Top News:
Dominick Mastranglo / The Hill:
Newsmax claims it “has not reported as true certain claims” made by “various guests, attorneys and elected officials” on air about Smartmatic and Dominion — Conservative media outlet Newsmax issued a clarification on Monday about recent claims made by guests …
Discussion:
@existentialfish, Newsmax, Washington Post, The Wrap, @bubbaprog, @svdate, Mediaite, @brhodes, @davidcorndc, The Daily Beast, TVNewser, @johnjharwood, @oliverdarcy, @tbridis, @bakari_sellers, @dr_pete, @rcalo, @joshtpm, @jimrutenberg, @hamiltonnolan, @jproskowglobal, @pamkeithfl, @benpopper, @alexanderchee, @kevinmkruse, @milesparks and @oliverdarcy
Discussion:
John Whitehouse / @existentialfish: Newsmax just aired this note to “clarify” its coverage of Smartmatic and Dominion. https://twitter.com/...
Jeremy Barr / Washington Post: Newsmax issues sweeping ‘clarification’ debunking its own coverage of election misinformation
Lindsey Ellefson / The Wrap: NewsMax Admits No Evidence of Voting Machine Fraud After Smartmatic Threatens Lawsuit
Timothy Burke / @bubbaprog: when u get caught defaming https://twitter.com/...
S.V. Dáte / @svdate: Newsmax's Chris Ruddy tells me that the statement that's making the rounds will be aired on ALL Newsmax TV shows. This began over the weekend and will continue today. Here it is: https://twitter.com/...
Aidan McLaughlin / Mediaite: Newsmax TV Airs Extensive Fact-Check of False Claims Made About Voting Companies After Legal Threats
Ben Rhodes / @brhodes: “So, we're going to spread massive amounts of total disinformation like cancer metastasizing through American democracy, but we also don't want to get sued so we're offering this clarification.” https://twitter.com/...
David Corn / @davidcorndc: This is hysterical...and sad. It's what happens when you confront a disinformation outfit with two major lawsuits. https://twitter.com/...
Justin Baragona / The Daily Beast: Newsmax Fact-Checks Its Own Smartmatic Lies Following Legal Threats
A.J. Katz / TVNewser: Voting Software Company Smartmatic Says It Might Sue Fox News, Newsmax and One America News
John Harwood / @johnjharwood: when suddenly a right-wing extremist network figures out that flagrant lies might cost them a lot of money https://twitter.com/...
Oliver Darcy / @oliverdarcy: This also comes after Smartmatic sent a legal threat to Newsmax and accused the network of participating in a “disinformation campaign” against it. https://twitter.com/...
Ted Bridis / @tbridis: Facts still matter: Under threat of civil lawsuit @newsmax publishes statement it found no evidence supporting claims it broadcast about voting machines and outcome of 2020 presidential election https://www.newsmax.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Bakari Sellers / @bakari_sellers: This is what happens when you're about to get sued for your entire network. https://twitter.com/...
Dr. Pete Meyers / @dr_pete: Just about everything Newsmax has said about Dominion voting systems is a lie. Source: Newsmax — https://www.newsmax.com/...
Ryan Calo / @rcalo: SNL writers wish they had thought of the name John Tobacco https://twitter.com/...
Josh Marshall / @joshtpm: Someone's suddenly worried about a ruinous defamation suit that could put them out of business. https://twitter.com/...
@jimrutenberg: Hey, @Newsmax viewers: Facts About Dominion, Smartmatic You Should Know | https://newsmax.com/ https://www.newsmax.com/... via @Newsmax
Hamilton Nolan / @hamiltonnolan: Just an FYI for our viewers, none of the stuff we said that constitutes the entire rationale for our existence is true. Haha. Yeah. So. Stay tuned for the Seb Gorka Christmas Special up next https://twitter.com/...
Jackson Proskow / @jproskowglobal: Facing legal action, pro-Trump Newsmax is now devoting airtime and web space to debunking conspiracy theories about voting systems. https://www.newsmax.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@pamkeithfl: Now... about the blatantly FALSE reporting from Fox News that convinced people that COVID 19 was a “Democrat hoax...” It was a shameless& indefensible lie that cost us thousands of lives & untold billions in lost economic activity. Few entities are MORE at fault than Fox News. https://twitter.com/...
Ben Popper / @benpopper: This is what sounds like when disinformation masquerading as news suddenly realizes it might end up in court https://twitter.com/...
Alexander Chee / @alexanderchee: The spectacle of watching Newsmax try to forestall this lawsuit with pieces like this is a real pleasure. I hope Smartmatic sues and wipes them out. https://www.newsmax.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Kevin M. Kruse / @kevinmkruse: This is like the list of insane corrections that SNL ran at the end of its “Fox and Friends” sketches, but for real. https://twitter.com/...
Miles Parks / @milesparks: Sort of stunning “article” from Newsmax today...... just casually admitting voting machine conspiracy theories they've been helping promote for weeks are bullshit https://www.newsmax.com/... https://twitter.com/...
RELATED:
Ben Smith / New York Times:
Voting machine companies including Smartmatic have hired high-powered libel lawyers and, legal experts say, have strong cases if they sue Fox, Newsmax, and OAN — Voting machine companies threaten “highly dangerous” cases against Fox, Newsmax and OAN, says Floyd Abrams.
Discussion:
@llinwood, @justinbaragona, Mediaite, @benyt, Axios, TVNewser, @davidmackau, Overtime, @benyt, @bubbaprog, Washington Post, The Guardian, @scottshanenyt, Law & Crime, @ursulaperano, @bobcesca_go, @mrkrudd, @timobrien, Newser, Business Insider, @ericowensdc, @mollyjongfast, @taniel, @tomgara, @file411, The Week, @digiphile, @garylegum, @benyt, @dandrezner, @joannelipman, @thephilosotroll, @froomkin, @slpng_giants, @leablackmiami, @brianstelter, @mikewiseguy, @badfoxgraphics, @jfkeeler, @oneunderscore__, @ashkan, @danielchaitin7, @atompkins, @meiselasb, @ansonmount, @loweringthebar and @toddschnitt
Discussion:
Lin Wood / @llinwood: Knowing my background & experience in defamation law, Sidney @SidneyPowell1 asked me to represent her & respond to SmartMatic litigation threat. Since everything Sidney is saying about election fraud is documented TRUTH, my response to SmartMatic was simple & to the point. https://twitter.com/...
Justin Baragona / @justinbaragona: Maria Bartiromo ended her show today with the Smartmatic fact-check that already ran on Lou Dobbs' and Jeanine Pirro's shows. She essentially framed it the same way those shows did and that she has been investigating “election integrity” over the past few weeks. https://twitter.com/...
Reed Richardson / Mediaite: NYT's Ben Smith Calls Potential for Costly Smartmatic Lawsuit a ‘Huge Threat’ to Cash-Strapped OAN, Newsmax
Ben Smith / @benyt: A detail that didn't make my story today, but which will thrill at least 4 reporters in Albany & fans of a certain era of women's tennis: Among the potential funders of a new Trump TV is Tom Golisano, Paychex founder, former candidate for governor and now husband to Monica Seles.
A.J. Katz / TVNewser: Newsmax Issues On-Air Clarification Concerning Its Own Coverage of Voting Companies Smartmatic and Dominion
David Mack / @davidmackau: newsmax has put up a page “clarifying” facts around smartmatic and dominion (after the threat of a big lawsuit). watching red-pilled people in the comments grapple with a burst of truth is something https://www.newsmax.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Ben Smith / @benyt: A key point here is that Fox can handle a drawn out, expensive lawsuit. For Newsmax and OAN, burning cash and looking for investors, it would be existential. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Timothy Burke / @bubbaprog: I'll just note that as recently as last night OAN was doubling-down on the false claims that Soros, Dominion, & Smartmatic were all in cahoots well after Fox ran its “retractions” https://twitter.com/...
