Top News:
Los Angeles Times:
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, @piyasroy, @nancywyuen, @hannaflint, @lalehkhalili, 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
Discussion:
Julia Turner / @juliaturner: The Golden Globes recently scored a lucrative new contract with NBC. Now, a number of voting members are accusing the non-profit group that runs the awards of self-dealing and ethical lapses, including $2M in annual payments to members themselves. https://www.latimes.com/...
Los Angeles Times: Who really gives out the Golden Globes? A tiny group full of quirky characters — and no Black members
Jack Shafer / @jackshafer: Who could have guessed that the Golden Globes are a shit prize? https://www.latimes.com/...
Piya Sinha-Roy / @piyasroy: I can't say I was surprised by anything in this HFPA investigation - I've seen many of its members at numerous events over the years bragging about their access and the gifts they receive. You know which awards show should be televised instead of Globes? Spirit Awards. https://twitter.com/...
Nancy Wang Yuen / @nancywyuen: Who are the folks behind the #GoldenGlobes? An insular and eccentric group made up of just 87 members—none of whom are Black. The organization is also riddled with scandal. https://www.latimes.com/...
Hanna Ines Flint / @hannaflint: The Golden Globes/HFPA expose I have long been waiting for. https://www.latimes.com/...
Laleh Khalili / @lalehkhalili: Paramount pictures flew 30 members of the HFPA (nearly 1/3 of the membership) to Paris, paid for them to stay in $1400/night rooms and visit the set of Emily in Paris. And guess what? Emily in Paris was nominated for a Golden Globe! https://www.latimes.com/...
Zac Ntim / Insider: ‘Emily in Paris’ producers flew Golden Globes judges out to Paris for luxury set visit in 2019, report says
Meredith Blake / @meredithblake: There are exactly ZERO Black people in the HFPA 🤯 https://www.latimes.com/...
Jacob Oller / @jacoboller: So many deliciously damning parts of this LA Times story. Does my heart good https://www.latimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Mark Harris / @markharrisnyc: To clarify for those who can't see the story: All Globes revenue seems to come from the eight-figure fee NBC pays the HFPA to air it—and the HFPA then pays its 87 members an avg of $25K a year (!) for serving on various committees. And that may be the least of their issues.
Julia Turner / @juliaturner: *. Who's in the group? Some respected journalists, some quirky characters—and no Black members. https://www.latimes.com/...
Julia Turner / @juliaturner: * The non-profit donated $125K to set up an outside fund to help journalists through the pandemic—and some money from that fund was donated back to some of the group's own members.
Paul Farhi / @farhip: Some very good reporting in this @latimes story on the press association behind the Golden Globes. But why grant anonymity to the org's representative? And why not name the allegedly self-dealing board members? It's a PRESS association, isn't it? https://www.latimes.com/...
Julia Turner / @juliaturner: * That's “more than 30” of only 87 members who make up the HFPA, which says it represent international entertainment journalists, but was sued last year for keeping qualified journalists out. (The suit was dismissed.)
Jackson McHenry / @mchenryjd: okay but it's also so funny that the Paramount Network did this and then sold Emily in Paris to Netflix https://www.latimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Julia Turner / @juliaturner: Among the details here: * The non-profit has set up a proliferating number of committees that pay members hefty monthly fees (archives, $2,200 a month; history, $1,000 a month; travel, $2,310 a month, and payments continued through the pandemic despite the pause in travel).
Hollywood Reporter: L.A. Times Reveals HFPA Has Zero Black Members, Raises New Questions About Ethics of Golden Globe Voters
Mark Harris / @markharrisnyc: One takeaway from this fascinating/appalling @LATimes investigation of the Golden Globes: Most Globe voters are essentially indirectly compensated employees of NBC. https://www.latimes.com/...
Dan Gillmor / @dangillmor: Great @latimes reporting on the ethically challenged and (should be) meaningless Golden Globes awards. https://www.latimes.com/...
@latimes: Over its long history, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has had embarrassing scandals. We looked into the organization ahead of the 78th Golden Globes ceremony. Here's what we found. @StacyPerman @joshrottenberg report https://www.latimes.com/...
Dan Barrett / Always Be Watching: Inside the Golden Globes grift
Michael Schneider / Variety: HFPA Faces New Scrutiny Amid Report of High Payments to Members, Lack of Black Members
Josh Horowitz / @joshuahorowitz: I am shocked to find that gambling is going on in here! https://www.latimes.com/...
