Top News:
Washington Post:
Analytics firm Zignal Labs: online misinformation about election fraud dropped 73% in the week after several social media sites suspended Trump and key allies — Zignal Labs charts 73 percent decline on Twitter and beyond following historic action against the president
Discussion:
Variety, @ashanitw, @alicedreger, @rulajebreal, @_cingraham, @mrlnmarce, @chaensaw, @bylenasun, @rulajebreal, @pandemic_times, @stuartathompson, @tarbellorg, @laurie_garrett, @bjrich_, @kelleratlarge, @dangillmor, Mediaite, @debramessing, @felonious_munk, @stevekling, @realblue75, @maythaalhassen, @caseyjohnston, @ericboehlert, @markruffalo, @seanmcarroll, @carolleonnig, @dcdoubleaa, @joenbc and Business Insider, more at Techmeme »
Kali Hays / WWD:
In a tweet, Michael Barbaro apologized for actions around Caliphate, saying he shouldn't have DMed and blocked critics; he didn't address Andy Mills concerns — Michael Barbaro is seen to have pressured some reporters and radio stations over coverage of issues with another NYT podcast, produced by his fiancée.
Discussion:
@mikiebarb, @oliverashkleine, @perlberg, @paigepfleger, @jolentag, @avcsays, @monicalewinsky, @anxious_maria, @audioblahblah, @thedailybeast, @dmoritzrabson, @mallory_yu, @loather, @wyatt_privilege, @acvtweets, @kctww, @tuckwoodstock, @kerrymflynn, @fidmart85, @alyssaedes, @stphnfwlr, @nicktheandersen, @thrasherxy, @selfquarantine2, @bethfertig, @mallory_yu, @stevemullis, @samarajbreger, The Daily Beast and Vulture
Katie Robertson / New York Times:
Profile of the Queens Daily Eagle, a small outlet in the borough that has gone viral for giving local-angle treatment to major Trump news like the impeachment — A series of headlines have brought attention to the Queens Daily Eagle, a small outlet in the borough where the president was born.
Hollywood Reporter:
Sources: proposed deals tied to the HBO Max day-and-date release plan will be costly for WB, with talent making below $4M getting 25% bonus, $4M+ receiving 40% — Denzel Washington is said to be getting his $20 million plus backend fee, while the sheer number of bonuses tied to the HBO Max …
Discussion:
@robinbenty, @jackjacksharpe5, @thr, @kimmasters, @miagaluppo, Too Much TV Newsletter and /Film
Jane Zhang / South China Morning Post:
A look at the rise and fall of Xiami, Alibaba's discontinued music streaming service, which only had 22.4M MAUs by Oct. vs. 450M+ for Tencent's three music apps — Once a leader, Xiami saw its monthly active users (MAUs) fall to 22.4 million by October 2020, a tiny fraction of the 450 million …
Berny Belvedere / Arc Digital:
Politico staffers were upset about Shapiro guest-curating Playbook not because he is a conservative but because he is the apotheosis of culture war excess — Berny Belvedere DISSOLVES THE FLESH of Ben Shapiro's takes through a REVERSE OSMOSIS OF PAIN — Politico invited Ben Shapiro to guest-curate its Playbook newsletter.
Discussion:
@tomzellerjr, @ngrossman81, @sheltondesigner, @jennarmathias, @brooks_bonny, @mattwelch, @trumwill, @sladesr, @edbott, @ldburnett, @jimswiftdc, The Rundown and The Media Nut
RELATED:
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 …
Discussion:
@oliverdarcy, @politicopress, @meghanmccain, @aloisedphelps, @eugenedaniels2, @tarapalmeri, @brucebartlett, @mattyglesias, @sirajahashmi, @therealhoarse, @surabees, @carloslozadawp, @back_ttys, @fenitn, @r_allbritton, @ahmed, @nancook, @rush_hour1, @jonallendc, @eoinhiggins_, @ryanlizza, @lachlan, @justinbaragona, @froomkin, @rachaelmbade, @seungminkim, @jakesherman, @tarapalmeri, @tarapalmeri, @joshchafetz, @meredithshiner, @tarapalmeri, @erikwemple, @erikwemple, Washington Post, @jayrosen_nyu, @benyt and The Wrap
BuzzFeed News:
Facebook says it is temporarily banning ads for gun accessories and military gear through next week's inauguration “out of an abundance of caution” — Following complaints from Senators and employees, Facebook on Saturday said it was temporarily halting ads for gun accessories …
David Folkenflik / NPR:
Radio Free Asia veterans say its new president Stephen Yates' links to a company owned by Taiwan threaten the broadcaster's credibility — The new president of the federally funded Radio Free Asia network most recently ran a consulting company from Boise, Idaho that has represented foreign governments and interests.
Discussion:
@npr, @normornstein, @davidfolkenflik, @davidfolkenflik and @anneapplebaum
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 …
Discussion:
@jank0, @protocol, @digitalshields and @timhanlon
Eva Mathews / Reuters:
Tencent Music acquires China-based Lazy Audio, which provides audiobooks, podcasts, and radio shows, for $417M — (Reuters) - China's Tencent Music Entertainment Group said on Friday it acquired audiobook platform Lazy Audio, owned by Shenzhen Lanren Online Technology Co, for 2.7 billion yuan ($417 million).
Discussion:
PR Newswire
Alex Barker / Financial Times:
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
Discussion:
@oliverdarcy, @kathrynamurdoch, The Guardian, CNN, @martin_flanagan, @wajahatali, @originalspin, @joyannreid, @raydalio, @bostonjoan, @richardajkeys, The Wrap, @mattgarrahan, @stewartmcdonald, Variety, @mmasnick, @swannyqld, @ashkan, @kathrynamurdoch, @mrkrudd, @billkristol, @clairecmc, Business Insider, @liseinthecity, @katebevan, @samthielman, @turnbullmalcolm, @tucker5law, @stopfundinghate, @poniewozik, @andrewcooper__, @robinwigg, @fascinatorfun, @maynereport, @lisatozzi, @timbrooks100, @janinegibson, @alexebarker, @suanzes, @oliverdarcy, contextisking.com and The Hill
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
Output Producer, CA — 
China Markets Correspondent, Shanghai — 
Senior Assignment Editor, DC — 
Breaking News Editor, Tokyo — 
Senior Correspondent - Wealth, NY — 
Reporter - Ottawa Bureau — 
Local Government Reporter, IA — 
Research Director, CA — 
Immigration Enforcement Reporter — 
Presque Island Reporter, ME — 
Contributing Parks Ed. - SW, CA — 
AI Content Editor, WA — 
Legislative Reporter, TN — 
Editorial Assistant, Remote US — 
Elon Musk Reporter, NY or CA — 
Government & Politics Editor, WA — 
Business & GA Reporter. VT — 
Sports Reporter, WA — 
Energy Reporter, TX — 
Senior Reporter, SC — 
Trade & Climate Correspondent, DC — 
Reporter, WI — 
Political Newsletter Writer, CO — 
Jackson Reporter, MS — 
Music Editor, AZ — 
Breaking News Reporter, NV — 
Fearless Reporter/Producer, IA — 
Reporter II - Technology, Remote — 
Editor, Remote US — 
City Reporter, WA — 
Executive Editor, OR — 
Education & Budget Reporter, CA — 
Senior Writer/Editor, FL — 
Media Editor, Remote — 