Jeremy Barr / Washington Post: Lou Dobbs debunks his own claims of election fraud — after a legal demand from Smartmatic
Richard Luscombe / The Guardian: Fox News fact-checks Smartmatic voting machine fraud claim in staged video
Scott Shane / @scottshanenyt: I'm not usually too enthusiastic about libel suits. But I have to say, these hilarious Fox News and Newsmax climbdowns from election disinformation show legal threats can be useful https://twitter.com/.... https://twitter.com/...
Adam Klasfeld / Law & Crime: ‘Rolling Over and Showing Your Belly’ May Not Spare Fox News and Newsmax from Smartmatic Lawsuit, Legal Expert Says
Ursula Perano / @ursulaperano: pour one out every time you hear “no evidence” https://twitter.com/...
Bob Cesca / @bobcesca_go: Good. And just wait until the lawsuits against Trump stack up, too. Let's roll. https://twitter.com/...
Kevin Rudd / @mrkrudd: The continuing role of Murdoch's Fox News in America in seeking to delegitimise the outcome of the U.S. presidential elections is further evidence of Murdoch as a #CancerOnDemocracy . Murdoch has done great damage to the integrity of democracy period. https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
Tim O'Brien / @timobrien: “In an era of brazen political lies, Mr. Mugica has emerged as an unlikely figure with the power to put the genie back in the bottle.” Read @benyt on how Fox, OAN and Newsmax may have put legal nooses around their own necks. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Tom Porter / Business Insider: The CEO of a voting-systems company says politicians around the world are worried that Trump's conspiracy theories will be used to undermine their own elections
Eric Owens / @ericowensdc: Trump famously has wanted to make it “easier to sue for libel.” In his last, comical, pitiful act, his crazy advocates are facing destruction under *existing* libel laws for telling crazy lies. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Molly Jong-Fast / @mollyjongfast: lol, this feels like it's going to end in a huge settlement for smartmatic. https://twitter.com/...
@taniel: Omg, PLEASE watch this. 'We have never had any evidence for literally any of this very long list of things we've been lying to you about since Nov. 3, but oh this only a ‘ clarification’ not a correction nor an admission we're just frauds, oh and we're totally legit." https://twitter.com/...
Tom Gara / @tomgara: Today in the simulation: A lengthy, heavily lawyered clarification of some important facts the public needs to know, read out by “John Tabacco” https://twitter.com/...
@file411: Likely the ONLY time I would tweet anything from @newsmax Given this “news outlet” is viewed as a Trump propaganda weapon of disinformation & misinformation Facts About Dominion, Smartmatic You Should Know | https://newsmax.com/ https://www.newsmax.com/... via @Newsmax
Tim O'Donnell / The Week: Pro-Trump media outlets apparently scramble to ward off lawsuits after pushing election conspiracies
Alex Howard / @digiphile: “@Newsmax & @OANN appear likely to face the same fate as so many of President Trump's sycophants, who have watched him lie with impunity and imitated him — only to find that he's the only one who can really get away with it.”-@benyt https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Daniel W. Drezner / @dandrezner: “Newsmax and OAN appear likely to face the same fate as so many of President Trump's sycophants, who have watched him lie with impunity and imitated him — only to find that he's the only one who can really get away with it.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Joanne Lipman / @joannelipman: Really interesting point from @benyt here: “OAN and Newsmax have been avidly hyping Mr. Trump's bogus election claims... But their own roles in propagating that lie could destroy their businesses” if voting machine companies sue. https://www.nytimes.com/...
@thephilosotroll: It turns out that if you spend every waking hour directing false and irresponsible stories at private organizations and people, at some point someone might sue you, and leave you with a lot of exposure. Connolly and Clare are both serious lawyers and have a good case. https://twitter.com/...
Dan Froomkin / @froomkin: That is a ridiculously loose definition of “news organization”. Are you one just because that's what you call yourself? These are propaganda and entertainment companies masquerading as news orgs. https://twitter.com/...
@slpng_giants: Really hope that Smartmatic and Dominion stick with this lawsuit despite the dangerous precedent it will set. Fox's lies have destroyed individuals, families, businesses and even public health. There needs to be a line established that cannot be crossed. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Lea Black / @leablackmiami: Good. Let's get everyone in a court room under oath and sort it out. Truth https://twitter.com/...
Brian Stelter / @brianstelter: Smartmatic is “still reserving the right to go forward with litigation,” as @oliverdarcy noted on today's show https://twitter.com/...
Mike Wise / @mikewiseguy: Every time I heard any no-fact, hyper-partisan variation of “These voting machines have been calibrated to rig the election” parroted by “media” outlets, I kept wondering would Dominion or someone other company sue for defamation. Boom. Just like that. https://twitter.com/...
Bad Fox Graphics / @badfoxgraphics: “And his new lawyer is J. Erik Connolly, who not coincidentally won the largest settlement in the history of American media defamation in 2017, at least $177 million, for a beef producer whose ‘lean finely textured beef’ was described by ABC News as ‘pink slime.’” -@benyt https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Jacqueline Keeler / @jfkeeler: Huh. Who thought capitalism and a lack of journalistic ethics could sink far right media? via @NYTimes https://www.nytimes.com/...
Ben Collins / @oneunderscore__: This is a big deal. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Ashkan Karbasfrooshan / @ashkan: If you see injustice & feel like you've been wronged, fight back. It's not easy, but stand your ground against arrogance. Strike back, strike hard, and you'll persevere. #FairWarning https://www.mediagazer.com/...
Daniel Chaitin / @danielchaitin7: Legal threats from Smartmatic/Dominion jeopardize Newsmax & OAN's dream of becoming a new “Trump TV.” Both are burning money to steal ratings from Fox, executives from both companies have acknowledged, and litigation could scare investors, @benyt writes https://www.nytimes.com/...
Al Tompkins / @atompkins: Fox News airs a fairly stunning video that contradicts all of the “stolen election” claims that their programs have promoted for the last month. The video aired several times Saturday and this morning. https://video.foxbusiness.com/ ...
Ben Meiselas / @meiselasb: Notice how he says “there are lots of opinions” about the 2020 election. His lawyers advised him an “opinion” is a defense to defamation. So he claims his disinfo are “opinions” then presents the FACTS as if it's a counter-opinion. This is how they will defend defamation cases. https://twitter.com/...
Anson Mount / @ansonmount: Not bizarre. It's the sudden realization of culpability after a legal threat from Smartmatic, & the further realization that FOX/Dobbs would have about as strong a defense as a naked prisoner strapped prostate to the ground &!forced to watch the red hot poker heating over flames. https://twitter.com/...
@loweringthebar: That's what happens when you're facing a defamation suit and don't have the faintest possibility of proving what you said is true or even that you lacked actual malice. https://twitter.com/...
Todd ‘MJ’ Schnitt / @toddschnitt: WATCH: @foxnews and @FoxBusiness mitigation efforts to stave off a potential lawsuit from @smartmatic for wildly unsubstantiated claims made by Fox News personalities and surrogates about election conspiracy trash. Also ran on Judge Pirro's bonkers show. https://www.mediaite.com/...
David Shepardson / Reuters:
The COVID-19 relief bill includes a provision to expand forgivable government loans to additional struggling local news outlets — WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Congressional leaders said on Sunday that lawmakers agreed to expand forgivable government loans to additional struggling local news outlets …
Discussion:
Emily Cochrane / New York Times: Congress Strikes Long-Sought Stimulus Deal to Provide $900 Billion in Aid
Victor Pickard / @vwpickard: This is indeed good news - though of course we need soo much more funding for local journalism. And on a permanent basis. https://twitter.com/...