Sara Fischer / @sarafischer: Hollywood Foreign Press Association scrutiny ahead of Golden Globes -"I sometimes joke w producers about how much it would cost to buy a nomination" -Paramount paid for member visit to Emily in Paris set which may explain its bizarre nom for Best TV Comedy https://www.latimes.com/...
Ryan Lattanzio / IndieWire: Golden Globes Voters Accuse Hollywood Foreign Press of Self-Dealing, Ethical Conflicts
Meg James / Los Angeles Times:
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.
Discussion:
Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong / @drpatsoonshiong: WSJ article inaccurate. We are committed to the @LATimes
Tim Carman / @timcarman: Remember this tweet. https://twitter.com/...
Keith J. Kelly / New York Post: Janice Min withdraws from LA Times editor search amid sale talk
Jay Rosen / @jayrosen_nyu: Friday @WSJ reported that Patrick Soon-Shiong, owner of the @LATimes, is trying to sell the property “as losses mount.” But Soon-Shiong and LA Times management say it isn't so. The union says it has heard nothing. After the denials, the Journal said we stand by our story. So... https://twitter.com/...
Brittny Mejia / @brittny_mejia: What a roller coaster this day was: Patrick Soon-Shiong affirms commitment to the Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/...
Mitchell Landsberg / @latlands: Somebody is wrong here, and I'm hoping it's the @WSJ . https://www.latimes.com/...
@408nate: I finally coughed up the $99 to subscribe to the @latimes and have found it to be a really good buy. I hope to encourage just 1 other person reading this to transition to being a subscriber. https://www.latimes.com/...
Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong / @drpatsoonshiong: Hope we have put this story to bed @latimes @MegJamesLAT Now back to important work on Covid. #covid #TcellVaccine https://www.latimes.com/...
Stefanie Dazio / @steffdaz: “Dr. Soon-Shiong and his family continue to invest in and plan for the future of the California Times, which includes the L.A. Times and San Diego Union-Tribune, and do not plan to sell.” https://www.latimes.com/...
Chris Krewson / @ckrewson: “The Times' spokeswoman, Hillary Manning, said the Wall Street Journal reporter reached out to Soon-Shiong Friday morning for comment and asked whether the information was inaccurate. But Manning said the Journal did not wait for a response” https://www.latimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Tony Pierce / @busblog: Perfect ways to prove the story is wrong: 1. Hire 10 Black staffers in the next six weeks. 2. Hire the first female EIC in LAT history 3. Erect a statue of @LATstevelopez outside the El Segundo building. https://twitter.com/...
Gerrick Kennedy / @gerrickkennedy: Let's hope! https://twitter.com/...
Melissa Daniels / @melissamdaniels: I have many thoughts on this, and they all kind of lead me back to the role of Twitter in modern news media. For all the time I've spent on this site and all the fun/networking/opportunity it can provide, it has played a critical role in screwing up the journalism industry. https://twitter.com/...
Gerry Smith / Bloomberg: L.A. Times Owner Disputes Report That He Plans to Sell
RELATED:
Lukas I. Alpert / Wall Street Journal:
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
Discussion:
Katie Robertson / @katie_robertson: Los Angeles Times spokeswoman just told me: “Dr. Soon-Shiong and his family continue to invest in and plan for the future of the Los Angeles Times, and do not plan to sell.”
@latguild: An email to our members from @MediaGuildWest president @mattdpearce: https://twitter.com/...
Rasmus Kleis Nielsen / @rasmus_kleis: Benign billionaires is not a model for independent, sustainable journalism, however welcome they may be when on rare occasions they arrive, actually are relatively benign, and stay for the long haul. “Los Angeles Times Owner Exploring Sale of Company” https://www.wsj.com/...
Brenden Tuccinardi / @brenden_tucc: Can someone explain to me why the UT doesn't have a union? I'm honestly curious https://twitter.com/...
Max Tani / @maxwelltani: @johnjcook @tomgara yep, tho this statement seems somewhat stronger... https://twitter.com/...
Jacob Rubashkin / @jacobrubashkin: Okay let's hope this is the case https://twitter.com/...
