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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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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 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

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


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


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


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.


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


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 »


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


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


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


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 »


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 »


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 »


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


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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