RELATED:
Jem Aswad / Variety:
Congress' COVID-19 relief deal includes the Save Our Stages Act to give ~$15B in relief to independent music venues and movie theaters shut due to the pandemic — “We can finally report what our nation has needed to hear for a very long time,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell …
Discussion:
Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter: New COVID Relief Bill Earmarks $15B for Movie Theaters and Live Event Venues
Tim Carman / Washington Post: Stimulus bill will help restaurants, but critics say it won't save them from the pandemic's effects
Ken Meyer / Mediaite: Polio-Surviving McConnell Calls for Members of Congress to Take Covid Vaccine: ‘Important’ for Leaders ‘to Step Up’
Jacob Pramuk / CNBC: Congress agrees to $900 billion Covid stimulus deal after months of failed negotiations
Carl Hulse / New York Times: Pandemic Aid Bolsters Biden and Shows Potential Path for His Agenda in Congress
Elizabeth Nolan Brown / Reason: Deal Reached To Tack $900 Billion COVID-19 Relief Package on to Spending Bill
Business Insider: Congress is voting on more small business funding. Here's what's different this time.
@variety: Senator @AmyKlobuchar Explains the $15 Billion #SaveOurStages Act, and How It Will Work @NIVAssoc https://variety.com/...
Hoai-Tran Bui / /Film: New COVID-19 Relief Bill Designates $15 Billion for Movie Theaters and Live Event Venues
Winston Fisher / @winston_fisher1: Glad to see Congress dedicated money to live event companies and cultural institutions! The creative economy is critical for middle class success in the 21st century economy. https://twitter.com/...
Reuters: What's in the U.S. COVID-19 bill? Unemployment, $600 checks, ‘three martini lunch’ deduction
Matt Haney / @matthaneysf: Money for independent venues was included, and I will work to do whatever I can to get this support to our local venues. https://variety.com/...
Alexandra Steigrad / New York Post: New COVID-19 relief bill designates $15B for movie theaters, live event venues
Mike Masnick / Techdirt:
The omnibus funding bill Congress is set to vote on contains the controversial CASE Act, which may ratchet up copyright trolling, and the Felony Streaming Bill
Discussion:
Variety, The Verge, Breitbart, @joe_loguidice, @chrismessina, @zfdigivagrant, Hollywood Reporter, @sbjohnsrpi, @ovenotter, @mmasnick and @xirzon, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Hannah Bleau / Breitbart: Coronavirus Relief Bill Makes Illegal Streaming a Felony
Joe / @joe_loguidice: So the copyright streaming felony is in the omnibus package \ COVID bill. I'm not a lawyer but it looks like it's relatively narrow and wouldn't create criminal liability for playing a song while streaming but would create liability if you run a pirate NFL website. https://twitter.com/...
Christmas Sina / @chrismessina: Beware: by my read, if you intend to stream #WonderWoman1984 to a group of people on Christmas, you MAY BE COMMITTING A FELONY punishable by up to 10 years in jail according to provisions in the #CASEAct in the new #OmnibusBill! https://www.techdirt.com/... https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
DigitalVagrant / @zfdigivagrant: A warning to my fellow streamers: the proposed bill that turns copyright streaming into a felony has been snuck into the imminent federal omnibus funding bill. Think the last month has been bad? This is about to get extremely ugly. https://www.techdirt.com/...
Samuel B. Johnson / @sbjohnsrpi: This really is an all-hands-on-deck sort of situation. If you enjoy sharing memes on the internet, or casually use clip art for your small business' social media feed, and you don't have an extra $30k lying around, call your senators and congressperson now. https://twitter.com/...
@ovenotter: Update: There are now 3. And all of them have made it into the stimulus bill to be voted on today. They will all more than likely pass. https://www.techdirt.com/... I'm so fucking tired of this country. This is going to have unprecedented effects on how we use the internet. https://twitter.com/...
Mike Masnick / @mmasnick: A quickly dashed off post about how Congress and its leadership sold the internet out to Hollywood AGAIN by sneaking bad CASE Act and felony streaming into the omnibus bill. Includes the 3,100 page text of the bill. Everyone should be furious at this. https://www.techdirt.com/...
Mike Fannin / The Kansas City Star:
Kansas City Star publishes a review of its 140-year history, finding coverage “disenfranchised, ignored, and scorned generations of Black Kansas Citians” — Today we are telling the story of a powerful local business that has done wrong. For 140 years, it has been one of the …
Discussion:
USA Today, @kcstar, @mcclatchy, @ian__cummings, @soledadobrien, New York Times, @stengel, @kcnewsfan, @connieschultz, @kcstar, @joycewhitevance, @petermaer, @jem2998, @mcclatchy, @donnabrazile, @angeljennings, Washington Post, INSIDER, @lyman_brian, Newser, @wesleylowery, @kat__stafford, @kylegriffin1, @richarddeitsch and The Hill
Discussion:
N'dea Yancey-Bragg / USA Today: Kansas City Star apologizes for decades of racist coverage of Black community
@kcstar: The truth in Black and white: An apology from The Kansas City Star https://www.kansascity.com/...
@mcclatchy: The truth in Black and white: An apology from The Kansas City Star. In a six-part investigation, @KCStar finds it “scorned generations of Black Kansas Citians and...robbed an entire community of opportunity, dignity, justice and recognition.” https://www.kansascity.com/...
Ian Cummings / @ian__cummings: Over the course of The Star's six-part project, reporters were frequently sickened by what they found — decades of coverage that depicted Black Kansas Citians as criminals living in a crime-laden world. https://www.kansascity.com/...
Soledad O'Brien / @soledadobrien: This is soo remarkable that I am encouraging everyone to read it: KC Star editor apologizes for poor coverage of Black news | The Kansas City Star https://www.kansascity.com/...
Richard Stengel / @stengel: “Decade after early decade, [The Kansas City Star] robbed an entire community of opportunity, dignity, justice and recognition.” Powerful journalism about journalism itself. https://www.kansascity.com/...
Mike Fannin / @kcnewsfan: A long overdue apology from @KCStar today: For much of its early history — through sins of commission and omission — it disenfranchised, ignored and scorned generations of Black Kansas Citians. A six-part series. https://www.kansascity.com/...
Connie Schultz / @connieschultz: “It is time that we own our history. “It is well past time for an apology, acknowledging, as we do so, that the sins of our past still reverberate today.” A six-part series about the Kansas City Star's racist history. No paywall. https://www.kansascity.com/...
@kcstar: Negative portrayals of Black Kansas Citians in The Star buttressed stereotypes and played a role in keeping the city divided. Editor Mike Fannin apologizes: https://www.kansascity.com/...
Joyce Alene / @joycewhitevance: The Kansas City Star takes a hard look at its history & role in falsely characterizing black citizens as criminals & promoting racists & racism. Saying “We are sorry” is a good place to start. We can all do this same work in our own hearts & lives. https://www.kansascity.com/...
Peter Maer / @petermaer: A bold and honest statement/apology on #racial issues from @KCStar: “It is well past time for an apology, acknowledging, as we do so, that the sins of our past still reverberate today.” The editorial and series are worthy of a #Pulitzer. https://www.kansascity.com/...
Jennifer Moore / @jem2998: How great would it be if this work sparked similar projects among all media? Not likely to happen until corporate-run media (or family owners who behave like corporations) can find a profit in putting its racist past under the microscope. https://twitter.com/...
@mcclatchy: As floodwater upended Black lives in 1977, Kansas City newspapers fixated on Plaza, suburbs and all but ignored how the flood destroyed the homes of Black citizens — part of @KCStar investigation of itself in, “The Truth in Black and White.” https://www.kansascity.com/...
Donna Brazile / @donnabrazile: A must read in every classroom and newsroom. KC Star editor apologizes for poor coverage of Black news | The Kansas City Star https://www.kansascity.com/...
