Mediagazer: Sources: Alden Global Capital, which now owns 32% of Tribune Publishing, is exerting its power, with Alden execs advising on cost cutting, including headcount (Ken Doctor/Nieman Lab)

12:55 PM ET, January 16, 2020

Top News:

Denise Petski / Deadline:

Ronan Farrow's first investigative documentary for HBO, part of a three-year-deal, will focus on threats and violence faced by journalism covering corruption — HBO has begun production on the first project in its multi-film deal with best-selling author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ronan Farrow.

Discussion: Vanity Fair, The Wrap, Hollywood Reporter, @ronanfarrow, Multichannel News and TVNewser

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Forecast: Netflix will spend ~$17.3B on content in 2020, up from ~$15.3B in 2019, mostly on originals; Disney has said it will spend ~$1B on Disney+ originals — Netflix is keeping its foot pressed firmly on the gas pedal in the streaming-video road race. — The streamer will invest …

Discussion: Observer, The Streamable, The Wrap, The Playlist, Fortune and Variety

Miles Socha / WWD:

Harper's Bazaar editor-in-chief Glenda Bailey to step down on March 1 after 19 years; she act as a global consultant for its 29 editions — She is to become a global consultant for the fashion title's 29 global editions, and assist in finding her successor.

Discussion: New York Times, CNN, @katierosman, The Business of Fashion, Page Six and bookforum.com

Elias Leight / Rolling Stone:

Layoffs at iHeartMedia, which controls 800+ radio stations, reflect long-term consolidation trends that silence local voices and homogenize viewpoints and music — The largest radio company in America cut a number of employees this week, dealing a blow to local radio across the country

Discussion: Denver Westword, Plain Dealer, RadioInsight, Fox Business, AllAccess.com, Barrett Sports Media and Courier-Journal

Ken Doctor / Nieman Lab:

Sources: Alden Global Capital, which now owns 32% of Tribune Publishing, is exerting its power, with Alden execs advising on cost cutting, including headcount — Missiles and drone strikes may have temporarily driven everyone's eyes elsewhere — including those in the news industry …

Discussion: @craignewmark, @toddlighty, American Press Institute, @jbenton, @jbenton, @darrendcarroll, @coreyhutchins, @margotroosevelt, @saragregory, @mcallguild and @palewire

BuzzFeed News:

Documents from the Mueller probe show Fox News' Sean Hannity served as a central point of contact and adviser for Trump and allies who were under investigation — WASHINGTON — Sean Hannity has never been shy about using his highly rated Fox News show to express his disdain …

Discussion: @katenocera, @reflectingman, @jbenton, @brianstelter, @jasonleopold, @loopemma, CNN and @mattgertz

New York Times:

Turkey lifted a two-and-a-half year ban on Wikipedia on Wednesday, restoring access after the country's top court ruled that blocking it was unconstitutional — The country's top court had ruled that the move was unconstitutional. — The Turkish government lifted a two-and-a-half-year ban …

Discussion: The Verge, @wikipedia, @ceylanwrites and @netblocks, more at Techmeme »

Brianna Sacks / BuzzFeed News:

A Michigan reporter wrote that a state senator objectified and humiliated her; the senator has now apologized, and senate leaders called for an investigation — “It's so normalized. You hear something and you don't take the time to say something," Allison Donahue said.

Billboard:

Billboard parent company Valence Media sells Spin to Next Management Partners and reaches an agreement with Stereogum leadership to buy the brand back — Music publications Spin and Stereogum will no longer be a part of Billboard-The Hollywood Reporter Media Group, parent company Valence Media announced today (Jan. 16).

Discussion: @pennyfractions, Pitchfork and @scottgum

Stephen Battaglio / Los Angeles Times:

ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, CNN ask Senate to use C-SPAN's cameras for the impeachment trial, back C-SPAN's request for a less restricted view of the floor debates — The broadcast and cable networks have issued a joint request to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell requesting that they be able …

Discussion: Politico, @sbg1 and @spj_tweets

Nicholas Quah / Hot Pod News:

Podcast service Luminary lowers monthly price from $7.99 to $4.99 and introduces an annual plan at $34.99 — Just got this from the Luminary comms team: the paid podcast platform is adjusting its prices. The standard monthly price in the US is now $4.99 — down from $7.99, a fairly big dip.

