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.
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@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
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 »