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In an Australian Senate hearing, a Google executive said that a law forcing Google to pay news outlets for links could prompt it to stop offering Search — As Google and Facebook face Senate committee, poll finds three in five Australians agree social media companies should prioritise news in feeds
Discussion:
New York Times, TechCrunch, CNN, MediaPost, Sydney Morning Herald, CNBC, Forbes, @lukebuckmaster, @katecrawford, @naamanzhou, @ajamesbragg, @ajamesbragg, @abcnews, @joshgnosis, @ajamesbragg, @joshgnosis, @senator_patrick, @joshgnosis, @jrschlosberg, @nxjhxssxn, @ajamesbragg, @peterklages, @profpcdoherty, @ajamesbragg, @nicholasvinocur, @ajamesbragg, @joshgnosis, @ajamesbragg, @benedictevans, @joshgnosis, @ajamesbragg, @ajamesbragg, @joshbbornstein, What's New in Publishing, Engadget, @pip_net, @verumbellator1, Business Insider, InnovationAus, BBC, Bloomberg, Crikey, Reuters, Daily Mail and AdNews, more at Techmeme »
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Google signs an agreement with French media creating a framework for payment for publisher content and has reached agreements with three major newspapers
Discussion:
The Guardian, Reuters, @rasmus_kleis, @mordyoberstein, @marklittlenews, @vijayshekhar, MediaNama, @pt, @googlenews, @googlenews, @glenngabe, @mathewi, @zachdcarter, @jason_kint, @rasmus_kleis, Gizmodo and Bloomberg


Kathleen Kingsbury officially named opinion editor of NYT, after serving in the role as acting editor following the resignation of James Bennet — Kathleen, who has superbly led the Opinion team these last few months will officially take on the role of Opinion Editor. Learn more in this note from A.G. Sulzberger.
Discussion:
@elaheizadi and @mariaramirezny


Bloomberg Media signs with WME, which will look to convert its journalism into film and TV projects for third-party platforms like streaming services — The agency will look to convert the global media brand's journalism and news franchises into film and TV projects.
Discussion:
Talking Biz News and The Wrap


Boston Globe launches Fresh Start, an initiative that will allow individuals to ask the paper to update or anonymize past coverage of them online — FRESH START — Revisiting the past for a better future — Fresh Start: Submit your appeal Fresh Start: Frequently Asked Questions
Discussion:
ABC News, Media Nation, @jessicau, @superglaze, @hannah_lilly, @dskok, @globeostriker, @madgeofhonor, @madgeofhonor, @naomimartin and @cpcsnews


Profile of Jessica Rosenworcel, the second woman to lead the FCC as acting chair and a big proponent of net neutrality and expanding broadband access — President Joe Biden has picked Jessica Rosenworcel to run the Federal Communications Commission in an interim position.
Discussion:
@jrosenworcel, @aprilaser, Radio & Television …, Variety, @repannaeshoo, @billinportland, @sen_joemanchin, @wadhwa, @mckra1g, @senatorlujan, @marissarmoss, @aaaj_aajc, @librarypolicy, @resistbot, @willoremus, @aprilaser, @nbcnewstech, @ezranbc, @aprilaser, @aprilaser, PC Gamer, Business Insider, CNET, nexttv.com, Free Press, Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, The Verge and Engadget, more at Techmeme »
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Biden designates Jessica Rosenworcel, currently a Democratic commissioner at the FCC, as acting chairwoman of the agency
Discussion:
@gordonachaffin, more at Techmeme »

The pseudonymous writer behind ‘Slate Star Codex’ blog, who deleted it over concerns NYT was going to name him, has relaunched on Substack and revealed his name — I. … No, seriously, it was awful. I deleted my blog of 1,557 posts. I wanted to protect my privacy …
Discussion:
@gaberivera, Boing Boing, @dangillmor, @jeffspross, @mathewi, @tomgara, @omgjjd, @dangillmor, @tolles, @jeremy_gans, @ellenhuet, @nickstatt, @benyt, @kirkegaardemil, @cjgbest, @kph3k, @jeffspross, @jeremy_gans, @prigoose, @kevinakwok, @sarthakgh, @ellenhuet, @jeremy_gans and @trevmckendrick


