Mediagazer: A look at the raging debate inside Wikipedia, where neutrality is prized above all, on what to call the attack on the Capitol (Alex Pasternack/Fast Company)

11:00 AM ET, January 16, 2021

Top News:

Without naming Fox, James Murdoch blasts media owners who enabled “toxic politics” and says their lies have unleashed “insidious and uncontrollable” forces — Comments from Rupert's son are his strongest rebuke of industry practices since leaving the family business

The Daily Beast:

Sources: Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch are “disenchanted” with Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott and President Jay Wallace; total viewership is down 15% YoY since Dec. 28 — OUTFOXED — Amid sagging ratings, Rupert Murdoch has taken a more hands-on role at Fox, perhaps portending the end …

Discussion: CNN, @bruno_j_navarro, @justinbaragona, @kim, @patrickmcgee_, @chunks_mommy, @janemayernyer, @ericbolling, @noahshachtman, @benyt, @benyt, Mediaite and Daily Truth Report

Joe Pompeo / Vanity Fair:

Politico announces new members of its Playbook team, expanding from two writers to four: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza, and Tara Palmeri — Facing stiffer competition, a new crew of writers—Ben Shapiro not included—is promising more scoops and scene as the O.G. political tip sheet reboots …

Maxwell Tani / The Daily Beast:
Some Politico staffers raised concerns internally about the decision to allow Ben Shapiro to guest-write Playbook; editor Matt Kaminski defended the move

Discussion: @erikwemple, @erikwemple, @erikwemple, Washington Post, @brucebartlett, @benyt, PRESS RUN, @maxwelltani, @surabees, @sirajahashmi, @paulkrugman, @jeff_jacoby, @jayrosen_nyu, The Media Nut, @abdallah_fayyad, @glcarlstrom, @piersmorgan, @jayrosen_nyu, @benyt, @caitleg, @jrubinblogger, @elaheizadi, @marlownyc, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, @erikwemple, @samthielman, @arifleischer, @maxkennerly, @wexler, @nycweboy, @tonydleonardi, @andizeisler, The Federalist, @wajahatali, @davidsirota, @sorayamcdonald, @futterish, @corb_the_lesser, @elienyc, @jeremypgordon, @megynkelly, @soledadobrien, @holmesjosh, @willmcavoyacn, @danpfeiffer, @eugene_scott, @katiehill4ca, @imleor, @clarajeffery, @maxwelltani, @bernybelvedere, @gina_goldberg, @adotsad, @justin_higgins2, @zac_petkanas, @senhorraposa, @jamisonfoser, @karlitaliliana, @gabby_hoffman, @sarahw, @nberlat, @jon_allsop, @emorwee, @tpcarney, @casmudde, @maxwelltani, @grace_segers, @susanbordson, @onlxn, @russcanread, @alqabadai, @blackamazon, @wagatwe, @kimcrayton1, @elienyc, @sethfriederman, @espiers, @libbycwatson and @erikwemple

Leia Idliby / Mediaite:
Politico draws criticism for having Ben Shapiro serve as a guest writer of Playbook; he wrote about “the real reasons” most Republicans opposed impeachment

Discussion: @olivianuzzi, @maxwelltani, @mattnegrin, @seungminkim, @jakesherman, @tarapalmeri, @lpdonovan, @juddlegum, @benshapiro, @sabrinasiddiqui, @dfriedman33, @alexkotch, @wajahatali, Poynter, @charlesppierce, @taradublinrocks, @johniadarola, @jbouie, @pwthornton, @lollardfish, @lollardfish, @gothamgirlblue, @stevedeaceshow, @joshsternberg, @juddlegum, @juddlegum, @mehdirhasan, @danahoule, @sabrinasiddiqui, @green_footballs, @lollardfish, @meredithshiner, @slpng_giants, @froomkin, @jeffsharlet, @green_footballs, @justkelly_ok, @jonfavs, @jbouie, @katearonoff, @barry, @zachwritesstuff, @marcformarc, @theplumlinegs, @breenewsome, @soledadobrien, @mattzeitlin, @jeffhauser, @timodc, @jbarro, @mattzeitlin, @abrowngaywrites, @mattnegrin, @mattnegrin, @jonathanchait, @bridgeinit, @jbouie, @zackbeauchamp, @chrisgeidner, @shotpooter, @ryanlcooper, @zackbeauchamp, @jbouie, @tomscocca, @mattnegrin, @zackbeauchamp and @brianbeutler

Alex Pasternack / Fast Company:

A look at the raging debate inside Wikipedia, where neutrality is prized above all, on what to call the attack on the Capitol — ‘Storming’? ‘Insurrection’? ‘Riot’? ‘Attempted coup’? On Wikipedia, where neutrality is prized above all, volunteers are still searching for the words.