Roben Farzad / @robenfarzad: does it make any sense for the NY Times to absorb the LA Times? or do you let it change hands (again) and then pick off talent? https://www.wsj.com/... @lalpert1 #newspapers #journalism #LA #NYTimes $NYT @edmundlee @sarahellison
David DeBolt / @daviddebolt: the WSJ added comments from LA Times owner but has not walked back its lede saying Patrick Soon-Shiong is exploring a sale of the Los Angeles Times https://www.wsj.com/...
Ken Bensinger / @kenbensinger: Thick plot gets thicker https://twitter.com/...
Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong / @drpatsoonshiong: Newspapers are important to the community. Support the @LATimes and @sdut https://www.latimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Lauren Johnson / Insider: Prudential looks for a new ad agency
Brittany Martin / Los Angeles Magazine: Media Report Claims Patrick Soon-Shiong Is Considering Selling the L.A. Times
Sewell Chan / @sewellchan: Our spokesperson's statement: “Dr. Soon-Shiong and his family continue to invest in and plan for the future of the Los Angeles Times, and do not plan to sell. What you were told did not come from a credible source, as there are several inaccuracies.” https://www.wsj.com/...
Kyle Chayka / @chaykak: NYT should buy LAT so at least hedge funds don't get it but this is kind of terrifying https://www.wsj.com/...
Katie Robertson / @katie_robertson: NEW: A @WSJ spokesman tells me, “We are aware of Mr. Soon-Shiong's tweet. We are confident in our reporting and will continue to follow this developing story.” https://twitter.com/...
Edmund Lee / @edmundlee: The Journal stands by its story. Kudos @lalpert1 for the reporting and for getting it out there: https://www.wsj.com/...
Brooke Binkowski / @brooklynmarie: And that's why the “benevolent billionaire” model is hot garbage. https://twitter.com/...
Suhauna Hussain / @suhaunah: “We should also think of our colleagues at the San Diego Union-Tribune, who don't have a union, and who are scared for their own future. We stand in complete solidarity with them. Nobody should have to worry about being sold to Alden Global Capital.” https://twitter.com/...
Doree Shafrir / @doree: “He has since grown dissatisfied with the news organization's slow expansion of its digital audience and its substantial losses” ... tale as old as time https://twitter.com/...
Edward Ongweso Jr / @bigblackjacobin: Alden Capital pounding sand as we speak https://twitter.com/...
Edmund Lee / @edmundlee: Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong could have considered selling as early as this morning and then changed his mind an hour ... but that the @latimes hasn't requested (so far) a full retraction tells us there's some there, there ... but maybe not a large there
Edmund Lee / @edmundlee: one more thought: the “considering” angle on m&a stories is always fraught since that's almost always the state of play ... companies and executives are always open to sales or acquisitions, that's part of your responsibility ...
Annie Sciacca / @anniesciacca: “No one should have to worry about being sold to Alden Global Capital.” (As a reporter at an Alden-owned paper, I agree!) https://twitter.com/...
Elana Zak / @elanazak: Things journalism hoped at one time or another would “save” newspapers: - Social media - Subscriptions/memberships - Billionaire owners The first ha. Subs seems to mainly work for WaPo/NYT. And shockingly, billionaires don't seem to like losing money. https://www.wsj.com/...
Jim Friedlich / @jimfriedlich: A reminder that local ownership is not necessarily patient ownership. “Los Angeles Times Owner Exploring Sale of Company - WSJ” https://www.wsj.com/...
Sewell Chan / @sewellchan: Our spokesperson also told @WSJ @lalpert1: “We respectfully ask that you not rely on any unnamed or off-the-record sources for this story. The information lacks a basis in fact.” https://twitter.com/...
Chris Krewson / @ckrewson: @dlboardman @WSJ this is an interesting speculation by @pottsmark https://twitter.com/...
Mark Potts / @pottsmark: @ckrewson @Adriana_Lacy I wonder if this is all part of the negotiation by Alden to get Soon-Shiong to vote his 25 percent of Tribune in favor of Alden's takeover. Maybe he'll be willing to do it if they take the UT off his hands.
Marco Santana / @marcosantana: @MongerFace @mattdpearce Or, don't unionize and watch yourself be sold to private equity investors who will DISSOLVE YOU. Oly one of those options gives you any sort of voice at all.
@petersterne: “Nobody should have to worry about being sold to Alden Global Capital.” https://twitter.com/...