Angel Jennings / @angeljennings: This fall, the Los Angeles Times laid bare its past racist coverage in an effort to not just move on from decades of maligning LA's communities of color but to be transparent as a way to heal and move forward. The Kansas City Star is now reckoning with its past as well. https://twitter.com/...
Timothy Bella / Washington Post: Kansas City Star apologizes for decades of racist coverage of Black people: ‘It is time that we own our history’
Inyoung Choi / INSIDER: 'Our history doesn't have to own us': The Kansas City Star apologized for a deep history of racism in its news coverage
Brian Lyman / @lyman_brian: You could apply a lot of this @KCStar apology to the contemporary @MGMAdvertiser, and throw in our paper's repeated “they probably deserved it” attitude toward lynching victims. https://www.kansascity.com/...
John Johnson / Newser: City's Longtime Newspaper Offers an Apology
Wesley / @wesleylowery: I say this every time one of these critical self examinations happens: every news organization should do this https://www.kansascity.com/...
Kat Stafford / @kat__stafford: The @KCStar investigated itself & found that throughout its history it caused irreparable harm against Black people via their reporting & outlined steps to repair that harm. If newsrooms wants to survive, truth and reconciliation about past & current harms is needed. https://twitter.com/...
Kyle Griffin / @kylegriffin1: The Kansas City Star has apologized for decades of racist coverage. The newspaper's top editor says the Star “disenfranchised, ignored and scorned generations of Black Kansas Citians. It reinforced Jim Crow laws and redlining.” https://www.kansascity.com/...
Stephanie Clifford / Elle:
Profile of ex-Bloomberg reporter Christie Smythe, who quit her job and divorced her husband after she fell in love with the man she was covering, Martin Shkreli — Why did Christie Smythe upend her life and stability for Martin Shkreli, one of the least-liked men in the world?
Discussion:
@ellemagazine, New York Magazine, @nytimes, CNBC, New York Times, VICE, The Wrap, @megancgraham, @manymanywords, @stephcliff, @katie_robertson, @skenigsberg, @mattzeitlin, @thedailybeast, New York Post, Law & Crime, @penenberg, @penenberg, @katie_robertson, @jillfilipovic, @migold, @benyt, @liamstack, The Daily Dot, Fox News, @katierosman, Mediaite, Business Insider, @beijingpalmer, The US Sun, @ohheyjenna, @tomgara, @asteadwesley, The A.V. Club, UPROXX, @hels, Rolling Stone, Where's Your Ed At, @hummusandpizza, The Guardian, @shwinyo, @kira_lerner, @alexrkonrad, @mathewi, @rmac18, @alexheard, @carigervin, @carigervin, @zeitchikwapo, @maxwelltani, @jordanuhl, @socialistdogmom, @elaheizadi, @maxwelltani, @elaheizadi, @ashleyfeinberg, @drea_carmen, @oneunderscore__, @taylorlorenz, @angryblacklady, @annamerlan, @galaxiecarol, @nolamama69, @ec_schneider, @ashleyrparker, @bgrueskin, @bgrueskin, @christiesmythe, @soledadobrien, @christiesmythe, @alishagrauso, @jenashleywright, @notcapnamerica, @roywoodjr, @offbeatorbit, @christiesmythe, @moorehn, @moorehn, @jillfilipovic, @meandmydogtoo, @christiesmythe, @otraletra, @robbiese7en, @taylorlorenz, @kellykeegs, @zeddary, @karnythia, @phil_lewis_, @mrsfridaynext, @jerrydunleavy, @jourdynberry, @sawyerhackett, @amber_athey, @majorphilebrity, @dierobinsondie, @austen, @arreglalo, @ftrain, @felixsalmon, @mattikovler, @rebeccadobrien, @christiesmythe, @kaylawebley, @christiesmythe, @modernistwitch, @theferocity, @jillfilipovic, @jessicakroy, @fuggirls, @zunguzungu, @annamerlan, @eekshecried, @dansolomon, @harrysiegel, @bendreyfuss, @bendreyfuss, @bendreyfuss, @tylerdinucci, @jbillinson, @dlippman, @dave_schilling, @caseyjohnston, @jasonpinter, @bykatesmith, @chrissyfarr, @sgurman, @drrramina, @lalasoo, @walterolson, @megan, @benyt, @asteadwesley, @lindseyadler, @bigmeaninternet, @daisandconfused, @joeperticone, @asteadwesley, @brianstelter, @liamstack, @jessicahuseman, @bendreyfuss, @taylorlorenz, @taylorlorenz and Jezebel
Discussion:
@ellemagazine: Christie Smythe covered white-collar crime for Bloomberg News and lived “the perfect little Brooklyn life” with her husband. Then she threw it all away for one of her sources: infamous pharma bro Martin Shkreli. https://ellemag.co/Uod8gtH
Irin Carmon / New York Magazine: The Story Behind the Story of Martin Shkreli's Romance With a Reporter
@nytimes: Christie Smythe helped break the story of Martin Shkreli's arrest in 2015. Then she “started to fall for him,” she said. “In journalism school, they don't really tell you what to do when this comes up,” she told @katie_robertson in an interview. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Katie Robertson / New York Times: Ex-Bloomberg Reporter Who Covered Martin Shkreli Reveals Relationship With Him
Lindsey Ellefson / The Wrap: ‘Journalist and the Pharma Bro’ Author Says Criticism Has ‘a Sexist Undertone’ (Exclusive)
Meg Graham / @megancgraham: 🚨🚨🚨 I got an ad for assless PJs on my story about assless PJs https://www.cnbc.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Meredith Haggerty / @manymanywords: so you're telling me there's some newly divorced, gainfully employed guy in brooklyn who likes dogs and has a great party story?
Stephanie Clifford / @stephcliff: Meet the journalist who broke the story of Martin Shkreli's arrest—and fell in love with him. Story for @ELLEmagazine: https://www.elle.com/...
Katie Robertson / @katie_robertson: After @stephcliff story that blew up the internet, @ChristieSmythe told me she didn't hide interactions with Shkreli from her editors & didn't feel she did anything wrong. “In journalism school, they don't really tell you what to do when this comes up.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Sara Pearl / @skenigsberg: I remember Martin continually coming after @TaylorLorenz back in 2016. He harassed a lot of female journalists https://twitter.com/...
Matthew Zeitlin / @mattzeitlin: feel bad for @benyt as there's literally no way he can publish the media story of the night
@thedailybeast: A former Bloomberg News reporter quit her job, divorced her husband, and froze her eggs for imprisoned former CEO Martin Shkreli, known as the “Pharma Bro,” who now refuses to talk to her https://www.thedailybeast.com/ ...
Maureen Callahan / New York Post: At least you didn't fall in love with Martin Shkreli in 2020
Alberto Luperon / Law & Crime: MLB Pitcher Looked at Pictures of Martin Shkreli as Part of Pre-Game Ritual to Get Angry
Adam L. Penenberg / @penenberg: We don't bother to tell students not to drink and drive, shoplift, commit murder, engage in fraud, or toilet paper someone's house. We figure they already know this.
Adam L. Penenberg / @penenberg: I tell students to avoid writing about friends, lovers or family—anyone you might pull your punches? And always disclose any connections with sources. It's not hard. But what do I know? I just run a master's in journalism program at a major university. https://twitter.com/...
Katie Robertson / @katie_robertson: Writing to a judge in April, Christie said: “It has been a long emotional journey for me from when I first came into your courtroom as a journalist covering Shkreli's case in 2015 to the present moment, as I submit this letter to you as his girlfriend and would-be life partner.”
Jill Filipovic / @jillfilipovic: So uh journalism school for sure teaches you that you need to disclose personal relationships with sources and that you definitely should not sleep with your sources. https://twitter.com/...
Michael Gold / @migold: i mean i didn't go to journalism school but i gather this might have come up https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Ben Smith / @benyt: A whole lot more 👀👀👀👀 stuff here from @katie_robertson https://www.nytimes.com/...
