Top News:
Ursula Perano / Axios:
The Hallmark Channel reverses course and says it will work with Zola.com to reinstate the online wedding registry's ads that show two lesbian brides kissing — The Hallmark Channel on Sunday reversed a decision made at the request of a Christian mothers group to pull a commercial showing a same-sex couple kissing, CNN first reported.
Discussion:
CNN, Washington Post, Adweek, @brianstelter, Fast Company, @anacabrera, Variety, MediaPost, Breitbart, BuzzFeed News, @awallenstein, @thr, @govhowarddean, @monicalewinsky, @noelcarbs, Fortune, @vermontgmg, Washington Blade, @katiehill4ca, @elleonwords, @hilarieburton, @jeremynewberger, @thetonymorrison, @jbendery, Hollywood Reporter, @petebuttigieg, @williamshatner and People.com
Rebecca Rosenberg / Page Six:
Interview with Harvey Weinstein on what he sees as a legacy of helping women in film; he goes on trial for rape on January 6 — More than 80 women have accused him of sex assault or harassment — but for Harvey Weinstein, it's still all about himself. — The alleged serial sex predator …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Variety, Los Angeles Times, @rosemcgowan, @gretchencarlson, @timesupnow, @abigaildisney, @katiehill4ca, @jelenawoehr, @katierogers, @kurtbardella, @melissastetten, @kentremendous, @mimirocah1, @godbold, @monicalewinsky, @connortryan, @godbold, @melsil, @melsil, @clevertitletk, @davidcommon, @maggiesmithpoet, @susanmcp1, @maggienyt, @melsil, @jkbjournalist, @katiephang, @karagoldin, @peterhimler, @brianstelter and @peterhimler
Davey Alba / New York Times:
Campaign staff and researchers say almost all political campaigns, including presidential ones, lack teams for spotting and pushing back on disinformation — Few politicians have teams to spot false statements about them online, or to fight back before it spreads.
Discussion:
@justicedems, @cindyotis_, @athay11, @daveyalba, @daveyalba and @tiffanycli, more at Techmeme »
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Apple partners with ABC on election coverage, will feature ABC videos, live streams, and FiveThirtyEight data on Apple News from Feb. 7 to the 2021 inauguration — Apple announced today it will collaborate with ABC News on coverage of the upcoming 2020 U.S. presidential election in its Apple News app.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Apple, AppleInsider, VentureBeat, Hollywood Reporter, MacRumors.com, Variety and The Verge
Kayleigh Barber / Digiday:
The Try Guys, who left BuzzFeed in 2018, say their media business 2nd Try is now profitable, mainly driven by branded content deals as it plans streaming shows — The four-person entertainment group The Try Guys has grown from a video series owned by BuzzFeed to its own independent company that sells merch …
Peter Kafka / Vox:
Sources: Axios is likely to soon raise at least $20M led by Glade Brook Capital, which will value the company at about $200M — Axios CEO Jim VandeHei, speaking at Recode event in November 2016. Becca Farsace for Recode — The new deal should value the political publisher at $200 million or more.
Emily Bell / The Guardian:
Local news, with its ever-shrinking resources, cannot adequately counter “phantom local news” sites, which are set up to repeat talking points or disinformation — Local news is often trusted more than national news but it is highly vulnerable to online disinformation
Discussion:
Talking Biz News, @millarlaura, @emilybell, @jenwilliamsmen, @elliotelinor, @davidhiggerson and @gmsarli
Annie Palmer / CNBC:
Jeff Shell, head of NBCU's film and entertainment division, will replace Steve Burke as CEO on Jan. 1; Burke will become chairman until retirement on Aug. 14 — - NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke will retire on August 14, 2020, Comcast announced on Monday. — Jeff Shell, head of NBCUniversal's film …
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, Axios, MediaPost and Wall Street Journal
Jim Waterson / The Guardian:
Some BBC staff fear public distrust after election coverage gaffes, as the director general calls on social media to tackle the “sickening” abuse of journalists — Director-general calls accusations of bias ‘conspiracy theories’ — The BBC's director-general has expressed …
Discussion:
Press Gazette, Press Gazette, LinkedIn, @sillyolddaniel, @megan_stanley_, @algingersmith, @adambienkov, @franklangfitt, @juliamacfarlane and @felicitym
The Guardian:
UK Treasury Minister Rishi Sunak confirms PM Boris Johnson has instructed people to look at whether non-payment of the BBC license fee should be decriminalized — No 10 boycotts Today programme and considers decriminalising non-payment of licence fee — Downing Street is threatening …
Discussion:
Politico, Sky News, BBC, @juliaioffe, The Times, The Week, Telegraph and Hollywood Reporter
James Poniewozik / New York Times:
The success of The Mandalorian's “Baby Yoda” shows it's possible for TV to become as franchise-dominated as film, where Disney makes billions building on old IP — What if the future of TV were delightful, irresistible, meme-able versions of intellectual property you already loved ... forever?
Christine Schmidt / Nieman Lab:
How a Charlotte, NC public radio station, a local library, and a community Wikipedia editor, funded by Report for America, plan to fill gaps in local news — When Report for America announced last week that it was placing 250 journalists into 164 local newsrooms, the list of beats …
Discussion:
@adriana_lacy and @janebsinger