Edmund Lee / @edmundlee: Alden, which needs the good doctor's shareholder support for its bid to buy out the rest of Tribune (he owns 25% of $tpco), might be interested in the other paper he owns, the @sdut
Jeff Jarvis / @jeffjarvis: The owner says the Journal is wrong. We shall see. I'm not holding my breath. The Journal is right that The Times has struggled to find its digital traction. https://twitter.com/...
Paul Ed Roberts / @pauledroberts: Bezos: Do I have to do every goddam thing myself? https://www.wsj.com/...
Greg Greene / @ggreeneva: Well, let's hope this is true. https://twitter.com/...
Tim Marchman / @timmarchman: Not specifying what was inaccurate and giving a vague present tense statement is an artful non-denial denial. https://twitter.com/...
Seung Min Kim / @seungminkim: I rarely root for a good reporter's reporting to be wrong but for the sake of all of my friends at the @latimes and for Los Angeles and the state of California, I do sincerely hope it is wrong. https://twitter.com/...
Robert Shrum / @bobshrum: Hope so. https://twitter.com/...
John Cook / @johnjcook: lotta people calling this a denial but a denial would look more like “i am not going to sell the la times” https://twitter.com/...
Alex Roarty / @alex_roarty: Denials about a story published in a credible newspaper might not go quite as far when your audience is ... a bunch of journalists https://twitter.com/...
Lois Beckett / @loisbeckett: This statement conspicuously does not say anything about the @sdut, which was also mentioned in the WSJ article: https://twitter.com/...
Molly O'Toole / @mollymotoole: But also, dear readers, if you don't want the Los Angeles Times to be sold, now or 100 years from now, save your tweets and click here instead -> https://www.latimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
John Myers / @johnmyers: WSJ reports owner “is exploring a sale” of The Times. Article also says he's considering other changes to the business operation — a part of the report which, respectfully, this tweet doesn't refute. https://twitter.com/...
Dan Froomkin / @froomkin: I'm not sure I believe this, but “people familiar with the matter” is a bogus way to identify sources and reporters have gotten way too casual about using it. Remember, journalists, that when you grant people anonymity, you are basically investing them with your credibility. https://twitter.com/...
Ben Fritz / @benfritz: Here's why the billionaire who was supposed to be the savior and guardian of the largest newspaper in the West is now looking to sell it. https://twitter.com/...
Ben Fritz / @benfritz: My heart, as it has so many times in the past, goes out to my friends and former colleagues at the LA Times. Along with my wishes that they — and all of us who read and appreciate the paper — will enjoy some stability soon.
Kara Voght / @karavoght: It is incredible to me that a paper of record—that covers, by the way, the world's fifth-largest economy—could be sold to a company that turns newspapers into litter box liner. https://www.wsj.com/...
Joshua Benton / @jbenton: Not the most comforting tweet if you work at the San Diego Union-Tribune https://twitter.com/...
Sarah Holder / @sarahsholder: since moving to CA i've been reading the LAT every week, the reporters there do work that's so good and important. seems like there's confusion over whether this is happening or not but either way... ❤️ to the @latimes https://www.wsj.com/...
Hamza Shaban / @hshaban: The owner of the LA Times has “since grown dissatisfied with the news organization's slow expansion of its digital audience and its substantial losses,” the WSJ reports He's also thinking the company would be better served as part of a larger media group https://www.wsj.com/...
Southpaw / @nycsouthpaw: I find it odd that this hedge fund that haunts every journalist's nightmares is in the scheme of things a little pissant operation—maybe $1b aum and I think less than twenty employees. Bezos or even Murdoch could outspend it or buy it without really flexing a muscle. https://twitter.com/...
Joe Flint / @jbflint: I'm sorry for all my former colleagues at this storied institution. You deserve better. https://www.wsj.com/...
Joshua Benton / @jbenton: I guess this answers the “Does the @latimes want to be the smallest national newspaper or the biggest local newspaper?” question https://www.wsj.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Max Tani / @maxwelltani: Was wondering when this guy bought the LA Times if he was gonna go the Bezos route or the Chris Hughes route, didn't take too long to find out https://twitter.com/...
