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Vox Media to end contracts of hundreds of freelancers to comply with CA's new AB5 law, which will forbid non-employees from submitting over 35 articles a year — - Hundreds of Vox Media freelancers will lose their jobs in the coming months. — Vox Media is preparing for a California law …
Discussion:
SBNation.com, New York Times, Hollywood Reporter, @lonestarball, Golden State Of Mind, @ag_conservative, @cjmcginnis, @notwokieleaks, @nbj914, @geekgirldiva, Awful Announcing, @laurawags, @ericboehlert, @matthewkeyslive, @markos, @nowyousieme, Mavs Moneyball, @nowyousieme, @gilesferrell, @joemullinax, @jenniferleechan, @pellybottoms_up, @joshuakusnick and The Wrap


Stuart Emmrich, who spent ~17 years as The New York Times' Styles editor, named editor of Vogue.com, a newly-created role that reports to Anna Wintour — He will oversee digital content and report directly to Anna Wintour — Condé Nast said today it has named Stuart Emmrich as Vogue.com's first editor.
Discussion:
The Cut, @stuartemmrich, Fashionista and WWD


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:
PBS NewsHour, @emilybell, @millarlaura, @jenwilliamsmen, @elliotelinor, Talking Biz News, @davidhiggerson, Yorkshire Post and @gmsarli


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, MacRumors.com, AppleInsider, The Verge, VentureBeat, Hollywood Reporter and Variety


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:
@daveyalba, @daveyalba, @digiphile, @cindyotis_, @daveyalba, @justicedems, @tiffanycli and @athay11, more at Techmeme »


Netflix shares detailed overseas subscriber numbers for the first time in a filing, and says 90% of total subscriber growth came from outside the US since 2017 — Streaming service is disclosing detailed subscriber information by region for operations outside of the U.S. for the first time
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Variety, Reuters, CNET, MarketWatch, Los Angeles Business Journal, @wsj, Deadline, The Wrap, Financial Times, Hollywood Reporter, @xpangler, Bloomberg, The Streamable and MediaPost, more at Techmeme »


Even as Netflix resists ads, it's finding ways to work with brands, such as partnerships, where no money changes hands, that aim to create interest in its shows — Tide Pod shout-outs onscreen. Flirtatious exchanges with companies on Twitter. Netflix may not run ads, but it has become a coveted marketing platform.


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, @brianstelter, @anacabrera, Adweek, The Wrap, CBS Los Angeles, Variety, @hilarieburton, VICE, @govhowarddean, Fast Company, Breitbart, @jeremynewberger, @elleonwords, @noelcarbs, @awallenstein, MediaPost, @thr, @monicalewinsky, @katiehill4ca, @vermontgmg, @thetonymorrison, @jbendery, @petebuttigieg, @williamshatner, Hollywood Reporter and People.com


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 …


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:
@rosemcgowan, @timesupnow, New York Post, @abigaildisney, Hollywood Reporter, Breitbart, @mega2e, @littlemisslizz, @kurtbardella, @voodoo_pork, @melissastetten, @gretchencarlson, @katierogers, @jelenawoehr, @katiehill4ca, @mimirocah1, @kentremendous, @godbold, @monicalewinsky, @connortryan, @godbold, @melsil, @melsil, @clevertitletk, @davidcommon, @maggiesmithpoet, @susanmcp1, @maggienyt, @melsil, @jkbjournalist, @katiephang, @karagoldin, @peterhimler, @brianstelter and @peterhimler


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.


Instagram expands its fact checking efforts by hiding false content behind warnings, except for politicians, and removing it from Explore and hashtag pages — Instagram is giving politicians the same free reign to spread misinformation as its parent company Facebook.
Discussion:
Instagram, Adweek, @jasonabbruzzese, @blakersdozen and Mumbrella, more at Techmeme »