Discussion: Engadget and Podcast Business Journal

Rebecca Jennings / Vox:

Talent agencies WME and UTA sign TikTok stars Chase Hudson, Charli D'Amelio, and creative collective Hype House, affirming TikTok's role as a talent incubator — Popular e-boys on TikTok are nabbing fashion and entertainment deals. They could be the boy bands of the 2020s, with way better style and minus the actual singing.

Discussion: Business Insider and Hollywood Reporter

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Home & Travel Reporter, Ireland — Newsweek

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More News:

Ryan J. Foley / Associated Press:
For the second year in a row, the Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature has denied press credentials to a journalist whose writing is critical of its policies

Discussion: @jmshumway, @laurarbelin, @laurarbelin, @laurarbelin, @laurarbelin, @oliviahabinck, @penamerica, @laurarbelin, @drjudymelinek, @shawnharmsen1, @foi_iowa and Media Law Prof Blog

Lukas I. Alpert / Wall Street Journal:
McClatchy skips a $12M debt payment and misses a pension payment, making a deal with the US pension agency that allows continued talks; next deadline is Feb. 18

Discussion: @jamesvgrimaldi, Sacramento Bee and McClatchy Co

Rick Edmonds / Poynter:
Henry Blodget lays out Insider's growth targets for the next five years: 1M paid subscribers, up from ~200K now, doubling news staff to 1,000, and more

Discussion: @kerrymflynn, @kerrymflynn, @media_evan, @jim_edwards, @hblodget, @nichcarlson and Talking Biz News

Brian Stelter / @brianstelter:
[Thread] HBO to air a documentary in March on “fake news” and the impact of disinformation, directed by Andrew Rossi and executive produced by Brian Stelter

Discussion: Mediaite, Breitbart, @brianstelter, @craigsilverman, @erinleecarr, @a_rossi, @adrianbono, @byronyork, @brianstelter, Pressroom and TVWeek.com

Dana Goldstein / New York Times:
Some publishers issue multiple versions of textbooks with different narratives of US history in CA and TX, partly due to political pressure from the states

Discussion: Global Investigative …, Short and To The Point, @alfonslopeztena, @deetwocents, @anandwrites, The Rural Blog and The Curtain

Earlier Picks:

Cynthia Littleton / Variety:
Nexstar to launch News Nation, a three-hour primetime nightly national newscast, broadcast from Chicago on the WGN America cable channel, in mid-summer

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, @anthonykatsur, @paschutz, @adamhoge, @phil_rosenthal, @marcusleshock, @benbradleytv, @austinkellerman, @alexweprin, @asharma, TVNewser, TVSpy and Broadcasting & Cable

Keith J. Kelly / New York Post:
Fortune to go behind a paywall next month as part of a major overhaul that will see its print magazine cut back to 10 times a year and a redesign of its site

Discussion: Talking Biz News, Fortune, @talkingbiznews, @editorialiste and The Wrap

Elaine Low / Variety:
Sources: Vice Chairman of NBCUniversal Content Studios George Cheeks has stepped down, to succeed Joe Ianniello as the head of CBS within ViacomCBS

Discussion: Deadline, @jbflint, @marcellacomedy, @kimmasters, Wall Street Journal, MediaPost and Deadline

BBC:
In New Year's speech to staff, Tony Hall says BBC will move more of its news operations out of London, focus on big themes like climate change and AI, and more

Discussion: Press Gazette, @bbcnorthpr, @ninathescoop, @colingeorgebbc, @fchowdhury_1, @hadas_gold and @rasmus_kleis

From Techmeme:

Foo Yun Chee / Reuters:
Sources: EU may accept Apple's proposal to open its NFC payments tech to rivals, and may close its antitrust probe in May, letting Apple avoid hefty fines

George Steer / Financial Times:
Nvidia closed down 10% on Friday, falling the most since March 2020 and losing more than $200B of its market value, as investors pull back from AI bets

Foo Yun Chee / Reuters:
Pornhub, Stripchat, and XVideos will have to comply with additional obligations, such as submitting risk assessment reports, under the EU DSA starting next week

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