Liam Stack / @liamstack: When Martin Shkreli was contacted by Elle Magazine for their story on the Bloomberg reporter who blew up her life to pursue a relationship with him while he is in jail, here is what he said: “Mr. Shkreli wishes Ms. Smythe the best of luck in her future endeavors.”
Stacey Ritzen / The Daily Dot: This article about a woman who ruined her life for Martin Shkreli has people speechless
Leia Idliby / Mediaite: ‘Jaw-Dropping’: Twitter Obsessed With the Bloomberg Reporter Who Upended Her Life for ‘Pharma Bro’ Martin Shkreli
Jacob Shamsian / Business Insider: A Bloomberg reporter got divorced and froze her eggs to pursue a romance with imprisoned ‘Pharma Bro’ Martin Shkreli
James Palmer / @beijingpalmer: the pharma bro story did not include the bit where she was like ‘my man will save us from the coronavirus’ https://twitter.com/...
Fionnuala O'Leary / The US Sun: Jailed ‘pharma bro’ Martin Shkreli has ghosted reporter for a YEAR ‘after she froze her eggs & left her husband for him’
Jenna Amatulli / @ohheyjenna: .@irin interviewed @stephcliff about how she got the Christie Smythe interview on her being in love with Shkreli and oof at how matter-of-fact it is to say that, yup, it's a story of someone fully throwing their life away. https://nymag.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Tom Gara / @tomgara: How many people who read the Elle story are got this bizarre ad for the onesie with a butt flap, over and over again? I know it's not just me https://twitter.com/...
Steadman&trade / @asteadwesley: one of the great no context pull quotes. Thank you, Elle https://twitter.com/...
Dan Caffrey / The A.V. Club: Read this: The journalist who covered Martin Shkreli's arrest ended up falling in love with him
Robby Kalland / UPROXX: Rays Pitcher Tyler Glasnow Looks At Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli's Photo To Get Mad Before Starts
Helen Rosner / @hels: The most insane part of this entire extremely insane story is that the art is a multiple-looks photo shoot with fashion credits??? https://www.elle.com/...
Where's Your Ed At: Shkrelimania — I smacked my hand up last week in an embarrassing slip and fall incident …
Bobby Shawarma / @hummusandpizza: this is an extremely normal thing that I say about everybody I date https://twitter.com/...
Martin Pengelly / The Guardian: Journalist says she fell in love with Martin Shkreli while covering his arrest
Ashwin Rodrigues / @shwinyo: adding a “no journalists of color have ever left their spouse for Martin Shkreli” slide to my diversity training slide deck https://twitter.com/...
Kira Lerner / @kira_lerner: Wowww so many questions but also I worked with this woman when she got engaged to her now ex-husband and she had me photocopy her ring appraisal which I found bold because I was a news assistant and not a personal assistant https://www.elle.com/...
Alex Konrad / @alexrkonrad: put the shkreli story in the pantheon of stories media twitter lost their minds over, and when you explain them in great detail to literally anyone else, they're like, “who's that again? oh, k”
Mathew Ingram / @mathewi: I interviewed a psychologist once about why women sometimes fall in love with serial killers, and he said they often talk about how only they know the “real” person, only their love can save them, etc. There are definite overtones of that in this http://www.mediagazer.com/...
@rmac18: The main takeaway from the Shrekli story is that you should run some insane, slightly pervy ad in your pieces so that people have a reason to talk about it for a second day.
Alex Heard / @alexheard: Does the “option me!” feel of this story remind you of the Caroline Calloway/Natalie Beach thing? https://www.elle.com/...
@carigervin: This is not a funny story. It's not “good writing” because there was the smell of chicken wings. (Like omg have you ever worked in a restaurant, chicken wings smell never leaves, ask my old Dominos delivery car.)
@carigervin: Everything described in the story is textbook manipulation. Can't rec “Why Is He Like That?” highly enough to make you not feel crazy and begin to break down the gaslighting. And I hope the subject of the story can do that, but it's shitty af the writer put her in that position.
Steven Zeitchik / @zeitchikwapo: Spoiler alert on the Shkreli story so scroll away if you haven't read but... ...It continues to be insanity amid the insanities that they're not even together anymore. And it's...because of this very article? And this...doesn't give her second thoughts?!
Max Tani / @maxwelltani: congrats to the real winner of the elle/shkreli article: the ad person who did the butt flap pajama ad that ended up getting served to a bunch of people who tweeted about it
Jordan / @jordanuhl: imaging upending your life only to be ghosted by a guy who can't even leave his prison cell https://twitter.com/...
Molly Conger / @socialistdogmom: sometimes you watch somebody post through something and just think, thank god there are people who love me enough to come over to my house and take my phone if it ever came to that.
Max Tani / @maxwelltani: Having read this article, I have come to the conclusion that Christie Smythe may have gotten a little too close to one of her sources https://twitter.com/...
Elahe Izadi / @elaheizadi: so now we ALL SEE why this is a terrible idea right?! https://twitter.com/...
Ashley Feinberg / @ashleyfeinberg: had to keep taking breaks while reading this due to the physical pain of my face contorting https://www.elle.com/...
Sexy Train Lenin Stan / @drea_carmen: martin shkreli trending does mean I get to talk about this again tho https://twitter.com/...
Ben Collins / @oneunderscore__: Imagine a reporter came to you, an editor, and said “I just need to declare something: I fell in love with a source,” then you said, okay, what's the damage, and she said “it's Martin Shkreli.” How many times would she have to say it before you stopped laughing and called HR?
Taylor Lorenz / @taylorlorenz: Yup. He harassed me non stop for a while he was fixated on several female journalists it was weird. https://twitter.com/...
@angryblacklady: How you gonna get ghosted from prison by Martin Shkreli. That shit's embarrassing. It's not like he has plans
Anna Merlan / @annamerlan: Is now a good time to brag that I snagged one of the Vampire's Wife/H&M collab dresses that cost $30
Elena Schneider / @ec_schneider: amen. https://twitter.com/...
Ashley Parker / @ashleyrparker: I don't want to hear people dismissing women's magazines ever again.
Bill Grueskin / @bgrueskin: So @ChristieSmythe, the reporter whose relationship with Martin Shkreli was just revealed via Elle, is taking on all comers on Twitter tonight, and her replies are almost as good as the story.... https://twitter.com/...
Bill Grueskin / @bgrueskin: In case you just emerged from a cave, here's the story, by @stephcliff. https://www.elle.com/... (Smythe is a former Bloomberg colleague of mine, and also a fellow of the Bagehot program, housed at the J School)
Christie Smythe / @christiesmythe: @HRHPrimaDomina It's a good question. It wasn't an easy decision. I became aware that good people were afraid to stick up for him. They cared about him, but were afraid of what would happen, the tweet storm, etc. I decided I wasn't afraid, and he needed someone to stick their neck out.
Soledad O'Brien / @soledadobrien: @ChristieSmythe @MST3KNKOTB Here are my questions: have you spoken to your ex, was he aware the article was coming out? What is his reaction? And 2. In a perfect world (for you) how does this story end?
Christie Smythe / @christiesmythe: @soledadobrien @MST3KNKOTB Yes, ex was aware of article. It should be up to him, though, whether any focus is on him, so I will move on. 2. I don't know how the story ends, but I knew I couldn't stay hidden. At the very least, I've spoken my piece. I stood up for Martin when no one else would.
Alisha Grauso / @alishagrauso: Everything about this screams of a woman who was manipulated but also willingly bought into a con to advance her own agenda and now it's all she has after blowing up her life in the messiest way possible. But she so clearly thinks she's in total control when she's so clearly not. https://twitter.com/...
Jennifer Wright / @jenashleywright: Did this woman ever consider not dating the worst person on earth who was also clearly not into her? https://www.elle.com/...
