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Sources: despite Catch and Kill controversy, NBC News President Noah Oppenheim signed a new contract “in recent months” and is expected to succeed Andy Lack — Instead of breaking the big story, NBC News has become the big story. The network's top brass, NBC News Chairman Andy Lack …
Discussion:
Fox News, Variety, The Wrap, Hollywood Reporter, @sil_lai, The Daily Beast and Contemptor
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Network of ~40 websites branded as Michigan local news launched this fall with neutral names like Lansing Sun and Ann Arbor Times but offer political messaging — LANSING — Dozens of websites branded as local news outlets launched throughout Michigan this fall, with monikers like Lansing Sun …
Discussion:
@brianstelter, American Press Institute, Nieman Lab, @janemayernyer, The Rural Blog, @anneapplebaum, @spj_tweets, @callin_bull, @marmel, @tristanharris, @digiphile, @niemanlab, @christopherjm, @will_bunch, @jimsciutto, @leahmcelrath, @dangillmor, @melissaryan, @helenkennedy and @mattgertz, more at Techmeme »


CNN hires former GOP congressman Sean Duffy as a paid contributor, who immediately floats CNN-debunked conspiracy theory pushed by the White House on first day — In two separate CNN appearances, in his first 24 hours as a paid pundit, the ex-congressman pushed the president's unfounded CrowdStrike theory.
Discussion:
@courtneyhagle, @jaycaruso, The Daily Beast, Deadline, Mediaite, Media Matters for America, @marlownyc, @kanew, @soledadobrien, @juddapatow, @repmarkpocan, @dangillmor, @jayrosen_nyu, The Daily Wire, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, HuffPost, The Week, Mediaite, The Week, The Hill, Raw Story and The Wrap


Medium says it will now pay its Partner Program writers based “primarily” on reading time, not claps; the platform has paid $6M+ to 30,000+ writers since 2017 — Medium is announcing significant changes to its Partner Program, where subscribers pay for access to exclusive content, and the revenue gets split with writers.
Discussion:
3 min read, @noahchestnut, @annehelen, @chaykak, @alex, @martinsfp, @laurahazardowen and @caseynewton


Verizon is giving away Disney+ for free for one year to all of its wireless customers on unlimited-data plans and to FiOS and 5G home internet customers — New Fios broadband, 5G home wireless internet customers also eligible for 12-month free offer — Verizon is giving away Disney Plus …


Online influencers are expected to make $4.1B-$8.2B in 2019, but with no good way to measure sales, some advertisers are questioning whether it's worth it — Billions are paid to social-media personalities to pitch products in an influencer economy riddled with deceit
Discussion:
Axios, @sminero, @ivan_brussels, @katsvik, @_missleandra, @yared_theguy and @wsj


Meredith sells Money, whose print edition it shuttered in June, to Ad Practitioners, a Puerto Rico-based digital advertising and media company — After previously failing to find a buyer for Money — and shutting down the print edition — Meredith has found a new home for the personal-finance brand.
Discussion:
MediaPost and Meredith Corporation MediaRoom


Journalism and influencer culture is converging: just as influencers use their image to advertise, writers leverage social media presence to sell their work — After the summer of Caroline Calloway's Instagram infamy and Jia Tolentino's huge book launch, where is the line between author and lifestyle celebrity?
Discussion:
@callapilla, @claireshrugged, @allegraehobbs, @eve_rebecca, @eekshecried, @lauriechenwords and @renireni


Inside Bustle Media Group CEO Bryan Goldberg's ill-fated attempt to relaunch Gawker, which started with no clear plan and was plagued by scandals — Last year, Bryan Goldberg revealed big plans for his relaunch of Gawker, then postponed it indefinitely while laying off the whole staff.


UK chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee writes open letter to Nick Clegg asking why Facebook has dropped its ban on deceptive political ads — In yet another letter seeking to pry accountability from Facebook, the chair of a British parliamentary committee has pressed …
Discussion:
The Guardian, UK Parliament, Vox, @damiancollins, The Irish News, The Drum and Mother Jones


New York state lawmakers have proposed a requirement that any cable company operating in the state offer an independently produced local news channel — Legislators are proposing a first-in-the-nation bill to force cable companies to offer independent local news.
Discussion:
@nytimes, @senkevinthomas, @mgjohnson24, @mgjohnson24, @maghielse, @alexsilverman, @ctmirror and The Rural Blog


A look at the Colorado Media Project's new report, Local News is a Public Good, which recommends public funding to support independent local journalism — On Monday, members of the Colorado Media Project took questions at CU Denver about the group's new report “Local News is a Public Good” …
Discussion:
The Pew Charitable Trusts, @coreyhutchins, @coindependent, @coreyhutchins and Free Press