Rat King / @mikeisaac: soon-shiong considering a sale is a surprise but I think this is the most striking (worrisome) part https://www.wsj.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Marisa Sarnoff / Mediaite: LA Times Owner Denies Report of Possible Sale as Hedge Fund Attempts Takeover of Tribune Publishing
Jordan Williams / The Hill: Billionaire owner of Los Angeles Times denies exploring sale of company
Ben Smith / New York Times:
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, @kenroth, @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 »
Discussion:
Eliot Higgins / @eliothiggins: A really good look at how independent news outlets are leading the way for investigative journalism in Russia - How Investigative Journalism Flourished in Hostile Russia https://www.nytimes.com/...
Kenneth Roth / @kenroth: “The irony is delicious, of Mr. Putin seeing his own tools of corruption and surveillance turned against him by the underpaid police and intelligence officials who put the secrets up for sale. ‘Whatever Putin does keeps backfiring.’” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Samantha Power / @samanthajpower: Incredible @nytimes story about how investigative journalism is flourishing in Russia, with “Putin seeing his own tools of corruption and surveillance turned against him by the underpaid police and intelligence officials who put the secrets up for sale.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Mary Louise Kelly / @nprkelly: For independent journalists in Russia, “the sense of possibility is rivaled only by the sense of menace.” Really interesting, @benyt https://www.nytimes.com/...
Kenneth Roth / @kenroth: The exposes of corruption around Putin find huge audiences on YouTube in part due to the “homogeneity” of the government-controlled TV networks. “Imagine how much YouTube you would watch if the only news channels available were Fox News, Newsmax and OAN.” https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Michael S. Derby / @michaelsderby: “Russia is a potent reminder of the other side of that story, the power of these new platforms to challenge one of the world's most corrupt governments.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Benjamin Weinthal / @benweinthal: “To be an independent journalist in Russia is like being a lobster in a pot,” said Meduza's editor in chief, Ivan Kolpakov. “They are boiling you, but you don't know exactly when you will die.” cc: @Kasparov63 @chessninja https://www.nytimes.com/...
Andrew Roth / @andrew__roth: Good piece by @benyt on probiv, the online sale of any Russians' personal data that has energized investigative reporting in Russia. Researchers are retroactively uncovering crimes by the FSB going back years in a nightmare for the intelligence services. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Grigor Atanesian / @atanessi: in which “probiv” enters the English language https://www.nytimes.com/...
Rasmus Kleis Nielsen / @rasmus_kleis: “There's a tendency [now] to reflexively decry the rise of alternative voices and open platforms” @benyt says. “Russia is a potent reminder of the other side of that [,] power of these new platforms to challenge one of the world's most corrupt governments” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Eli Meixler / @elimeixler: This is extremely pertinent in many parts of the world where the media is government-controlled or under severe pressure (Myanmar, Philippines, many others) — social media platforms offer an uncensored information source beyond regime control cc @benyt https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Felix Salmon / @felixsalmon: “His vendor assumed he was a criminal, and was horrified to learn he was a journalist.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Lionel Barber / @lionelbarber: Investigative journalism is a growth business in Putin's Russia. Many fascinating insights here on cheque book journalism, personal courage and people whose first names are usually “Roman” https://www.nytimes.com/...
@sulliview: “To be an independent journalist in Russia is like being a lobster in a pot,” said Meduza's editor in chief, Ivan Kolpakov. “They are boiling you, but you don't know exactly when you will die.” From @benyt https://www.nytimes.com/...
Cliff Levy / @cliffordlevy: “Since we live in a country where authorities are killing opposition leaders, let's forget about these rules, because these stories are more important than our ethical rules.” Ex-Baltic Times cub reporter @benyt looks at investigative reporting in Russia. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Max Seddon / @maxseddon: “Russia is possibly the most transparent country in the world. If you have 10 bucks, you can find any information on anyone.” great to see @benyt add “probiv” to the burgeoning lexicon of Russian neologisms in English https://www.nytimes.com/...
Anthony DeRosa / @anthony: “The irony is delicious, of Mr. Putin seeing his own tools of corruption and surveillance turned against him by the underpaid police and intelligence officials who put the secrets up for sale.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Carlos Tejada / @crtejada: “The audience doesn't care whether you bought data or got it from a source ... since we live in a country where authorities are killing opposition leaders, let's forget about these rules, because these stories are more important than our ethical rules.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Christopher Miller / @christopherjm: 'Probiv is only one of the factors that have made Russia, of all places, the most exciting place in the world for investigative journalism. There is a new wave of outlets, many using more conventional sourcing to pierce the veil of Putin's power.' @benyt https://www.nytimes.com/...