Discussion: The Guardian, @ariannahuff, @krmaher, @bkeegan, @fuzheado, @martinsfp, @chrisalbon, @harrymccracken, @luis_in_brief, @pasternack, @thewikipedian and The Ringer, more at Techmeme »

Columbia Journalism Review:

On Wikipedia's 20th anniversary, the need for nuance in reporting about the project is crucial as sites like Breitbart and Russian media try to discredit it — Last year, as the election approached, we heard that the founder of 8chan had become an active Wikipedia editor.

Taylor Lorenz / New York Times:

As Snapchat starts competing with TikTok via its Spotlight program, some creators begin earning small fortunes and look for ways to expand — Top performers are raking in cash as the company seeks to compete against TikTok and similar platforms. — In late November, Cam Casey …

The Information:

Sources: Apple is discussing launching a new subscription service that would charge people to listen to podcasts — Apple—long considered the sleeping giant in the podcast space—is waking up. The company, which runs the most widely used podcasting app in the industry …

William Turvill / Press Gazette:

Q&A with Pranay Prabhat, senior director of digital ad tech at NYT, about its new first-party data ad program, losing third-party cookie revenue, and more — From the outside, it may appear that advertising is now insignificant for the New York Times when compared with its soaring digital subscriptions business.

Discussion: @mrdylancollins

Paul Bennun / KCRW:
California public radio station KCRW drops The Daily, over concerns about NYT's handling of issues surrounding Caliphate

Discussion: @kcrw, The Independent, @awalkerinla, @kausmickey, @mollydacious, @sorayanelson, @akmcglinchy, @thebenbergman, @reblavoie, @nwquah and KUT Radio …

Jim VandeHei / Axios:

Axios publishes a new Bill of Rights: no opinion section ever, most content free for all people, staff pledge to not take public political positions, more — Axios is expanding into local news this month, and broadening our mission to help restore trust in fact-based news with an audience Bill of Rights.

Nathan Bomey / USA Today:

Gannett CEO says the company, which passed 1M paid digital subscriptions in Q3 2020, is aiming for 10M subscribers within five years — Gannett, the owner of USA TODAY and more than 260 other daily publications, is aiming for 10 million paid digital subscriptions within five years, CEO Mike Reed said Thursday.

Discussion: @raju and @niemanlab

Janko Roettgers / Protocol:

Remote controls of new TVs show how streaming services and tech giants are vying for users' attention through branded buttons and voice assistants — Don't touch that dial: As TV manufacturers are unveiling their 2021 models at this year's virtual CES, they're also giving us a first look …

Erik Wemple / Washington Post:

A look at early support for Trump from Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski and how that changed in 2017, as Scarborough now sees that support as a mistake — Donald Trump's presidency is ending with a Capitol riot, a second impeachment, a democracy in peril and the usual truckload of lies.

Discussion: @erikwemple and @postopinions

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DOJ announces it won't move to end or modify the 80-year-old consent decrees governing ASCAP, BMI music licensing, citing lack of consensus among stakeholders

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Alex Kantrowitz / OneZero:
Services like Substack, Spotify, and Clubhouse are coming under scrutiny now that platforms like Facebook and YouTube have warmed to aggressive moderation

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Todd Spangler / Variety:
Group Nine, owner of Thrillist, NowThis, and the Dodo, goes public via a SPAC to raise $200M+ to fund acquisitions; units closed up 11% Friday, at $11.10

Discussion: @xpangler, TechCrunch, MediaPost and @kerrymflynn

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From Techmeme:

Scott Stein / CNET:
Meta opens its VR OS, now called Horizon OS, to third parties, and says Asus and Lenovo plan Horizon OS-compatible headsets; Meta plans an Xbox branded Quest

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