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Newspaper Consolidation Games: expect a formal deal closing for Gannett on Nov. 19, then big cuts; sources say McClatchy and Tribune are talking merger again — What was once expected to be $200 million in annual cost savings has now grown to $400 million or more. But how much blood is left to be drawn from this stone?
Discussion:
Washington Post, Boston Business Journal, @brieannafrank, @toddlighty, @dicktofel, @bgrueskin, @dankennedy_nu, @davidmcswane, @scout_finch, @doughardy_ct, @scavendish, @apantazi, @mcneill_tweets, @toddlighty, @toddlighty, @rachelwalexande, @lauren__fisher, @duvernayor, @jeremyduda, @oconnellpostbiz, @brahmresnik, @deborahblum, @ac_woods, @myafrazier, @d_rainville, @amlwhere, @mattdpearce, @jbenton, @jbenton, @jbenton, @jbenton, @jbenton, @mattdpearce, @penamerica, Washington …, New York Times and CNN
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McClatchy plans to end Saturday print issues at all its daily newspapers by the end of 2020, though a new slate of articles will continue to appear digitally — Subscribers to The Miami Herald, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram and The Charlotte Observer will no longer find a newspaper at the end of their driveway on Saturday mornings.


Early Reuters and NBC stories about impeachment hearings emphasized a lack of drama, fueling a social media backlash from those who want substance not theatrics — A Reuter's news article pronouncing Wednesday's illuminating, alarming, and historic kickoff of the Trump impeachment hearings …
Discussion:
CNN, Axios, Variety, @jayrosen_nyu, The Wrap, emptywheel, Media Matters for America, Reuters, Axios, Washington Post, @danielpmcdermot, @jayrosen_nyu, @oliverdarcy, @howardfineman, @dangillmor, @kylepope, @brianstelter, @jayrosen_nyu, @danblackroyd, @brianstelter, @lollardfish, @michaellista, @froomkin, @froomkin, The Week, @froomkin, @davidfrum, @bzelizer, @nrothschild3, @hblodget, @lolgop, @brianklaas, @jayrosen_nyu, @mehdirhasan, Mediaite, MediaPost, The Daily Caller, New York Times and NBC News


Taylor Swift says her former label's CEO and Scooter Braun, who bought the label, won't let her sing early songs at an awards show or in a Netflix documentary — Swift: “The message being sent to me is very clear... Be a good little girl and shut up. Or you'll be punished"


Following EU scrutiny, Google to stop sharing info with buyers in ad auctions about the type of content on a page where an ad could appear, starting in February — - Search giant to stop sharing some info with buyers in auction — Google said it took step follow discussions with watchdogs
Discussion:
The Keyword, @ravina1k, Los Angeles Times, Financial Times, AdExchanger, BGR, Adweek and MediaPost, more at Techmeme »


Sources: Apple signed on 200,000 subscribers to Apple News+ in its first 48 hours in March but has since struggled to add customers — - Apple signed on 200,000 subscribers to Apple News+ in its first 48 hours in March, but has been stuck in neutral since that time, according to people familiar with the matter.
Discussion:
Beyond Search, @mgsiegler, @alexjamesfitz, @awallenstein, @alexjamesfitz, @jbenton, @mattrosoff, @benbajarin, @markgurman, Ars Technica, CNET, MacRumors, 9to5Mac, MediaPost, Digital Trends, The Streamable, Music Business Worldwide, Mercury News, Business Insider, BGR and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »


George Soros' foundation asks Fox for a retraction, apology, and a ban on guest Joe diGenova after diGenova's anti-Semitic rant against Soros on Lou Dobbs' show — George Soros's Open Society Foundations is requesting action from Fox News/Fox Business after guest commentator Joe diGenova uncorked …


UK's Archant will launch its first Google-funded local news site in the spring in Peterborough, which hasn't had a daily newspaper since 2012 — Archant has revealed the first city chosen to benefit from millions in funding coming from Google as it searches for a sustainable model for local news online.


Amazon's ad for The Report, a movie based on the probe into the CIA after 9/11, wrapped front pages of major papers, with redacted words, mimicking real fronts — The wrap appears in the L.A. Times, Chicago Tribune and USA Today, among other papers — It's been over five years since …


Google News debuts Beyond the Headlines tab, which surfaces in-depth content on key issues in English, with more languages and a mobile version coming in 2020 — Last year, we redesigned Google News with one goal in mind: to help people understand the world through quality, trustworthy and enjoyable news.
Discussion:
@carolynpfox and Engadget


TikTok says it has started allowing some users to add links to their profile bios and send their viewers to shopping sites — TikTok is beginning to dabble in social commerce. The short-form video app said it has started to allow some users to add links to e-commerce sites …
Discussion:
@archiemoyo, Social Media Today, Adweek and Tubefilter, more at Techmeme »


The maker of viral deepfakes of Mark Zuckerberg and Boris Johnson says they show how personal data can be used in unexpected ways, even of those in power — Bill Posters is a former street artist based in the U.K. You may not know his name, but if you've been paying attention, you've likely seen his work.