Top News:
David Folkenflik / NPR:
NYT retracts the core of Caliphate after a review finds that the podcast gave too much credence to its central character and reassigns Rukmini Callimachi — Toggle more options — The New York Times has retracted the core of its hit 2018 podcast series Caliphate after an internal review found …
Discussion:
New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, @rcallimachi, @opcofamerica, Fox News, @mitrakalita, @johnjcook, @nycjim, @madhulikasikka, Los Angeles Times, The Verge, @katie_robertson, @erikwemple, @perlberg, Business Insider, @amalahmed214, @lailaalarian, @lailaalarian, @lailaalarian, @lailaalarian, @doranimated, Washington Post, Forbes, The Media Nut, @mattgallowaycbc, @erikwemple, @mitrakalita, @katie_robertson, @miriamelder, @neilphauer, @erikwemple, @supriyan, @sulliview, @madhulikasikka, @glcarlstrom, @qjurecic, @erikwemple, @johnmoe, Mediaite, The Wrap, @salmanmasood, @davidfolkenflik, @sairakh, @lourdesgnavarro, @lailaalarian, @brianstelter, @chuckatwbhm, The Guardian, @davidfolkenflik, @bgrueskin, @marcatracy, @joshokane, @madhulikasikka, @miriamelder, @janelytv, @hannahallam, The Hill, @katie_robertson, @steveguest, @jbflint, @laurawags, Newser, @radiokitty, @erikwemple, @mitrakalita, @dparvaz, @erikwemple, @absurdistwords, @brianstelter, @titonka, @marcatracy, @erikwemple, @jonahdispatch, @absurdistwords, @lailaalarian, @madhulikasikka, @lourdesgnavarro, kottke.org, New York Post and Reason
Benjamin Mullin / Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Digital publishers including BuzzFeed, Group Nine, and Axios are prepping for a wave of consolidation, via acquisitions or going public through SPACs — Big players explore acquiring rivals and going public through blank-check companies — Momentum is building toward consolidation …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, @benmullin, @keithrhernandez, @scottnover, @ryanvailbrown, A Media Operator and Charlotte Agenda
Celine Castronuovo / The Hill:
The Washington Post plans to add 150 jobs next year, bringing its total staff to a record high of more than 1,000 — The Washington Post plans to add more than 150 jobs to its newsroom next year, bringing its total staff to a record high of more than 1,000, the newspaper confirmed to The Hill Thursday.
Discussion:
@farhip, Press Gazette, @lesserfrederick, @sarafischer, @farhip, @allyschweitzer and @blowryontv
Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:
FT's union suspends pay negotiations after learning that ex-EIC Lionel Barber made £1.92M in 2019 despite profit falling to £1.89M from £8.2M in 2018 — Former FT editor Lionel Barber received pay and pension benefits worth £1.92m in 2019 as the FT Ltd …
Discussion:
The Guardian, @markcurtis30, Talking Biz News and Press Gazette
Dade Hayes / Deadline:
In a memo, NBCU CEO Jeff Shell says that Premier League soccer coverage is Peacock's number one driver of premium subscriptions and engagement — EXCLUSIVE: NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell didn't mince words about the “bad dream” that was 2020, but touted the success of Peacock and laid …
Discussion:
The Streamable
Robert Channick / Chicago Tribune:
Tribune agrees to sell product review site BestReviews to Nexstar for $160M and will enter into a licensing and revenue-sharing agreement for use of its content — Tribune Publishing and BR Holding Co. will sell the BestReviews website to TV station owner Nexstar Media Group for $160 million, the companies announced Wednesday.
Discussion:
Dallas Morning News, Chicago Business Journal and MediaPost
Brandy Zadrozny / NBC News:
Some local news stations are credulously covering anti-vaxxers' response to the COVID-19 vaccine and failing to feature doctors or public health advocates — Friday night's newscast on WFXG-TV in Augusta, Georgia, a Fox affiliate, featured some exciting news: The Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center …
Discussion:
@brandyzadrozny, @jayrosen_nyu, @fstonenyc, @robcrilly, @mantzarlis, @chelseaclinton, @donlday, @drewpetrimoulx, @joycecaroloates and @katestarbird
Elaine Low / Variety:
Charli D'Amelio and her family will star in The D'Amelio Show, an eight-episode docuseries on Hulu that will follow “the first family of TikTok” — Charli D'Amelio, who at 16 rocketed to fame with over 150 million followers on TikTok, is getting her own show on Hulu alongside her sister …
Discussion:
The Verge, The Wrap, @paginaskinner, Hollywood Reporter, @yashar, @stokel, @spencerpratt, @taylorlorenz, Deadline, @teroterotero, @mathewi, @richlightshed, @lucas_shaw, @mathewi, @karlbode and New York Post
Fred Vogelstein / Fred's Newsletter:
In an August note to Substack, a veteran writer shared ideas to improve the platform, including a Substack Reader, transcription, media subscription deals, more — I met Hamish McKenzie about a year ago when he came by the San Francisco Writers Grotto to tell us about Substack.
Discussion:
@fvogelstein, @prsarahevans, @iankar_ and @tomcritchlow
Christopher Palmeri / Bloomberg:
Disney stock is up 20% for 2020 despite the pandemic and $5.4B in losses over the past two quarters, largely due to the success of its streaming video services — - Shift to streaming overshadowed struggling parks, empty ships — Pandemic uncertainty, suspended dividend weighed on investors
Discussion:
Forbes
Karlene Lukovitz / MediaPost:
Survey: US consumers used seven SVOD and free streaming services in October, up from five in April; 47% used free services in October, up from 39% in April — - by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, Yesterday — U.S consumers who stream now use seven subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) …
Patience Haggin / Wall Street Journal:
As its revenue surges, Roku has become increasingly forceful in its negotiations with media companies, as evidenced by its fights with Fox and WarnerMedia — The maker of the leading streaming-media player has taken up brash negotiating tactics over its terms to carry services like HBO Max and Peacock
Discussion:
@sarthakgh, @maxwellelliot, @wsj, @mylesudland, @maxclark, @mattbelloni, @rolfewinkler, @asharma and @asharma
Jack Morse / Mashable:
Twitter says it will stop prompting users to Quote Tweet, restoring the standard RT functionality, and says QT use increased but overall sharing dropped by 20% — Well, it was worth a shot. — Twitter announced Wednesday that it will cease prompting users to quote tweet in lieu of the standard retweet.
Discussion:
@twittersupport, ScreenRant, @twittersupport, @carolinesinders, @carnage4life, @henrymance, @robmanuel, @oliverjia1014, @javi_draws, @veronica, @anthony, @jordanlperkins, Adweek, Breitbart, @noupside, @jsstansel, @sistertoldjah, @luulubuu, @carynrose, @kevinbparry, @parkermolloy, @dacidbro, @digiphile, @twittersupport, 9to5Mac, Engadget, MacRumors, Pocket-lint and Reuters, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
Twitter:
Twitter says it will start its new verification policy on January 21 and is developing profile labels to designate bots and memorial accounts
Discussion:
@twittersupport, Gizmodo, Android Police, Slate, @mayakaczorowski, @danznewz, @ecmclaughlin, @maxwildstein, @godisrivera, @bruzanin, @bluechoochoo, @oliverdarcy, @lizkelley, @janelytv, @mattnavarra, @wongmjane, @ketanj0, @hodgesmr, TechCrunch, Adweek, ScreenRant, Reuters, The Verge, Mashable, The Desk, 9to5Mac, Washingtonian and Engadget, more at Techmeme »
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