Mediagazer: Profile of Kuaishou, ByteDance's biggest rival in China, which could hit a valuation of $60B+ during its IPO this week, as it pivots to livestreaming e-commerce (Ryan McMorrow/Financial Times)

1:10 AM ET, February 2, 2021

Top News:

Dan Froomkin / Press Watch:

Political reporters need to be rebranded as government reporters, covering problems and those trying to solve them instead of who is winning messaging wars — The newly announced resignation of Washington Post executive editor Marty Baron, the abrupt stepping-down of Los Angeles Times …

Discussion: @sullydish, Politico, @jayrosen_nyu, @froomkin, @jamesfallows, @risj_oxford, @froomkin, @froomkin, @perrybaconjr, @perrybaconjr, @perrybaconjr, @marcidale, @garossino and Salon

Ben Smith / New York Times:
Survey: 42% of Americans trust journalists more if they keep their views private; 36% trust them more if they are “open and honest” on social media about views

Discussion: @benyt, @sopandeb, @sopandeb, @taylorlorenz, @jbarro, @yashar, @wesleylowery, @byjoelanderson, @sopandeb, @choire, @benyt, @transscribe, @jeffjarvis, @ryangrim, @genepark, @espiers, @mattyglesias, @soledadobrien, @lukeoneil47, @russian_starr, @goldietaylor, @jeffjarvis, @mariabustillos, The Media Nut, @jilliancyork, American Press Institute, @jayrosen_nyu, @edzitron, @sammy_roth, @taniel, @chrisgeidner, @hshaban, @chick_in_kiev, @ewong, @wesleylowery, @ericzuck, @briannawu, @joannastern, @nishachittal, @joannastern, @moneyries, @joshtpm, @allisonlcarter, @andrewmarzoni, @taylorlorenz, @benmullin, @felixsalmon, @megreenwell, @larakate, @racheld, @hwise29, @sonnybunch, @benhoffmannyt, @taylorlorenz, @wmreddy, @taylorlorenz, @taylorlorenz, @aegallagher, @morningconsult, @ron_fournier, @ron_fournier, @joshuagreen, @qjurecic, @timodc, @jayrosen_nyu, @carigervin, @mattdpearce, @mattdpearce, @tball and @smgalante

Pranav Dixit / BuzzFeed News:

Twitter restored the account of India's leading investigative magazine Caravan after six hours, telling officials that its tweets constituted free speech — The government order to block included a movie star, a political commentator, and a prominent magazine. Their accounts have all been restored.

Joseph Choi / The Hill:

Around 80 journalists were arrested in Russia over the weekend amid continued pro-Navalny demonstrations, according to PEN America citing local media reports — Around 80 journalists were arrested in Russia over the weekend amid continued protests against the detainment of opposition leader Alexei Navalny …

Discussion: PEN America, @secblinken, @repandykimnj, @sensanders, @penamerica, @peterbakernyt and @ivohdaalder

Todd Spangler / Variety:

YouTube hires Sony Pictures TV exec Craig Hunter as global head of preschool content for its originals team — YouTube tapped veteran executive Craig Hunter, most recently with Sony Pictures Television, as global head of preschool content for the internet platform's originals team.

Discussion: Kidscreen

Sara Fischer / Axios:

Facebook is testing a notification for Facebook and Instagram iOS app users globally that encourages opting in to tracking for a “better ads experience” — Facebook is testing a notification that notifies Apple iOS users about ways the tech giant uses their data to target personalized ads to them.

Discussion: CNBC, Reuters, AdExchanger, ScreenRant, @pt, @inafried, @db, @kurtwagner8, @mehedih_, The Verge and Ad Age, more at Techmeme »

Ryan McMorrow / Financial Times:

Profile of Kuaishou, ByteDance's biggest rival in China, which could hit a valuation of $60B+ during its IPO this week, as it pivots to livestreaming e-commerce — Video sharing app is pivoting business model to advertising and ecommerce — Gu Jing spends two hours a day filming himself skinning pigs …

Steven Zhou / VICE:

Free copies of the Epoch Times appeared on Canadian doorsteps last month, leading to complaints as Canada Post suspends some carriers for refusing to deliver it — The newspaper, which has sent promo copies across the country, has come under fire for pushing pro-Trump and COVID-19 conspiracy theories.

Discussion: @oneunderscore__

Alex Barker / Financial Times:

The New European, owned by Archant, has been bought by NYT's Mark Thompson, FT's Lionel Barber, and others; sources say owner Matt Kelly raised ~£750K — Weekly publication launched after 2016 referendum has been focal point for Brexit resistance — The New European …

Jill Goldsmith / Deadline:

Broadcaster Gray Television acquires Quincy Media for $925M in cash, in a deal that will give it stations in 102 markets reaching over 25% of US TV households — Broadcaster Gray Television Monday has acquired smaller family-owned Quincy Media for $925 million in cash in a deal that will land …

Discussion: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, MarketWatch, Hollywood Reporter, GlobeNewswire and TV Technology

Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:

FOX Sports 1 radio host Colin Cowherd starts a new podcast network called the Volume and partners with iHeartMedia to sell advertising — As the coronavirus pandemic ravaged the radio industry, Colin Cowherd got a call from IHeartMedia Inc. telling him good news: His show had sold out of advertisements.

Discussion: @colincowherd, The Big Lead, @lucas_shaw, @haydenherrera, The Spun, Poynter, Front Office Sports and Awful Announcing

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:

UK photographer arrested at his home after covering a protest at a COVID-hit asylum center says the case is worrying for press freedom in the country — A photographer arrested at his home after covering a protest at a Covid-hit asylum centre in Kent believes the case is “significantly worrying” for press freedom in the UK.

Discussion: @aljwhite, @jeyylowe, @domponsford, @antoniabance, @rebecca_vincent, @harryslaststand, Kent Online, The Independent and The Guardian

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:

Co-founder of slow news publication Tortoise says paid subscriptions grew ~50% in 2020, reaching nearly 50,000; one-third of its 80,000 members are under 30 — Slow news outfit Tortoise Media grew its paid-for members by about 50% in 2020, according to co-founder James Harding.

Discussion: @markcurtis30, @pressgazette and @basialcummings

Todd Spangler / Variety:

CNN ends its partnership with Facebook to distribute original shows on Watch, moving the “Go There” live daily news show to its own digital platforms — Starting Monday (Feb. 1), news junkies will find “Go There” on CNN's owned-and-operated outlets, including the news network's website and mobile apps.

Discussion: @jbillinson and @tkgore