Hamza Shaban / @hshaban: Roman Anin, the founder of iStories, a nonprofit Russian investigative site: “since we live in a country where authorities are killing opposition leaders, let's forget about these rules, because these stories are more important than our ethical rules.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Matthew Zeitlin / @mattzeitlin: “Russia is possibly the most transparent country in the world...If you have 10 bucks, you can find any information on anyone.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Sara Fischer / Axios:
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 …
Elaine Low / Variety:
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:
Jennifer Maas / The Wrap: Discovery Tops 11 Million Paid Streaming Subscribers
Karlene Lukovitz / MediaPost: Discovery Exceeds 11M Streaming Users, U.S. Ad Revenue Stabilizes
Rachel Abrams / New York Times:
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:
Rachel C. Abrams / @rachelabramsny: SCOOP: Congressional Dems sent a letter to Comcast, Amazon, Google, ATT & others, demanding to know what they plan to do about the “the spread of dangerous misinformation” from Fox News, OAN and Newsmax - including whether they will continue to carry them https://www.nytimes.com/...
Oliver Darcy / @oliverdarcy: Per @RachelAbramsNY, congressional Dems are asking Comcast, AT&T, Spectrum, Dish, Verizon, Cox, and Altice, asking about their role in “the spread of dangerous misinformation.” They've asked if they'll continue carrying channels like OAN, Newsmax, and Fox. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Margaret Sullivan / Washington Post:
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
Discussion:
@sulliview: .@DefectorMedia 's journalistic experiment began with a staff walkout from @Deadspin. It might actually be working. My column https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Ashley Feinberg / @ashleyfeinberg: now that's what i call a “slam dunk!” (sports term) https://twitter.com/...
Drew Magary / @drewmagary: Look upon our works... AND DO THE OPPOSITE OF DESPAIR https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Francisco J. Trejo Corona / The Muffin por …: Clubhouse alcanza 10 millones de usuarios activos
Emma Baccellieri / @emmabaccellieri: I think the last bit here really gets to what makes Defector special. There are so few places left online that I still make a point of visiting regularly — “a great place to waste time on the internet” is the best compliment I can think of for a website! — and it's just that https://twitter.com/...
Hanaa' Tameez / Nieman Lab:
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
Discussion:
Ariel Zirulnick / @azirulnick: Didn't expect a love letter to local news in this @NiemanLab piece by @HanaaTameez about @FortWorthReport, but I'm here for it. https://www.niemanlab.org/... https://twitter.com/...
@spj_tweets: “Out of the gate, @chriscobler said that the [Fort Worth] Report won't cover sports or crime and won't run opinion pieces. @fundjournalism's focus group members had emphasized that those were not necessarily things they needed from a new news outlet...” https://www.niemanlab.org/...
Chris Cobler / @chriscobler: Thank you to @HanaaTameez for a lovely story about @FortWorthReport. https://www.niemanlab.org/...
@niemanreports: “Nobody wants to look back on the work we've done and say, ‘God, we were really clueless 50 years ago.’ We want to start every day thinking that we're as in touch with the community as we possibly can be and reflect their interests and values.” https://www.niemanlab.org/...
@hanaatameez: Anyone who knows me knows I loved the work I did when I lived in Fort Worth. The people I met fundamentally changed me and the way I think about journalism, and I can't wait for @chriscobler to experience the city himself. Larga vida al @FortWorthReport. https://www.niemanlab.org/...
Sarah Scire / @sarahscire: “I introduced myself as the diversity reporter to one of the protestors and she said, 'We've been waiting for you!'” @HanaaTameez on working in Fort Worth, TX and a new nonprofit news outlet there https://www.niemanlab.org/...
@niemanlab: The Fort Worth Report, a new nonprofit newsroom, doesn't want to “repeat the mistakes of the past.” https://www.niemanlab.org/... https://twitter.com/...
Barbara Allen / Poynter: Continue preparing your students for a new media world
Sara Fischer / Axios:
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:
Sara Fischer / @sarafischer: 🚨Exclusive: Pocket Outdoor Media raises $150 million from Sequoia — Acquiring 5 outlets, doubling employee size to nearly 500 — Will have *1 million* paid digital subscribers in the outdoor media space (Yoga Journal, SKI, BACKPACKER, etc.) Story on @axios https://www.axios.com/...
