Mediagazer: Hulu launches ads that let brands target binge-watchers, offering the brands the ability to sponsor ad-free episodes or serve personalized offers (Sarah Perez/TechCrunch)

A Pew study of 50+ of its surveys shows that political party affiliation is the biggest factor affecting trust or skepticism of the news media — Partisan dynamics overshadow other factors in Americans' evaluations of the news media — It is no secret that, in an information environment characterized …

Discussion: Multichannel News, Fox News, @digiphile, MediaPost, @asmitch, @epkaufm, @sulliview, @nickreisman, @digiphile, @pewresearch, @jennifernvictor and @pewresearch

Sara Fischer / Axios:

Apple News will co-host a presidential debate for the first time, on Feb. 7 in New Hampshire, and Twitter will co-host a debate on Feb. 25 in South Carolina — The Democratic National Committee announced on Thursday the hosts of the next four presidential debates in the first four primary and caucus states.

Discussion: The Wrap, Variety, TVNewser, @hunterwalk, Engadget, Gizmodo, Business Insider, 9to5Mac and Mashable, more at Techmeme »

Kayleigh Barber / Digiday:

Cosmo is hosting “You” Watch Parties, with quizzes and more, on a separate site with a CMS built by Google News Lab, which Google may license to others — Cosmopolitan knows its readers are fans of Netflix's “You,” and wants to see if it can be part of their watching experience during the show's second season.

Discussion: @mattnavarra

Caroline Porter / Shorenstein Center:

A case study of Mother Jones' revenue strategy: prioritizing investigative journalism, following reader preferences, effective campaign messaging, and more — Case Study co-published by the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Institute for Nonprofit News.

Discussion: Nieman Lab, @steve_katz, @clarajeffery, @shorensteinctr, @andrecarothers, @rebleber, @ehansen02, @bridgebotelho, @clarajeffery, @motherjones and @clarajeffery

Belinda Luscombe / TIME:

Time names Bob Iger Businessperson of the Year following Disney's Fox acquisition, box office success, and Disney+ launch — Not since somebody figured out that you could attach two black plastic disks to a skull cap and make everyone look like Mickey Mouse has a pair of ears sent such a buzz through a media executive.

Discussion: CNBC, Hollywood Reporter, The Streamable, @time, @therock, @ithacacollege, Talking Biz News, CNET, TVWeek.com, Adweek, The Playlist, MediaPost and Business Insider

Kali Hays / WWD:

Editors of Out magazine and The Advocate, owned by Pride Media, are leaving; sources: Pride Media CEO is also stepping down, and more departures are expected — The Advocate editor Zach Stafford is out, too, along with executive leadership, leaving insiders wondering if the LGBTQ titles will continue.

Discussion: NBC News, @ianmartella, @jeremyoharris, @thrasherxy, @pfpicardi, @trevellanderson, LGBTQ Nation, Towleroad Gay News, @pfpicardi, Los Angeles Blade, @ericalenti, @chadwick_moore, New York Post, @treeaston, @joncbarr, @maryemilyohara and @biancaenrogue

Maya Shwayder / Digital Trends:

Decentralizing Twitter won't solve its hate speech problems as it will only distribute them to others — Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey floated a compelling possibility on Wednesday: He wants to put together a team to explore decentralizing Twitter. … The possibility is fascinating.

Discussion: The Verge, @jack, Wired, @kevinthau and @jack, more at Techmeme »

Matthew Strauss / Pitchfork:

Netflix is developing a scripted TV show about the creation of Spotify, inspired by the book Spotify Untold — The scripted series will tell the story of Spotify's creation — Netflix is developing a scripted TV series about the creation of Spotify, the company announced today (December 11).

Discussion: Bloomberg, Grit Daily, Netflix Media Center, @jonasleijon and @svenaxel

Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:

Hulu launches ads that let brands target binge-watchers, offering the brands the ability to sponsor ad-free episodes or serve personalized offers — Hulu today is launching a new kind of ad experience that allows brands to specifically target binge-watchers — that is …

Discussion: Variety, The Streamable, Broadcasting & Cable, Adweek, Axios and Ad Age

Greg Dool / Folio:

Palm Beach Media Group, a subsidiary of Hour Media Group, acquires Gulfstream Media and its six Florida lifestyle magazines, plus FortLauderdaleDaily.com — Gold Coast, Boca Life, Jupiter, Stuart and Florida Home & Garden join the Michigan-based publisher's ever-expanding roster of regional magazines.

Wall Street Journal:

Sources describe how ISPs like AT&T and Cox push the FCC to omit unflattering data, among other tactics, to improve scores on FCC's internet speeds report — AT&T, Cox, Comcast and other broadband companies successfully push the FCC to omit unflattering data on speed tests, among other tactics, to improve their scores

Discussion: @rsingel, more at Techmeme »

Manish Singh / TechCrunch:

Amazon launches Audible Suno, an ad-free service featuring more than 60 original series in Hindi and English, in India for free — Amazon is having another go at expanding its reach to listeners in India. The company, which launched pay-to-use Audible in the country last year …

Discussion: RAIN News and Android News Pro, more at Techmeme »