Chris Evans / @notcapnamerica: I'm not joking when I say it's one of my life goals to be asked to comment on something and have my official response be “I wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.” That said, Martin Shkreli is a POS and I'm glad he's in prison. 🙂 https://twitter.com/...
Ashley Reese / @offbeatorbit: She should have taken this to the grave is my take lol. https://twitter.com/...
Christie Smythe / @christiesmythe: @PubertSchlarff I wasn't in his life when that happened. I don't approve of these kind of price hikes. He is certainly far from the only one who did it, though. It's pervasive throughout the industry. And attacking him for it won't fix the problem.
Heidi N. Moore / @moorehn: A note on the Elle article: The author is on Twitter, she can see your tweets, and also it's not helpful nor does it make you look smarter to shower shame and contempt on someone who's the victim of a narcissist. Try compassion instead of self-aggrandizing flexing? Could work.
Heidi N. Moore / @moorehn: Yes the situation is absolutely wild but it's also pretty deeply wrapped up in mental health, and mocking someone in a pretty hard mental health situation is not the media-cool-girl flex you may think it is.
Jill Filipovic / @jillfilipovic: @MeAndMyDogToo She's a journalist who violated the ethical obligations of her profession because she had a crush on a narcissist and then told the story to ELLE because she's one, too.
@meandmydogtoo: @JillFilipovic Let's not shame her; like many women, she's in shaky mental health and easily victimized by predators like Shkreli ... and ELLE magazine
Christie Smythe / @christiesmythe: I realize it's hard for many people to accept that 1. Martin is not a psychopath, and 2. a woman can choose to do something with her life (which does not affect you) that you in no way approve of. But that's OK.
Adriana Gallardo / @otraletra: This is a wild ride “The minute she left the courtroom, Smythe texted and emailed Shkreli's friends, asking if he had his medications and arranging for someone to retrieve his cat. Then she filed a story from the pressroom.” And it keeps going... https://twitter.com/...
@robbiese7en: @Zeddary “perfect brooklyn life” is gonna be a phrase that haunts me while i sit here in my williamsburg apartment and watch ep 2 https://twitter.com/...
Taylor Lorenz / @taylorlorenz: This story is one of those Bad Romance TikToks https://twitter.com/...
Kelly Keegs / @kellykeegs: @JourdynBerry https://twitter.com/...
@karnythia: I note the “He's a Svengali” aka Joker/Harley slant in this article & I counter with “She has consistently chosen to ignore her own instincts about his motives by her own admission, so perhaps the problem here is that she chose to become part of the story.” https://twitter.com/...
Philip Lewis / @phil_lewis_: Christie Smythe quit her job as a reporter & divorced her husband—to pursue the man she covered, Martin Shkreli When contacted by ELLE for this story, Shkreli gave this statement: “Mr. Shkreli wishes Ms. Smythe the best of luck in her future endeavors” https://www.elle.com/...
MarGarrote H. / @mrsfridaynext: Deeply grateful to Christine Smythe for stepping up to put all my terrible romantic decisions in STARK PERSPECTIVE. I feel so much better about my mistakes right now. https://www.elle.com/...
Jerry Christmas / @jerrydunleavy: Oh no how could Martin Shkreli do something like this. https://www.elle.com/...
Jourdyn Berry / @jourdynberry: I am begging @kellykeegs to write bout this. BEGGING https://twitter.com/...
Sawyer Hackett / @sawyerhackett: Come for the disorienting twists of a weird story about a sociopath. Stay for the endless butt-flap pajama ads. https://twitter.com/...
Amber Athey / @amber_athey: This is why it's important to have at least one girlfriend who will honestly tell you when you look fat in that dress https://twitter.com/...
Grinchbilly Elegy / @dierobinsondie: This is literally the origin of Harley Quinn lol https://twitter.com/...
Austen Allred / @austen: I don't even know what to say about this article. You just have to read it. https://www.elle.com/...
Arrglalo Msica / @arreglalo: Amazing story about the power of the Dark Triad personality. Many years back he doxxed a guy I follow for presciently calling him out long before law enforcement caught up with him. https://twitter.com/...
Paul Ford / @ftrain: @felixsalmon @stephcliff @ellenjpollock1 @Choire ELLE is fantastic to write for and has wonderful editors!
Felix Salmon / @felixsalmon: Absolutely bonkers story from @stephcliff — but the big question I have is how did @ellenjpollock1 and @Choire let it fall through their fingers https://www.elle.com/...
@mattikovler: “Love is a rebellious bird,” sings Bizet's Carmen. Here is an exceptionally well written, nuanced account of a true story of a close family member of mine. @ChristieSmythe —Mikey and I love you and admire your courage. @DMSmythe1 https://twitter.com/...
Rebecca Davis O'Brien / @rebeccadobrien: What a story. Credit to @stephcliff and @ChristieSmythe for telling it. (This is the kind of love story that includes the quote: “These are incremental decisions, where you're, like, slowly boiling yourself to death in the bathtub.") https://www.elle.com/...
Christie Smythe / @christiesmythe: The last few years have been incredibly difficult for me — no less scary now with COVID raging through the prison system, including in Martin's prison now. @stephcliff did a fantastic job telling this story, warts and all. It's raw and real, the backstory behind everything. https://twitter.com/...
Kayla Webley Adler / @kaylawebley: I don't think I've ever green lit a story so quickly! And trust me, you're going to want to read this til the very end—quite a twist! Thank you @stephcliff for bringing this to us, and to @ChristieSmythe for trusting us to tell your story! https://www.elle.com/...
Christie Smythe / @christiesmythe: Did I just get subtweeted by Jack Shafer? I can die happy now. https://twitter.com/...
Jes Skolnik / @modernistwitch: this story is a huge bummer from beginning to end in like forty different ways. bad scene everyone's fault https://twitter.com/...
Saeed Jones / @theferocity: My immediate and selfish thought — aside from finding the glossy photo spread distracting — was that this story made me feel WAY better about some of the men I've dated, including but especially Diplo. https://twitter.com/...
Jill Filipovic / @jillfilipovic: This one goes out to all of you ladies who believe you make bad romantic choices: at least you didn't divorce your husband and torch your career for Martin Shkreli. https://twitter.com/...
Jessica Roy / @jessicakroy: i promise this story is wilder than you could ever imagine!!! https://twitter.com/...
Heather & Jessica / @fuggirls: I shrieked when I got the last two words of this tweet. - J https://twitter.com/...
Aaron Bady / @zunguzungu: this woman makes CHOICES https://twitter.com/...
Anna Merlan / @annamerlan: I am... speechless. This is well-done and resisted the urge to take the many, many cheap shots that were available https://www.elle.com/...
Erin Keane / @eekshecried: I have a lot of thoughts about this, but mostly I just feel terrible for her. One day — after some distance and reflection — this is going to be a hell of a book, I think. https://www.elle.com/...
Harry Siegel / @harrysiegel: OMG, the turn of the screw at the end of @stephcliff's piece on the journalist who fell hard for Martin Shkreli https://www.elle.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Ben Dreyfuss / @bendreyfuss: You really need to read it to the end because you might think you know the craziest part before the end but they saved a real nugget for last
Ben Dreyfuss / @bendreyfuss: The last time a completely unexpected magazine story made me feel this alive was when Sean Penn published that thing about El Chapo.
Ben Dreyfuss / @bendreyfuss: The fact that like half my feed is talking about congress and not this story really makes me think I follow too many DC people.
Tyler Dinucci / @tylerdinucci: I'm sorry. What??? https://twitter.com/...
Josh Billinson / @jbillinson: Juror 59 got a much better read on him than she did https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Daniel Lippman / @dlippman: Plot twist! “When Shkreli found out about this article, though, he stopped communicating with her. He didn't want her telling her story, she says. Smythe thinks it's because he's worried about fallout for her.” https://twitter.com/...
