Top News:


Investigation finds non-profit HFPA, which runs Golden Globes, makes substantial payments to members, as questions persist about its ethics and legitimacy — It appeared to be a moment of triumph in the long, tumultuous story of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.
Discussion:
@juliaturner, Los Angeles Times, @jackshafer, Insider, @meredithblake, @jacoboller, @markharrisnyc, @juliaturner, @juliaturner, @farhip, @juliaturner, @mchenryjd, @juliaturner, Hollywood Reporter, @markharrisnyc, @dangillmor, @latimes, Always Be Watching, Variety, @joshuahorowitz, The Wrap, @sarafischer, IndieWire, The A.V. Club, The Week and @davidfolkenflik


Soon-Shiong family denies WSJ reports about plans to sell LA Times, and both Union-Tribune's COO and publisher say no plans exist to sell the San Diego paper — Los Angeles Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong on Friday reaffirmed his commitment to the news organization.
RELATED:


Sources: Patrick Soon-Shiong is exploring a sale of LA Times and considered transferring management of The San Diego Union-Tribune to Alden's MediaNews Group — Patrick Soon-Shiong seeks exit after less than three years at the helm, as losses mount — Billionaire biotech investor Patrick Soon-Shiong …
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, @katie_robertson, @latguild, @rasmus_kleis, @brenden_tucc, @maxwelltani, @jacobrubashkin, @robenfarzad, @daviddebolt, @kenbensinger, @drpatsoonshiong, Insider, Los Angeles Magazine, @sewellchan, @chaykak, @katie_robertson, @edmundlee, Media Nation, @brooklynmarie, @suhaunah, @doree, @bigblackjacobin, @edmundlee, @edmundlee, @anniesciacca, @elanazak, @jimfriedlich, @sewellchan, @ckrewson, @pottsmark, @mattdpearce, @marcosantana, @petersterne, @edmundlee, @jeffjarvis, @pauledroberts, @ggreeneva, @timmarchman, @seungminkim, @bobshrum, @johnjcook, @alex_roarty, @loisbeckett, @mollymotoole, @johnmyers, @froomkin, @benfritz, @benfritz, @karavoght, @jbenton, @sarahsholder, @hshaban, @nycsouthpaw, @kenli729, @jbflint, @jbenton, @maxwelltani, @mikeisaac, The Wrap, Esotouric's Secret Los Angeles, Mediaite, The Hill and Reuters


Russian investigative journalism is flourishing alongside “probiv”, the buying of data on phone calls, cell location, or air travel off Telegram or the dark web — A new wave of news outlets has used conventional, and unconventional, methods to pierce the veil of Putin's power.
Discussion:
@eliothiggins, @samanthajpower, @nprkelly, @kenroth, @michaelsderby, @benweinthal, @andrew__roth, @atanessi, @rasmus_kleis, @elimeixler, @felixsalmon, @lionelbarber, @sulliview, @cliffordlevy, @maxseddon, @anthony, @crtejada, @christopherjm, @hshaban, @mattzeitlin and @paulmozur, more at Techmeme »


Google tells ad partners that it will lift its ban on all political ads starting Wednesday, after banning them following the Capitol riot — Google informed its advertising partners Monday that its platforms will resume accepting all political ads starting Wednesday, after banning them following …
Discussion:
CNBC


Discovery reports Q4: revenue of $2.9B, beating estimates, and Discovery+ has 11M subscribers after launching in January — The company reported earnings of 76 cents per share and revenue of $2.889 billion, vs. Street projections for per-share earnings of 72 cents on revenue of $2.83 billion.
Discussion:
The Wrap, MediaPost, The Wrap, Discovery Communications, The Wrap and The Streamable


Ahead of a hearing on Wednesday, Congressional Democrats ask cable and tech companies how they combatted misinformation from Fox News, OANN, and Newsmax — Before a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, Democratic members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee asked cable companies what they did to combat …
Discussion:
@rachelabramsny, @oliverdarcy, @dylanbyers and @pkafka

Defector, the employee-owned site that began after a staff walkout at Deadspin, is doing surprisingly well and is financially self-sustaining six months in — Mahatma Gandhi didn't actually say “Be the change you want to see in the world,” but if he had, he probably wouldn't have been thinking …
Discussion:
@sulliview, @ashleyfeinberg, @drewmagary, The Muffin por Mauricio …, @emmabaccellieri and @sulliview


Fort Worth Report, a nonprofit news outlet, will launch in the spring and start with coverage of education, government accountability, and arts and culture — Fort Worth, Texas is a special place. — Cowtown, as its lovingly known among residents, is an hour west of Dallas and is a city of just under a million people.
Discussion:
@azirulnick, @spj_tweets, @chriscobler, @niemanreports, @hanaatameez, @sarahscire, @niemanlab, Poynter and Columbia Journalism Review


Outside, previously known as Pocket Outdoor Media and owner of 22 active lifestyle publications, raises $150M and says average revenue per user is ~$70/year — Pocket Outdoor Media, the 4-year-old media company that's home to 22 active lifestyle publications and several technology groups …
Discussion:
@sarafischer and @sarafischer


Microsoft says it will work with Europe's four largest news publishing lobbying groups to “mandate payments” for content used by “gatekeepers” — Seattle-based company aligns with press industry and exploits difficulties of rivals — Microsoft has joined forces …
Discussion:
@rcostaricardo, @epc_angela, @rasmus_kleis, @jason_kint, @carolinwehrhahn, @benedictevans and Marketing BS …, more at Techmeme »


Study of New Jersey's local news finds communities in the lowest income bracket are twice as likely to be news deserts as news oases — EXECUTIVE SUMMARY — The findings below are simplified for the purpose of clarity; please see the full paper for definitions and variable operationalization.
Discussion:
@sarahstonbely, @vwpickard, @cjr, @nikkiusher, @ga_adamson, @fionamorgan, @vwpickard, @nancysolomon2, @joshuadarr, @kljdavis, @cjr, @niemanlab, Columbia Journalism Review, @niemanreports, @jgksf, @centercoopmedia, @jesseholcomb, @emilybell, @mediathoughts, @cjr, @emilyroseman1, @jmhaigh, @sarahstonbely and @sarahstonbely


App Annie: Australian Broadcasting Corporation's news app was briefly the most downloaded app on the AU App Store after Facebook's news ban and is now second — Readers may be going directly to the source — The Australian Broadcast Company's ABC News app shot to the top of Apple's App Store charts …
Discussion:
@seanblanda, @jb_au, @caseynewton, @lucasofri, @umabp, The New Daily, @mumbletwits, @matthewstoller, @glenngabe, @jason_kint, @nathanblawrence, Vox, @neerajka, @rustyshelf, @digiphile, @javierpallero, @caseynewton, @cameronwilson, @brooklynmarie, @threatresearch, @brianboyer, @parismarx, @dhh, @karlbode, @umabp, @umabp, @jbenton, @rasmus_kleis and Known Knowns
RELATED: