Mediagazer: Remote controls of new TVs show how streaming services and tech giants are vying for users' attention through branded buttons and voice assistants (Janko Roettgers/Protocol)

1:00 PM 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, @justinbaragona, @jayrosen_nyu, @oliverdarcy, @kim, @brianstelter, @patrickmcgee_, @bruno_j_navarro, @brianstelter, @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 — Several staffers expressed dismay over handing the keys to the outlet's influential newsletter product to a pundit with a “long history of bigoted and incendiary commentary.”

Discussion: @erikwemple, @maxwelltani, @erikwemple, @erikwemple, Washington Post, @mattnegrin, @brucebartlett, @benyt, PRESS RUN, Washington Post, @surabees, @sirajahashmi, @maxwelltani, @paulkrugman, @jeff_jacoby, @juddlegum, @jayrosen_nyu, @benshapiro, @sabrinasiddiqui, The Media Nut, @abdallah_fayyad, @glcarlstrom, @piersmorgan, @dfriedman33, @jayrosen_nyu, @benyt, @caitleg, @jrubinblogger, @elaheizadi, @marlownyc, @alexkotch, @erikwemple, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, @samthielman, @arifleischer, @maxkennerly, @wexler, @nycweboy, @tonydleonardi, @andizeisler, @wajahatali, @davidsirota, @sorayamcdonald, Poynter, The Federalist, @futterish, @elienyc, @corb_the_lesser, @jeremypgordon, @megynkelly, @jbouie, @pwthornton, @soledadobrien, @holmesjosh, @willmcavoyacn, @danpfeiffer, @eugene_scott, @katiehill4ca, @imleor, @clarajeffery, @maxwelltani, @bernybelvedere, @gina_goldberg, @adotsad, @lollardfish, @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, @erikwemple, @sabrinasiddiqui, @meredithshiner, @froomkin, HuffPost, Mediaite, The Hill, The Right Scoop and Daily Truth Report

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 …

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 …

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

Archived Page Info:

This is a snapshot of Mediagazer at 1:00 PM ET, January 16, 2021.

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Who's Hiring in Media?

Output Producer, CA — AP

China Markets Correspondent, Shanghai — Reuters

Senior Assignment Editor, DC — WaPo

Breaking News Editor, Tokyo — Bloomberg

Senior Correspondent - Wealth, NY — WSJ

Reporter - Ottawa Bureau — Globe & Mail

Local Government Reporter, IA — The Gazette

Research Director, CA — OCBJ

Immigration Enforcement Reporter — Documented

Presque Island Reporter, ME — Bangor Daily News

Contributing Parks Ed. - SW, CA — SFGATE

AI Content Editor, WA — Outlier

Legislative Reporter, TN — Daily Memphian

Editorial Assistant, Remote US — Launch Potato

Elon Musk Reporter, NY or CA — The Information

Government & Politics Editor, WA — Seattle Times

Business & GA Reporter. VT — VTDigger

Sports Reporter, WA — Everett Herald

Energy Reporter, TX — Houston Chronicle

Senior Reporter, SC — Island Packet

Trade & Climate Correspondent, DC — FT

Reporter, WI — Racine County Eye

Political Newsletter Writer, CO — The Lever

Jackson Reporter, MS — Verite

Music Editor, AZ — Phoenix New Times

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Fearless Reporter/Producer, IA — BPC

Reporter II - Technology, Remote — NPR

Editor, Remote US — Daily Kos

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More News:

Eva Mathews / Reuters:
Tencent Music acquires China-based Lazy Audio, a platform for audiobooks, podcasts, and radio shows, for $417M

Discussion: PR Newswire

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

Discussion: @erikwemple and @postopinions

Ted Johnson / Deadline:
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

Discussion: Variety, Los Angeles Times and Radio & Television …

Amaris Castillo / Poynter:
Journalists in Washington, DC, share how they're preparing to cover the inauguration of Biden amid safety concerns, limited access, and heavy security

Discussion: @marissa_jae, @itsren, @amariscastillo, Forbes, Politico and CNN

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
BBC's next chairman Richard Sharp says he is not in favor of decriminalization of UK's license fee, describing it as the “least worst” option to fund the BBC

Discussion: @pressgazette and @nogoodgods

Earlier Picks:

Jessica Bursztynsky / CNBC:
NBCUniversal launches NBCU Academy, a journalism training program that's set to partner with 17 academic institutions across the US with $6.5M in funding

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

Discussion: @kantrowitz, @meganmorrone, @kantrowitz, @abbyatwork, @dlberes, @smorgasboredom, @markstenberg3, Boing Boing and Big Technology, more at Techmeme »

Rebecca Klar / The Hill:
Hagens Berman files suit against Amazon alleging collusion with Big Five big publishers to fix eBook prices; they successfully sued Apple in 2011 for the same

Discussion: AppleInsider, The Guardian, hbsslaw.com, UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK and Publishers Weekly

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, @kerrymflynn and Axios

From Techmeme:

Wall Street Journal:
Gina Raimondo says holding back China in the chips race is a “fool's errand”, and investment, more than export controls, will keep US ahead of Beijing

Paresh Dave / Wired:
Google says it wouldn't force its device makers, browser, and wireless carrier licensees to distribute Gemini to US users for three years, in a proposed remedy

Reuters:
Albania bans TikTok for a year from January 2025, part of a broader plan to make schools safer following the killing of a 14-year-old near a school in November

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