Top News:
Alex Hern / The Guardian:
The UK has created the Digital Markets Unit, which will write a new code of practice for Big Tech and mediate between platforms and news outlets — Alok Sharma says dominance of a few big companies hurts innovation and curtails customer choice — A new tech regulator will work to limit …
Discussion:
GOV.UK, Press Gazette, Financial Times, MediaNama, @rasmus_kleis, nuj.org.uk, The Tech Portal, MediaPost, @badams, Light Reading, @smykos, @samuelstolton, @jasonfurman, @rasmus_kleis, @privacymatters, @lordscommscom, @pressgazette, @dcms, @oliverdowden, @ameliafletecon, @liv_mcmahon, @renewparty, @beisgovuk, @sharonodea, @cyberalexi, Engadget, Forbes, CNBC, Al Jazeera and HoldtheFrontPage, more at Techmeme »
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Ryu Spaeth / New Republic:
Ben Smith, best ever NYT media columnist, personifies a morally indefensible fact of journalism: each journalist robs others of their stories to tell their own — Let's be honest: Ben Smith is the best media columnist The New York Times has ever had. He instantly surpassed …
Madeleine Schwartz / Nieman Reports:
How the mantle of “fake news” is being used in Belarus, Jordan, Thailand, and Nicaragua to intimidate journalists, and how they're fighting back — A look at four countries — Belarus, Jordan, Thailand, and Nicaragua — where the mantle of “fake news” is used to intimidate and threaten, and how journalists are responding
Discussion:
@marklittlenews
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John Bowden / The Hill:
NYT offers free digital subscriptions to all US high school students and teachers until September 2021 as part of a partnership with Verizon — The New York Times says it will offer U.S. high school students and teachers free digital subscriptions to the Times's content through next year.
Discussion:
New York Times, @cliffordlevy, The Desk, @r_diamond, @samwashdc, @sifill_ldf, @mikiebarb, @maragay and @davidfolkenflik
Brian Stelter / CNN:
Sources: Fox producers have been told to avoid booking some regular guests if the latter kept doing Newsmax appearances after being encouraged to stop — New York (CNN Business)Fox News is taking action to stave off newfound competition from Newsmax TV. — Producers on some Fox programs …
Discussion:
@jayrosen_nyu, @kimmasters, @stephgracela, @shayeganam, @florianederer, Breitbart, @jackshafer, @newsmax, @ericbolling, @brianstelter and Business Insider
Janko Roettgers / Protocol:
Last month Intel quietly shut down Intel Studios, its 10,000-square-foot AR/VR volumetric capture stage in LA that opened in 2018 — Intel Studios was operating a 10,000-square-foot stage in Los Angeles. — Intel has pulled the plug on one of its most ambitious AR/VR projects to date …
Discussion:
@philipkrejov, @jessedamiani and @timlobes
Jon Brodkin / Ars Technica:
Comcast plans to raise again its Broadcast TV fee, which currently ranges from $7.90 to $14.95 per month, by as much as $4.50 per month starting in January — Internet prices to rise $3 a month; “Broadcast TV” hidden fee going up $4.50. — Comcast is raising prices for cable TV …
Discussion:
HotHardware.com News, Light Reading, @ischlakman, Deadline, Variety, Engadget, CNET, nexttv.com, @karlbode and The Verge
Rory Carroll / The Guardian:
N. Ireland police to pay £875K to the makers of documentary No Stone Unturned, for arresting them in 2018 alleging theft of a police report used in the film — Settlement announced at Belfast high court brings end to years-long controversy — The Police Service of Northern Ireland …
Discussion:
ABC News, @stevejgoodrich, @anntravers6, @martinobrien17, @annacafolla, @rebecca_vincent, @anntravers6, @krwlaw, @jimwaterson and @iancobain
Kris Holt / Engadget:
As Spotify continues to test its stories feature, it has tapped popular musicians to contribute to select Spotify-created playlists — If you're in the festive spirit and you're already listening to seasonal music, you might have noticed Spotify's Christmas Hits playlist is looking a little different.
Discussion:
@chriscantino, @seyitaylor, @brsabel, @h_thoreson, @taylorlorenz, @scottcowley, @cxy, @chrismessina and @drewcoffman, more at Techmeme »
Gordon Cox / Variety:
How stage theater companies have adapted to the pandemic and expanded their audiences, from producing podcast series to livestreaming productions on Twitch — A series of immersive audioplays performed and mixed live, using tech developed by theatrical sound designers and engineers.
Discussion:
@jeremyoharris, @castingnetworks, @gcoxvariety, @artsjournalnews, @stephinteevee, @gcoxvariety and @jetscott
Maya Binyam / Columbia Journalism Review:
A deep look at newsroom diversity over the years, and how unions have begun to push for contracts with binding language for diversity in hiring — Media companies haven't made newsrooms inclusive. Can unions? — For two decades, from its genesis in the mid-nineties, Vice Media branded itself in the image of the dispossessed.
Reuters:
UK publisher Reach says 42M+ people visited its sites last month and that it now has 4.25M+ customer registrations, on track to meet its target of 10M in 2022 — (Reuters) - Daily Mirror publisher Reach Plc said on Friday its performance for the current fiscal year was above market expectations …
Discussion:
The Drum, Financial Times, Telegraph, Yahoo News, businessInsider, Daily Business, Reach PLC and CityAM
Franklin Foer / The Atlantic:
Book publishing has been consolidating to increase its bargaining power in the face of Amazon's dominance, whose lock on the book business must be addressed — In 1960, Dwight Eisenhower's attorney general, William Rogers, read the paper with alarm. He learned that Random House intended …
Discussion:
@melaniempierce, @xioaxelrod, @peterlattman, @kyliescottbooks, @victoriastrauss and @franklinfoer
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Cynthia Littleton / Variety:
ViacomCBS to sell publisher Simon & Schuster to Bertelsmann, owner of Penguin Random House, for $2.175B in cash
ViacomCBS to sell publisher Simon & Schuster to Bertelsmann, owner of Penguin Random House, for $2.175B in cash
Discussion:
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