Dave Schilling / @dave_schilling: If I got cucked by Shkreli, I would use that to get sympathy for the rest of my life. https://twitter.com/...
Jason Pinter / @jasonpinter: This is the most batsh*t article I've read since we learned Dan Mallory liked to pee in cups. https://twitter.com/...
Kate Smith / @bykatesmith: The stylist that dressed the reporter in a Vampire's Wife dress deserves every award. https://twitter.com/...
Christina Farr / @chrissyfarr: It's an excellent read. But I do feel nervous that it fits this narrative I see a lot in TV/ movies that female journalists commonly have romantic relationships with sources. Have never heard of it happening IRL. https://twitter.com/...
Sadie Gurman / @sgurman: When Shkreli found out about this article, he stopped communicating with her. She monitors Google Alerts for his name and—because inmates must place outgoing calls and can't accept incoming ones—hopes one day he will call or reply. Incredible story on the tireless @ChristieSmythe https://twitter.com/...
Soo Youn / @lalasoo: *In the visitors' room, “I told Martin I loved him,” Smythe says. “And he told me he loved me, too.” She asked if she could kiss him, and he said yes. The room smelled of chicken wings, she remembers.* https://twitter.com/...
Walter Olson / @walterolson: “It draws you in,” she says. “I don't know if everything he was saying was true, but maybe like 1 percent is, and that's awesome on its own.” Amazing story, just one twist after another. https://twitter.com/...
Megan McCarthy / @megan: In addition to <waves hands> all of this </waves hands>, can we talk about how the subject is willingly posting for a fashion shoot to illustrate this story? https://www.elle.com/...
Steadman&trade / @asteadwesley: the end made me very sad!! https://www.elle.com/...
Lindsey Adler / @lindseyadler: Something about this story isn't sitting right with me. It's a good story, but I did not enjoy the experience of reading it and I can't articulate why. https://www.elle.com/...
Malcolm Harris / @bigmeaninternet: Damn what if Martin Shkreli stole your wife https://www.elle.com/...
Daisy Alioto / @daisandconfused: “These are incremental decisions, where you're, like, slowly boiling yourself to death in the bathtub.” https://www.elle.com/...
Steadman&trade / @asteadwesley: “Maybe I was being charmed by a master manipulator,” Smythe tells me uhhhhhhhhhh!!! https://www.elle.com/...
Brian Stelter / @brianstelter: Tonight's must-read: https://twitter.com/...
Liam Stack / @liamstack: The Bloomberg reporter who covered Martin Shkreli quit her job and divorced her husband to pursue a relationship with him while he is in jail. He has refused to speak to or email her since he found out this article was being written. https://www.elle.com/...
Jessica Huseman / @jessicahuseman: I've been reading this for 20 min in an ihop and my waitress just asked me if I was ok because I “look terrified.” https://www.elle.com/...
Ben Dreyfuss / @bendreyfuss: I...I...am speechless https://www.elle.com/...
Taylor Lorenz / @taylorlorenz: Oh no, oh no, oh no no no https://twitter.com/...
Marie Solis / Jezebel: Janet Malcolm Is Shaking
Cecilia D'Anastasio / Wired:
Cyberpunk 2077's developer hamstrung reviewers by forcing NDAs and sending copies just days before launch to prevent players from seeing the buggy mess — Video game companies are increasingly putting restrictions on what reviewers can show, widening the gap between expectations and reality.
Discussion:
New York Times: Cyberpunk 2077 Was Supposed to Be the Biggest Video Game of the Year. What Happened?
Albert Burneko / Defector: At Least Now You Know Which Video Game Reviewers Are Sellout Clowns
Cecilia D'Anastasio / @cecianasta: my story on Cyberpunk 2077's marketing grift: https://www.wired.com/...
Laura Kate Dale / @laurakbuzz: This piece by Wired is probably the best written critique of Cyberpunk 2077 I have read, with regards to the way the developer built up huge expectations, before trying to use reviews to hide where the final product fell short. https://www.wired.com/...
Ted Bonman / @olteddo: There are legitimate, justified reasons to be angry about the release of Cyberpunk 2077—but that anger should be directed at management, not developers. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@nytimes: Cyberpunk 2077 was the year's most anticipated video game. But nearly a decade of hype led up to a disastrous release. Now players are demanding refunds, and a class-action lawsuit may be in the works. There are also a lot of memes. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Greg Miller / @gameovergreggy: Sigh. #Cyberpunk2077 https://twitter.com/...
Matt Saincome / @mattsaincome: No one show this to the guy who had a heated gaming moment over Gamespot's 7/10 review. https://twitter.com/...
Will Partin / @william_partin: for me, one lesson from this mess is that attempts to ‘control the narrative’ through NDAs/preferential access can, paradoxically, *increase* rather than *decrease* the risk of communications nightmares https://twitter.com/...
Gene Park / @genepark: I've been thinking about this all week and I'm glad Cecilia wrote on it. The system worked and CDPR has already gotten away with it. https://twitter.com/...
Cecilia D'Anastasio / @cecianasta: CDPR takes a the lion's share of blame for selling a promise, as I said in my article earlier this week. But I hope that one takeaway from the Cyberpunk situation is questioning whether it's in our best interest to sign NDAs for game reviews https://www.wired.com/...
Avery Edison / @aedison: there are going to be some great long-form video essays about the deeper issues that make cyberpunk 2077 bad, once a few months have passed and we're past the glut of bug and glitch clip shows
Michelle Ballestrasse / ScreenRant: Cyberpunk 2077's CD Projekt May Get Sued By Investors Who Feel Lied To
Greg Miller / @gameovergreggy: Finished Cyberpunk's story, and it crashed during the credits. https://twitter.com/...
@nextgenplayer: Cyberpunk 2077 meta has settled on 55% after a couple dozen reviews. I feel genuinely bad for the devs as I know they wanted to create something memorable. Hope the team is doing OK. #PS4 #Xbox https://twitter.com/...
Rat King / @mikeisaac: here is a story on the rise and fall of Cyberpunk 2077, and how a years long effort to create the world's greatest videogame brought the Polish studio CD Projekt RED to its knees. w/ @Kellen_Browning https://www.nytimes.com/...
Peter Kafka / @pkafka: At Least Now You Know Which Video Game Reviewers Are Sellout Clowns https://defector.com/... Shorter: If you're a journalist, you can't sign an NDA from the company you cover.
Washington Post:
The Washington Post announces expansion plans for 2021: new foreign bureaus in Sydney and Bogotá, breaking news hubs in London and Seoul, and more — The Washington Post will take new steps in 2021 to become a more global newsroom by creating breaking-news hubs in Europe and Asia.
Discussion:
MediaPost, @karlaadam, Press Gazette, @raju, @annemariebridy, @jamesrbuk, @chaneyj, @jensaltman, @guinnesskebab, @defensebaron, @kwoodsome, @jehld, @ewong, @davidmackau and @travislylesnews
Discussion:
Rob Williams / MediaPost: Has ‘Washington Post’ Reached A Virtuous Cycle Of Growth?
Karla Adam / @karlaadam: Exciting news. @washingtonpost is expanding in London (and in Sydney, Bogotá and Seoul). We are looking for a breaking-news editor and reporter based in London. More details here! https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
William Turvill / Press Gazette: Washington Post hiring journalists in London and Seoul as it plans to create new breaking-news hubs
Raju Narisetti / @raju: The foreign editor of @washingtonpost also listing various openings outside the US on Twitter today. Apply https://twitter.com/...
Annemarie Bridy / @annemariebridy: Nate Silver, Glenn Greenwald, and Elon Musk stranded together alone on a desert island.
James Ball / @jamesrbuk: Very exciting: some cool new journalism jobs in London for a paper on fantastic form right now. https://twitter.com/...