Podcasters say Anchor's sponsorship feature seems to be seriously lacking in sponsors, and they've received few, if any, ads beyond Anchor or Spotify itself — John Newman is the type of person companies like Spotify want to get involved in podcasting. He has a niche interest …
Discussion:
Podcast Movement and Timber's Newsletter, more at Techmeme »


The Philadelphia Inquirer names Peter Doucette as chief revenue officer — The Philadelphia Inquirer has hired Peter Doucette, who spent more than a decade in sales and marketing jobs at the Boston Globe, as chief revenue officer, the newspaper's publisher and chief executive, Elizabeth H. Hughes, said Thursday.
Discussion:
Talking Biz News and @localmediarocks


Mark Halperin and others launch Walking Duck, an outlet that will aggregate news from other publications and feature Halperin's newsletter and Newsmax show — Can any news organization bridge the separate realities that the left and right seem to occupy in U.S. politics?
Discussion:
Wide World of News

New Yorker Union announces 24-hour strike over management's response to pay negotiations; the union asked for $65K/year starting salaries and annual increases — Today, the New Yorker Union is undertaking a twenty-four-hour work stoppage. Between 6 A.M. on Thursday, January 21st …
Discussion:
@newyorkerunion, @drejones, @chaykak, @hollyotterbein, @amandapetrusich, @mckinneykelsey, @hctrudo, newslaundry.com, @chick_in_kiev, @kierafeldman, @kathrynschulz, @susanarendt, @thrasherxy, @asteadwesley, @lam_barrett, @alyssabereznak, @tanvim, @tanvim, @lbyock, @jennyvrentas, @schwartzesque, WWD, @kstromquist, @jason_koebler, @ellievhall, @mcwm, @alexjamesfitz, @sara_bee, @timmarchman, @jessicaschulb, @cassandrajar, @satchelprice, @alicesperi, @brendengallager, @scoutstout, @dphiffer, @iamjadejackson, @berniesanders, @27khv, @fahima_haque, @crystalbell, @bethoniebutler, @andrewfeinberg, @nickconfessore, @mattdpearce, @s_m_i, @ggreenwald, @techinsider, Business Insider and New York Post


YouTube rolls out “hashtag landing pages” which will take users who click on a hashtag to a page with only videos that use it, enabling easier discovery — YouTube is embracing the hashtag. The company has been quietly working on a new feature that allows users …


In letter to DCMS, BBC reveals it has spent more than £1M on legal fees fighting equal pay and race discrimination cases brought by staff — The BBC has spent more than £1m on legal fees fighting equal pay and race discrimination cases brought by staff, it has been disclosed.
Discussion:
nuj.org.uk

VOA Director Robert Reilly and Deputy Director Elizabeth Robbins are out; recently demoted exec Yolanda Lopez has been named acting VOA director — United States Agency for Global Media CEO Michael Pack resigned yesterday after being informed by the Biden Administration that he would be removed.
Discussion:
The Hill, @davidfolkenflik, @johnwhuey, @ariehkovler, @joshuahol, @jaketapper, @markszaidesq, @defensebaron, @farhip, @farhip, @davidfolkenflik, @davidfolkenflik and NPR
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Michael Pack, the head of USAGM who oversaw VOA and the Open Technology Fund, has resigned at the request of the Biden administration
Discussion:
Washington Post, @davidfolkenflik, @senatormenendez, @senatormenendez, @ericgordy, @anneapplebaum, @raju, What The Fuck …, The Hill, @alexwardvox, @farhip, Forbes, Government Accountability …, @muhammadlila, @waltshaub, @govacctproj, @wiczipedia, @zaccunningham, @npr, @kaedotcom, @kaedotcom, @davidfolkenflik, @albertomiguelf5, @b52malmet, @camjourno, @markos, @tonyfratto, @newsprof1, @etbrooking, @dfriedman33, @jonathanwpeters, @fridaghitis, @grahamdavida, @junaidmuhammadd, @kimmasters, @w7voa, @davidfolkenflik, @jackshafer, @vivian, @dburbach, @grahambrookie and @marcrod97