Top News:


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, Los Angeles Times, Golden State Of Mind, @ag_conservative, @cjmcginnis, @notwokieleaks, @nbj914, @geekgirldiva, @lonestarball, @laurawags, @ericboehlert, @matthewkeyslive, @markos, @nowyousieme, @nowyousieme, @gilesferrell, @joemullinax, @jenniferleechan, @pellybottoms_up, @joshuakusnick, Awful Announcing, Mavs Moneyball and The Wrap


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


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:
@stuartemmrich, The Cut, Fashionista and WWD


The House Intelligence Committee's subpoena of John Solomon's phone records was wrong, as it may have ramifications for reporters' ability to protect sources — We can't excuse an abuse of power just because it supports our side. — Mr. Ambinder leads a digital security program at the University of Southern California.
Discussion:
@marcambinder, @jameeljaffer, @nytopinion, @kendilaniannbc, @nytopinion, @digiphile, @froomkin and @geekmelange


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
Discussion:
Variety, @wsj, @xpangler, Reuters, CNET, MarketWatch, Los Angeles Business Journal, The Wrap, The Streamable, Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Bloomberg, Financial Times 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.
Discussion:
@nytimesbusiness, @nytmedia, @jrreed and @tiffkhsu


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


Reporters Without Borders: 49 journalists killed in 2019, the lowest death toll since 2003; ~389 imprisoned, up 12% YoY; and 57 are being held hostage — Belfast residents pass a mural featuring murdered journalist Lyra McKee, whose death sparked a new round of political talks chaired by the British and Irish Governments, in May 2019


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


Bustle Digital Group launches Input, a consumer tech news site, with no advertisers and a custom CMS that it says will be used across its brands by June 2020 — Why BDG thinks its new CMS will draw readers and entice advertisers — Bustle Digital Group has a reputation of swooping …
Discussion:
WWD, @jasonwagenheim, @adweek, @joshsternberg, @joshsternberg, @ryanvailbrown, @snazzyq, Input and Boing Boing


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, @jasonabbruzzese, @blakersdozen, Adweek and Engadget, more at Techmeme »


UK's Cineworld agrees to buy Canadian cinema operator Cineplex for $1.65B, would become largest North American operator combined with its 2017 Regal purchase — U.K.-based movie theater chain Cineworld is to acquire Cineplex, Canada's leading cinema chain.
Discussion:
Canadian Press, Screen, CTVNews, MobileSyrup, Daily Hive, Wall Street Journal, Telegraph, BNN, Financial Times, Telegraph, Barron's Online, Reuters, Los Angeles Times, Deadline and The Times