Top News:


McClatchy files for bankruptcy, ending family control; it hopes to shed much of its pension obligations and eliminate ~60% of its debt — McClatchy Co. filed for bankruptcy Thursday, a move that will end family control of America's second largest local news company and hand it to creditors …
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, Washington Post, New York Times, @mlcalderone, American Press Institute, CNN, @jeffjarvis, MediaPost, McClatchy Co, Poynter, Axios, The Wrap, USA Today, The Stranger, @w7voa, @jeffjarvis, Bloomberg Law, @vickiringer, @ivanthek, @migold, @melaniesill, @facttank, @cahnemily, @underoak, @dbrauer, @rj_baird, Nasdaq, @pewresearch, @mathewi and @dankennedy_nu


The Bloomberg campaign is working with Meme 2020, whose lead strategist is the CEO of Jerry Media, to create sponsored posts on influential Instagram accounts — A campaign of sponsored content for the candidate flourished suddenly on Instagram. A new outfit, called Meme 2020, is behind it.
Discussion:
@jessreports, VICE, Axios, The A.V. Club, @taylorlorenz, The Hill, NBC News, The Next Web, @nbcpolitics, @ranimolla, @leedevito, @jessreports, @joshkadden, @kslane, @jessreports, @derektmead, @jessreports, @rachelholliday, @vivekprabhu1, @pant_leg, @taylorlorenz, The Week, @adamjohnsonnyc, @anildash, Boing Boing, @oneunderscore__ and Mashable, more at Techmeme »


Sean Spicer to host Spicer & Co., a daily news show on Newsmax TV, starting on March 3 — Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer is following up his gig as a special correspondent for Extra and contestant on Dancing with the Stars with a daily talk show for Newsmax TV.
Discussion:
Mediaite, The Wrap, TVNewser, Broadcasting & Cable and Mediaite


Condé Nast Entertainment to open studios for The New Yorker, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Wired, and GQ to develop TV, film, and podcast projects — Condé Nast Entertainment is upping its TV and film ambitions, announcing the formation of multiple “studios” dedicated to its major publishing brands.
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, The Drum, MediaPost, Condé Nast and Highsnobiety


The Guardian launches a puzzle app for £3.49 a month, as part of its goal to reach 2M paying subscribers by 2022; WSJ finds puzzles reduce likelihood of churn — In the quest to acquire more readers and increase customer retention, subscription publishers have long looked …
Discussion:
Twipe, The Guardian and Digital Content Next


Yahoo Sports lays off its entire six-person UK team to focus on US sports coverage — Yahoo Sports has made its entire UK editorial team redundant as it focuses on US sports coverage. — Press Gazette understands six editorial staff have left as a result including head of sport Raj Mannick who joined from ITN in 2018.


NBC Sports parts ways with Jeremy Roenick, who was suspended in December for sexually suggestive comments about coworkers during a Barstool Sports podcast — Hockey analyst Jeremy Roenick is out at NBC. — Roenick, who was suspended indefinitely without pay over a month ago …
Discussion:
@jeremy_roenick, Crossing Broad, Midway Minute, @k_cimini, @_loukanikos, @nolanolegal, @catmsilverman, Associated Press, Deadline, The Big Lead, The Wrap and Variety


UK panel on media protection recommends targeted sanctions on officials who restrict free expression, including freezing assets or withholding travel visas — Panel led by Amal Clooney wants targeted action against those who deny free expression — Officials and prosecutors …


Carlos Maza, who calls YouTube “unethical and reckless”, on becoming a full-time creator: “I'm going to use the master's tools to destroy the master's house” — Carlos Maza, a socialist who calls YouTube “deeply unethical and reckless,” is trying to bolster the video site's left wing.
Discussion:
Business Insider, @kevinroose, @pinkhairedcyn, @bendwalsh and @timcast


The nationwide launch of AT&T TV, a streaming version of DirecTV, is set for Feb. 27; the service requires a two-year contract and offers multiple price tiers — Replacement for DirecTV satellite TV now set to launch nationwide February 27 — AT&T TV, the streaming version …
Discussion:
@danielpmcdermot, Cord Cutters News and Cord Cutters News


Profile of Dan Peres, who edited the men's magazine Details for 15 years and whose new memoir gives a first-person account of Condé Nast culture in the aughts — The memoirs of Dan Peres and other ex-employees of the magazine company reveal mess behind the gloss of the aughts.
Discussion:
@katierosman, @alexandrajacobs, @markberman, @bgrueskin, @beijingpalmer, @andrewjpridgen, @frynaomifry, @loudmouthjulia, @editorialiste, @genepark, @espiers, @amandamull, @shiraovide, @irin, @cocodavies, The Wrap, @om, @jessmknoll, @sarahw, @bradesposito, @odannyboy, @nishachittal, @bimadew, @clarajeffery, @mathewi, @inkookang, @_cooper, @dylanmatt, @joypress, @aterkel, @jane__bradley, @karenmcgrane, @steven_hyden, @jeffjarvis, @heyydnae, @nataliapetrzela, @dodaistewart, @juliareinstein, @amandamull, @thunderwooddd, @margeincharge, @doree, @tylercoates, @dparvaz, @tannenbaumr, @drrramina, @steverousseau, @jenist, @taylorlorenz, @taylorlorenz, @kerrymflynn, @taylorlorenz, @pkafka, @pkafka and Bookninja


Research: over the past year, 95M people in the US used a major streaming service, 25M had a family plan, 13M had a free trial, and 10M+ were sharing a login — Over the past year, 95 million people in the U.S. used a major streaming service, 68 million were self-paying …