Top News:
Brian Stelter / CNN:
This week is a major turning point for daily newspapers in the US, with bankers deciding what will be defined as news, and who will be employed to report it — New York (CNN Business)Let's take a close look at what's happening at three of the biggest newspaper owners in the United States.
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, @jon_allsop and @byjonharris
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Ken Doctor / Nieman Lab:
A deep look at McClatchy's options for a sale, restructuring or bankruptcy, and the influence of the federal pension agency and Chatham Asset Management
Discussion:
@newsbyschmidt
Tribune Publishing Company:
Tribune Publishing says Alden Global Capital is now the company's largest shareholder, buying 25.2% of the company from Merrick Ventures and Michael Ferro Jr.
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, @amlwhere, USA Today, @jbenton, @brianstelter, @eliseschmelzer, @alissaskelton, @jaysunsilver, @slulay2, @pwoodreporter, @ronlin, @saragregory, @laura_nelson, @joanniesen, @jbenton, @davidfolkenflik, @davidfolkenflik, @gerryfsmith, @ckrewson, @mattdpearce and The Wrap
Marc Tracy / New York Times:
Gannett and New Media Investment Group's merger became official Tuesday, with executives hoping “efficiencies” will save about $300M/year
Discussion:
USA Today, @maxwelltani, @cmonstah, @dicktofel, @kerrymflynn, @jamesebriggs, @cooperoncourts, @melissayeagr, @darrendcarroll, @mathewi, @jcrutchmer, @spsullivan, @joemfox, @caspernewsguild, @vicky_jacobsen, @joshsternberg, @pmalonedc, @emilyoverholt, @amandahess, @sethklamann, @baltsunguild, @indyemapolis, @reporterdavidj, @dtohl, @courantguild, @jbenton, @simonowens, @jbenton, @jenwsheehan, @alexkotch, @marcatracy, @rebekahlsanders, @mattdpearce, @kerrymflynn, CNN and Brookings
Danny Hakim / New York Times:
A lawyer for impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman has asked Fox News for a retraction of a guest's claim that Vindman was involved in espionage — A guest on the ‘Ingraham Angle,’ a Fox show, suggested that Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vindman, a key figure in the impeachment hearings, was guilty of spying.
Discussion:
CNN, TVNewser, Mediaite, Talking Points Memo, Washington Examiner, The Hill, The Daily Beast, Axios, Raw Story, Hollywood Reporter, Press Watch, New Republic, Breitbart, Rolling Stone and The Daily Beast
Christine Schmidt / Nieman Lab:
The Chicago Reader, an alt-weekly, is moving to a nonprofit model in January under the umbrella of the newly-founded Reader Institute for Community Journalism — The Chicago Reader, like many alt-weeklies, has had a tough past few years. Founded in 1971 during a boom time for alternative media …
Discussion:
Chicago Reader and Daily Herald
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Verizon Media CEO Guru Gowrappan says it has no plans to divest any properties, including HuffPost, from the Yahoo-AOL group — Verizon is not selling HuffPost, according to Verizon Media CEO Guru Gowrappan — who insisted the news and opinion site is central to its content strategy.
Sara Fischer / Axios:
NYT says it will no longer use tracking pixels from Facebook and Twitter, instead using TAFI, a new AI-powered tool, to target potential subscribers — The New York Times will no longer use tracking pixels from Facebook and Twitter to track its users' browser history, executives tell Axios.
Discussion:
AdExchanger, @mattnavarra and @mathewi
Benjamin Mayo / 9to5Mac:
Apple launches Apple Music for Business, letting businesses play music in retail locations with Apple providing human-curated playlists and recommendations — Apple Music is now partnering with businesses to play music at retail stores. In a partnership with PlayNetwork …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, RAIN News, Apple Weekly and Music Business Worldwide, more at Techmeme »
Christine Schmidt / Nieman Lab:
Study of 3,446 high school students: two-thirds didn't differentiate between sponsored content, even when labeled, and news stories; 52% believed a fake video — There are a gazillion new impeachment podcasts. Smart strategy or a blind stab at relevance?
Discussion:
@imtheq, @esgarchitect, @frankluntz and Stanford News
Ben Smith / BuzzFeed News:
Sources: NYT is facing a succession contest to replace Dean Baquet before September 2022, with three top candidates: Joe Kahn, James Bennet, and Cliff Levy — If you're following the news these days, you'll notice that a high percentage is about the New York Times — the headlines …
Discussion:
@rossbarkan, @govhowarddean, @jimwaterson, @sulliview, @samthielman, @bigmeaninternet, @williams_paige, @michaelluo, @willsommer, @perpetua, @nbashaw, @annehelen, @tomgara, @katherinemiller, @jasonleopold, @jeremymbarr, @ckrewson, @ajentleson, @govhowarddean, @dropoutnation, @jayrosen_nyu, @bgrueskin, @derektmead, @whstancil, @mehdirhasan, @pulitzerprizes and Poynter
Joe Pompeo / Vanity Fair:
Sources: new NYT guidance says “racist” can be used to describe an action or comments from politicians with permission from department and masthead leadership — Blackface? Yes. KKK? Yes. A comedian using anti-Asian jokes? Yes. Trump? It depends—but be very, very careful.
Discussion:
@joepompeo, @arawnsley, @josephfcox and Fox News
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Spotify says its free tier will now stream across Alexa-powered devices in the US, Australia, and New Zealand, and smart speakers from Sonos and Bose globally — Spotify has worked with Amazon Echo since 2016, but only for premium subscribers. Today, that changes as Spotify says its free tier …
Discussion:
Spotify and Business Insider, more at Techmeme »
Nathaniel Popper / New York Times:
On-demand transcription service Rev faces backlash after contractors appealed to customers, including media companies, when their fee percentages were cut — Rev was just a small start-up offering online transcriptions. Now it's the latest symbol of a gig-economy company whose workers are fed up.
Discussion:
@frankcatalano, @thricedotted and @thricedotted, more at Techmeme »
Megan Graham / CNBC:
Facebook begins rolling out new “brand safety” tools to let advertisers control the content their ads appear around, including white-listing publishers — - Facebook announced a slate of new “brand safety” tools for advertisers Wednesday, a way to let advertisers have more control over the content where their ads appear.
Discussion:
Ad Age, Mashable, The Drum and @tarletong, more at Techmeme »
Donie O'Sullivan / CNN:
Reddit warns its r/The_Donald subreddit over posts targeting the alleged White House whistleblower, citing rules against harassment and “inviting vigilantism” — New York (CNN Business)Reddit has warned users of its forum for President Trump supporters that “systematic harassment” …
Discussion:
The Daily Dot and One Angry Gamer
Meg James / Los Angeles Times:
Disney executive Kevin Mayer said overwhelming demand from 10M new users and a computer-coding glitch led to widespread problems last week as Disney+ launched — Walt Disney Co. executive Kevin Mayer said overwhelming demand and a computer-coding glitch led to widespread problems last week …
Discussion:
Variety, Deadline, The Streamable and TVWeek.com
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