — The Author of a Wildly Popular Manifesto on Abstinence …
Discussion:
@arifleischer, @publicroad, @slate and bookforum.com
Mark Sweney / The Guardian:
Zenith: online advertising forecast to grow by 10% globally next year, the lowest level since 2001, as big brands seek risk-free placement in traditional media — Sector to be outpaced next year by cinema ads as big companies raise fears over digital scandals
Discussion:
@guykawasaki and AdExchanger
Brian Stelter / CNN:
A look at the work of Puerto Rican news nonprofit CPI, whose publication of texts sent by the governor has partly sparked protests demanding his resignation — New York (CNN Business)Puerto Rico's Center for Investigative Journalism has broken many, many stories in the past eleven years.
Discussion:
@brianstelter, @frances_sola, @brianstelter and @julito77
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
The CBS blackout is the 213th one in 2019 while only eight blackouts occurred in 2010 as reliance on retransmission fees makes negotiations more strained — Among media companies, “going dark” was once a matter of last resort. Now it's an option that is seeing more light.
Discussion:
The Streamable and @davezatz
James Walker / Press Gazette:
EU allots €1.5M to responding to press freedom violations, like providing “tangible protection for journalists,” as part of €4.2M in funding for media projects — The European Union has opened up €4.2m (£3.8m) in funding for projects supporting media freedom …
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
News UK's The Times and Sunday Times get permission from the government to share more journalists; the company has declined to comment on potential job cuts — The Times and Sunday Times newspapers have been given permission from the Government to start sharing more journalists and other resources.
Discussion:
The Guardian
Hannah Ellis-Petersen / The Guardian:
Libel trial opens against Maria Ressa, the editor of Philippine news site Rappler and critic of President Rodrigo Duterte — Maria Ressa faces prison term if convicted under criminal cyberlibel law — A libel trial against the editor of Rappler, a Philippine news site critical of the regime …
Discussion:
The Straits Times, @jostevenslabour, @ericwishart, Asian Correspondent and RAPPLER
Lucinda Southern / Digiday:
News UK halved the number of podcasts it produces to 22 last year and saw double the downloads and triple the ad revenue — In an effort to focus its resources with fewer, more specific shows, News UK cut the number of podcasts it produces in half, to 22 last year.