Jen Chaney / @chaneyj: As someone who is old enough to remember when the Post dialed back on its foreign bureaus, this is great news to see. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Jennifer Saltman / @jensaltman: What a lovely change of pace to see a news organization adding jobs, rather than deleting them. @washingtonpost plans to increase overall staffing by 44 journalists in 2021. https://twitter.com/...
Jennifer Hassan / @guinnesskebab: The @washingtonpost will take new steps in 2021 to become a more global newsroom by creating breaking-news hubs in Europe and Asia - plus new bureaus in Sydney and Bogotá https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Kevin Baron / @defensebaron: Wow, this is so great to hear. I remember vividly working for the Boston Globe when it shut foreign bureaus. To see ANY news outlet expand is wonderful. https://twitter.com/...
Kate Woodsome / @kwoodsome: We're in a very rare and fortunate position to be expanding at a time when local news is disappearing. Check out @washingtonpost 🚨 job opportunities 🚨: https://washpost.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/ ... And subscribe to your local paper! https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Douglas Jehl / @jehld: A new wave of global expansion by @washingtonpost includes breaking-news hubs in Europe and Asia, plus foreign bureaus in Bogotá and Sydney, for a new total of 26 locations around the world. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Edward Wong / @ewong: It's heartening to see this expansion of international news reporting from @washingtonpost. https://twitter.com/...
David Mack / @davidmackau: a bureau in oz finally! https://twitter.com/...
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: MGM Holdings has begun a formal sale process, looking for a price double its $5.5B valuation — Movie studio has tapped bankers to find a buyer, as media companies look to stock up on content — MGM Holdings Inc., the movie studio behind the “James Bond” franchise, is exploring a sale …
Discussion:
Diane Haithman / The Wrap: MGM Movie Studio Is Pursuing a Sale (Report)
Erik Hayden / Hollywood Reporter: MGM Enlists Advisors to Explore Sale (Report)
Kanishka Singh / Reuters: Movie studio behind “James Bond” franchise explores sale - WSJ
Sarah Whitten / CNBC:
Alan Horn to step down as co-chairman of Walt Disney Studios, leaving Alan Bergman as the sole chairman; Horn will continue as chief creative officer — - Alan Horn is stepping down as co-chairman of Walt Disney Studios, but will remain with the company as chief creative officer.
Discussion:
Brent Lang / Variety: Alan Bergman Named Disney Studios Chairman, Alan Horn Serving as Chief Creative Officer
Umberto Gonzalez / The Wrap: Disney Studios Promotes Alan Bergman to Chairman, Alan Horn Shuffled to Chief Creative Officer
Pamela McClintock / Hollywood Reporter: Alan Bergman Succeeds Alan Horn as Disney Studios Chairman, Horn to Focus on Creative
Margaret Sullivan / Washington Post:
Despite a few bright spots in local journalism like Charlotte Agenda, bought by Axios, and Daily Memphian, 55 news outlets have closed amid the pandemic — You would think that Adam Ganucheau would be feeling upbeat about the state of local journalism. — After all, Mississippi Today …
Discussion:
@sulliview: Last week, I asked you to point out some outstanding local journalism of 2020. I mention a few of so many great examples here, as I assess the local-news situation ,at the end of a brutal year, in my new column: https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
@columbiagr: Read @Sulliview's latest via @washingtonpost: “There are flickers of hope for local journalism. So far, it's not nearly enough.” https://washingtonpost.com/... Her new book, 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘸𝘴, is available here: https://amazon.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Laura Bassett / @lebassett: An editor in Miss.: “I've lost a lot of sleep thinking about what Mississippi's elected officials are getting away with because of how impossible things have become in the shrinking legacy newsrooms across this state.” Must-read column by @Sulliview https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Newmark J / @newmarkjschool: New: @washingtonpost cites @CCMNewmarkJ's #NYCAdBoost initiative that brought $10 million in ad revenue from city agencies to local news outlets. If replicated across the U.S., the project “could be a game-changer,” says Dean @sarah__bartlett. https://newmarkj.io/...
Justin Hendrix / @justinhendrix: “There is no obvious, single fix; there are only pieces of the puzzle that need to be found and fit together — as quickly as possible.” Good to see @newmarkjschool @sarah__bartlett get a nod here for leadership. So much work to be done. https://twitter.com/...
Mustafa Tameez / @mustafatameez: Journalism remains in a state of emergency. Increasingly under the control of corporate chains backed by private equity firms, far too many American newsrooms are hemorrhaging staff. @Sulliview @washingtonpost https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
@karynregal: Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to your local paper. Complain loudly when your community isn't being covered. All news is local, and journalism requires your participation. My contact info is in my bio. https://twitter.com/...
Edward Fitzpatrick / @fitzprov: .@Sulliview says signs of hope for journalism include @BostonGlobe investigating how police cover up crimes of brethren, Austin American-Statesman/KVUE digging into Javier Ambler's death, Louisville Courier-Journal never let up on killing of Breonna Taylor https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
@sdnewswatch: Thank you, @Sulliview, for the focus on local journalism. A replay of our July conversation with Margaret Sullivan about her book is on our YouTube channel. Perspective | There are flickers of hope for local journalism. So far, it's not nearly enough. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Sarabeth Berman / @sarabethberman: Margaret Sullivan offers the flickers of hope in local news (there are plenty!) and points out that it's not enough. Here's to working towards a 2021 and beyond where there is more than just flickers. I'm bullish on the belief that it can be done. https://twitter.com/...
Tennessee Lookout / @tnlookout: Proud to be part of @statesnewsroom, recognized in @washingtonpost today. We look forward to growth in the next year and broader coverage. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Danielle Jones / @djtweets: “And within the industry itself, there were some hopeful signs: Virginia-based Axios bought a small local news start-up, The Charlotte Agenda, where revenue has soared; there are plans to expand the model into other cities.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Tyler Fisher / @tylrfishr: Very, very cool to see @tinynewsco in today's @sulliview column. I especially appreciate the framing that, while our project has large ambitions, it's nowhere near close to the size of the problems in local news. We alone cannot fix it. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Adam Ganucheau / @ganucheauadam: We're working hard @MSTODAYnews (and growing!) to hold our state's most powerful to account at a scary time for local news. We're an answer, but we're not *the* answer. Subscribe to your great local papers, send encouraging notes to reporters, share tips. Mississippi needs it. https://twitter.com/...
Tara McGowan / @taraemcg: “Fifty-five news outlets have closed for good since the pandemic began — and that's on top of more than 2,000 newspapers that have folded since 2004. Thousands of local journalists have been fired or furloughed.” @Sulliview https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Jason Hancock / @j_hancock: Very cool to see @statesnewsroom — which includes @MO_Independent, @KansasReflector and 17 other state-Capitol based news organizations — among @Sulliview 's flickers of hope for journalism. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... #moleg #ksleg
Andr Natta / @acnatta: Thanks for the @tinynewsco mention, @Sulliview! https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Amanda Zamora / @amzam: Fifty-five news outlets have closed for good since the pandemic began — and that's on top of more than 2,000 newspapers that have folded since 2004. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Francois Heinderyckx / @fheinderyckx: Local journalism is proving its worth over and over again, but it's not yet enough to save it. “There is no obvious, single fix; there are only pieces of the puzzle that need to be found and fitted together — as quickly as possible.” writes @Sulliview https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Pranshu Verma / New York Times:
Documents: Michael Pack, CEO of USAGM, is seeking to cut funding for its nonprofit Open Technology Fund, limiting internet access in tightly controlled places — Michael Pack, the head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, is moving to stop federal funding of the Open Technology Fund …
Discussion:
Rep. Frank Pallone / @frankpallone: The Open Technology Fund helps individuals around the world circumvent the suppression of free speech and ideas. This news is unfortunately more evidence that the Trump Administration has ceded our reputation as a leader in democracy and freedom of speech. https://www.nytimes.com/...
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