Top News:
Edmund Lee / New York Times:
A look at the profitable subscription-based tech news site The Information, which Jessica Lessin says is expected to reach $20M in sales by the end of 2020 — Jessica Lessin's online tech publication costs $399 a year and has no ads. Silicon Valley's elite is eating it up.
Muri Assunção / New York Daily News:
Elena Milashina, who has won awards for reporting on the torture of gay men in Chechnya, was beaten up by a crowd at a hotel in the Chechen capital of Grozny — A prominent investigative Russian journalist and a human rights lawyer were attacked late Thursday evening by a gang in the lobby …
Discussion:
BBC, Committee to Protect … and Commissioner for Human Rights
Craig Silverman / BuzzFeed News:
Investigation finds a network of around 100 “local news” sites, dating back to at least 2015, that have been plagiarizing stories from major news organizations — As they stole stories from real newspapers, these sites baffled scientists, activists, and journalists. Until now.
Discussion:
American Press Institute, @marcacaputo, @eliothiggins, @walldo, @dpfunke and Boing Boing
The Daily Beast:
Internal Fox News research briefing advises colleagues to be wary of “disinformation” from several on-air regulars, including John Solomon and Rudy Giuliani — In a dossier obtained by The Daily Beast, Fox's research unit advises colleagues to be wary of “disinformation” …
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Guardian, @brandyzadrozny, @lyzl, @crampell, The Week, @gabrielsherman, @joelockhart, @matthew_kupfer, @matthewkeyslive, @andrewkirell, @noahshachtman, @beachpeanuts, @jayrosen_nyu, Vanity Fair, Law & Crime, Talking Points Memo, The Wrap, Mediaite, Raw Story and Raw Story
Carolyn Said / San Francisco Chronicle:
The author of California's AB5 law says she'll seek amendments to remove restrictions on freelance journalists, cutting out the 35 article submission cap — The author of AB5, California's new gig-work law, said Thursday that she'll seek amendments that remove some restrictions …
Discussion:
CNN, @senaterepcaucus, Associated Press, @anthonyirwinla, @rdotinga, @air_force_juan, @j_chien, @lorenasgonzalez, Los Angeles Times and @lorenasgonzalez
Esther Kezia Thorpe / What's New in Publishing:
Thrillist partners with Academic Travel Abroad to curate educational trips, using travel to diversify revenue, like The Culture Trip and Lonely Planet — Food, travel and entertainment digital media site Thrillist is the latest publisher to move into travel packages as a way of diversifying revenue.
Discussion:
Group Nine Media, Forbes and MediaPost
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Since it began, Netflix has taken down nine pieces of content after govt requests: five in Singapore, and one in New Zealand, Vietnam, Germany and Saudi Arabia — Netflix has taken down just 9 pieces of content around the world in response to written government requests since it was founded 23 years ago …
Discussion:
Variety, The Verge, @eightiethmnt, @eightiethmnt, Engadget, Fast Company and The Next Web, more at Techmeme »
Josh Constine / TechCrunch:
Instagram has internally prototyped an Instagram Partner Program that will let IGTV creators earn money by showing ads alongside their videos — Instagram may finally let IGTV video makers earn money 18 months after launching the longer-form content hub. Instagram confirms to TechCrunch …
Discussion:
Adweek, @tailosivetech, The Next Web and Digiday, more at Techmeme »
NPR:
Public radio stations in CA partner with NPR to form a regional newsroom to increase coverage of statewide issues and reporting about and from underserved areas — Joanne Griffith introduced as the first managing editor of the collaboration, which aims to help to boost coverage throughout the state …
Discussion:
@globaljourno, New York Times and @lizzieohreally
Tim Dams / Variety:
Vice News Tonight is set to relaunch on March 4 in an hour-long live format on Vice TV with shows Monday through Thursday — Vice is to relaunch its nightly news show, “Vice News Tonight,” in a new hour-long live format on March 4 on Vice TV. Vice has named TV news veteran Nikki Egan …
Ad Age:
New York Times Magazine leads Ellies with 10 nominations, a record for the title; NY Magazine gets nine, Nat Geo eight, Bon Appetit and the New Yorker six each — The Times Magazine, New York Mag and Nat Geo shine in the finalist phase of the Ellies — A magazine published by a newspaper …
Discussion:
@jakesilverstein, @pamelacolloff, @bronwendickey, @jennydeluxe, @emilybazelon, @alexlaughs, MediaPost, Hollywood Reporter and Talking Biz News
Alex Sherman / CNBC:
Sources: ViacomCBS is building a new ad-supported streaming service that will build on CBS All Access, and an ad-free version that includes Showtime — - ViacomCBS is preparing to throw its hat into the streaming wars after consummating a merger on Dec. 31.
Discussion:
Adweek, CNN, /Film, Ars Technica, Hollywood Reporter, Multichannel News, Gizmodo, @nickandmore, @acedtect, @mgsiegler, @frankpallotta, MacRumors, Digital TV Europe, IndieWire, The Playlist, @ashkan, @burnettrm, @lagana, @rwmead, @sherman4949, @tvgrimreaper, @thedanbarrett, @antovolk, @great_katzby, @brandolightshed, @azalben, @sherman4949, @richlightshed, @loudmouthjulia, Broadcasting & Cable, Variety, The Verge, MediaPost, 9to5Mac, The Streamable, The Wrap and Engadget, more at Techmeme »