Top News:
CNBC:
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
Mónica Marie Zorrilla / Adweek:
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
Marc Ambinder / New York Times:
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
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:
PBS NewsHour, @millarlaura, Yorkshire Post, @jaymitchinson, @emilybell, @gmsarli, @davidhiggerson, @elliotelinor, @jenwilliamsmen and Talking Biz News
Joe Flint / Wall Street Journal:
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, Los Angeles Business Journal, MarketWatch, @xpangler, Reuters, CNET, The Wrap, The Streamable, Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Bloomberg, Financial Times and MediaPost, more at Techmeme »
Agence France-Presse:
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
Tiffany Hsu / New York Times:
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
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:
@daveyalba, @digiphile, @cindyotis_, @justicedems, @athay11, @tiffanycli, @daveyalba and @daveyalba, 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, MacRumors.com, AppleInsider, The Verge, VentureBeat, Hollywood Reporter and Variety
Sara Jerde / Adweek:
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, Boing Boing and Input
Josh Constine / TechCrunch:
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 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »
Patrick Frater / Variety:
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