Mediagazer: Layoffs at iHeartMedia, which controls 800+ radio stations, reflect long-term consolidation trends that silence local voices and homogenize viewpoints and music (Elias Leight/Rolling Stone)

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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, @ronanfarrow, Hollywood Reporter, Multichannel News and TVNewser

Joe Tidy / BBC:

Following a BBC investigation, Twitter apologizes for letting ads be micro-targeted using keywords like “transphobic”, “white supremacists”, and “anti-gay” — Twitter has apologised for allowing adverts to be micro-targeted at certain users such as neo-Nazis, homophobes and other hate groups.

Discussion: Adweek, @joetidy, @joetidy, Telegraph, Engadget, @kreissdaniel, CNET, @sundersays, @zoejardiniere and @rasmus_kleis, more at Techmeme »

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: The Wrap, Multichannel News, Observer, The Streamable, The Wrap, @steph_i_will, @paul_sacca, The Playlist, Fortune and Variety

Bloomberg Law:

Sources: DOJ is organizing meetings with publishers including News Corp., Condé Nast, and NYT, seeking info about how Google operates in the digital ad market — The U.S. Justice Department is organizing meetings with large publishing companies to seek information …

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: Free Press, Denver Westword, Plain Dealer, RadioInsight and Fox Business

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

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

Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:

Hulu to debut one ad format letting viewers choose the ad from the brand and another allowing viewers to engage with the brand with info sent to their phones — Hulu is preparing to roll out new forms of advertising this year — one which will allow viewers to have more say in the ads that plays …

Discussion: The Streamable and MediaPost

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:

Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch urges the UK government to speed up plans for an online regulator as a bill to grant interim powers to Ofcom is introduced — Sky's chief executive has urged the Government to speed up its plans for an online regulator as a bill to grant interim powers to Ofcom was introduced in the House of Lords.

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

Dayton Daily News:

Dayton Daily News and two other Ohio daily papers get a 60-day reprieve on an order to cut to 3 days as part of FCC approval for Apollo to acquire Cox outlets — The Federal Communications Commission has granted a 60-day extension to Cox Media Group, allowing the company to continue publishing …

Discussion: radio.wosu.org

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: The Wrap, @pennyfractions, @scottgum and Pitchfork