Top News:


Source: digital payments company Square has held talks to acquire music streaming service Tidal, which Jay-Z acquired for $56M in early 2015 — - Streaming music platform has struggled to keep up with Spotify — Dorsey has met with Jay-Z multiple times during the pandemic


In the corrective episode of Caliphate, The Daily's Michael Barbaro failed to reveal that two of The Daily's producers also worked on Caliphate — Toggle more options — Late last week, The New York Times issued one of its biggest mea culpas in years. The nation's leading newspaper returned …


Russian lawmakers pass a bill allowing authorities to block or restrict websites like YouTube if they “discriminate” against Russian media, like RT — MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's lower house of parliament voted on Wednesday to pass legislation allowing authorities to block …
Discussion:
@fatimatlis, @jason_kint and Interfax-Ukraine


A study using 96,000 searches found that Google News put far more national news outlets than local outlets at the top of search results, even for local queries — Our audit reveals that Google News sends readers — and advertising dollars — away from local news outlets.
Discussion:
@gillesbruno, @pilhofer, @pilhofer, @gillesbruno, @annenbergpenn, @ylelkes, @donlday, @nickcharles61, @pilhofer and @mariekshan


Experts say UK Channel 4's deepfake video of the Queen, meant as a “warning” about fake news, makes it seem like deepfakes are more widespread than they are — Broadcaster says video, showing digitally-altered monarch reflecting on Prince Harry, intended as warning about fake news
Discussion:
@mollyblackall


2020 has been the beginning of major streaming exclusivity plays, forcing users to pay for four or five services as big studios prioritize their own platforms — End-of-year turnover is always rough, and it's going to get worse — Two of the biggest movies people want to talk about this week …
Discussion:
Context is King, @starfire2258, @stevie_mat, @reckless, @sachgau, @backlon, @themeganpurdy, @emmahouxbois, @charlie_l_hall, @samitsarkar, @hshaban, @crs_one, @jlbarrow, @loudmouthjulia and Polygon


Survey of news consumption by women in 11 countries, including US and UK, finds more interest in health and education news and higher use of TV news than men — In March 2020, as COVID-19 spread around the world and political leaders began to realise that an immediate response to the pandemic …


Filing: ByteDance says TikTok UK had sales of $20M in 2019, with a loss of $119.5M, driven by advertising and marketing expenses of $109M — - Chinese owner ByteDance has not disclosed global figures — Video-sharing app has been rapidly expanding in U.K.


Warner Bros. announces theatrical release dates for three movies in 2023, suggesting next year's hybridized release strategy is indeed a “unique one-year” model — Warner Bros. has announced release dates for three of its upcoming films: George Miller's “Mad Max: Fury Road” …
Discussion:
Engadget


Trump signs Fallen Journalists Memorial Act into law, authorizing planning and fundraising for a Washington memorial to honor those who died reporting the news — President Donald Trump signed into law Wednesday a bipartisan bill authorizing a national monument to honor slain journalists …
Discussion:
@lisamccray, @ron_cassie, @chrisvanhollen, @billrehkopf and @elizabethgchang


A coalition of human rights and press freedom groups, including Reporters Without Borders, file an amicus brief in support of WhatsApp in its NSO Group lawsuit — - Filing of brief follows similar move by technology giants — NSO Group's product can secretly access phone's contents
Discussion:
@marietjeschaake, @accessnow and @rj_gallagher


Profile of Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo and her transformation from a serious business reporter to Trump cheerleader, most recently in a friendly interview — Maria Bartiromo is the solo host of more than 16 hours of television every week on sister networks Fox News and Fox Business.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Mediaite, The Guardian, @latimes, @mlcalderone, @froomkin, @burtonad, @froomkin, @lopezlinette, @parkermolloy, @thehowie, @burtonad, @parkermolloy, @froomkin, @eisingerj, @jayrosen_nyu, @helaineolen, @filmmakerjulie, @travisakers, @kateaurthur, @richsignorelli, @jodyavirgan, @justinbaragona, @blowryontv, @prempanicker, @erikwemple, @rizzotk, @oliverdarcy, @jimmaiella, @patrickclaybon, @jbillinson, @sarahellison, @stevebattaglio, @kimmasters, @markjacob16, @latimes, @latimes, @bgrueskin, @edzitron, @bgrueskin, @101darwins, @brianstelter, @tomgara, @elaheizadi, The Hill, Talking Biz News, The Wrap and UPROXX