Alex Barker / Financial Times:
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:
Reuters, @rcostaricardo, @epc_angela, @rasmus_kleis, @jason_kint, @carolinwehrhahn, @benedictevans and Marketing BS …, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Ricardo Costa / @rcostaricardo: Microsoft joins forces with European news publishers https://www.ft.com/... via @financialtimes Microsoft has joined forces with Europe's publishers, launching a project to develop an Australian-style arbitration system for the EU that would force Big Tech to pay for news
Angela Mills Wade / @epc_angela: Microsoft and European press publishers join forces to get Australian-style final arbitration mechanism into EU law to mandate payments for use of press content by gatekeepers https://www.ft.com/... @vestager @Andreas_Schwab @Ansip_EU @alexagiussaliba
Rasmus Kleis Nielsen / @rasmus_kleis: Microsoft is “working with Europe's four leading lobby groups for news publishers to develop a legal solution to “mandate payments” for the use of content by “gatekeepers that have dominant market power"" @alexebarker reports https://giftarticle.ft.com/...
Jason Kint / @jason_kint: Bam. In jumps European news publishers with Microsoft as wingman. Google and Facebook's repeated kicking and screaming over new laws cited as reason (in politer terms): “The experiences in France and Australia have shown us that there's a real need for a binding instrument.” https://twitter.com/...
Carolin Wehrhahn / @carolinwehrhahn: Microsoft joins forces with @ENPABrussels @EPC_Press @newsmediaEU @MagazineMedia launching a project to develop an Australian-style arbitration system for the EU that would force Big Tech to pay for news! https://www.ft.com/...
Benedict Evans / @benedictevans: Old: “Everyone in tech gives their competitor's core business away for free” New: “Everyone in tech tries to get their competitor's core business regulated”
Edward Nevraumont / Marketing BS with Edward …: Don't be evil, Google, Australia and Facebook
Sarah Stonbely / Columbia Journalism Review:
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
Discussion:
Sarah Stonbely / @sarahstonbely: Super proud to put this out into the world: What makes for robust local news provision? Looking at the structural correlates of local news coverage for an entire U.S. state, and mapping local news using a new method https://www.cjr.org/... via @cjr
Victor Pickard / @vwpickard: Excellent interview and an important critique of an oft-used metaphor. https://twitter.com/...
@cjr: On the struggling news industry, individualism vs. collectivism, and “ecosystem” as a metaphor: https://www.cjr.org/...
Nikki Usher / @nikkiusher: Amazing research This would have been so hard to publish in the traditional academy We'd lose years as a result https://twitter.com/...
Gavin Adamson / @ga_adamson: AN amazing and important read. Deeper local coverage is related to higher median incomes and municipal spending @caj reference to colleague @aprilatryerson @rye_jcu https://twitter.com/...
Fiona Morgan / @fionamorgan: Congratulations @SarahStonbely on this scholarship, moving us toward a fuller understanding of how to build a sustainable future for local news. https://twitter.com/...
Victor Pickard / @vwpickard: This groundbreaking research by @SarahStonbely holds so many important implications for the local journalism crisis. This is exemplary work — similar studies should be replicated across the US. https://www.cjr.org/... via @cjr
Nancy Solomon / @nancysolomon2: In NJ: Affluent municipalities are likely to have a greater number of local news providers serving them, while a community in the lowest is more than twice as likely to be a news desert. https://www.cjr.org/... via @cjr
Joshua P. Darr / @joshuadarr: Such an important project. A must-read if you care about local news (and you should)! https://twitter.com/...
@kljdavis: Not surprising, yet important data none the less. “What makes for robust local news provision? Looking at the structural correlates of local news coverage for an entire U.S. state, and mapping local news using a new method” via @cjr https://www.cjr.org/...
@cjr: .@SarahStonbely studied local news in New Jersey. Among her findings: the suburbs are the best served no matter how many local news originators we are looking at. https://www.cjr.org/...
@niemanlab: “Affluent municipalities are likely to have a greater number of local news providers serving them. ... Communities that spend the most money per capita (municipal spending) also have the highest number of local news outlets covering them.” https://www.cjr.org/...
@niemanreports: How can knowledge about the structural correlates of local news provision be used to help solve the local journalism crisis? New research attempts to find out. Via @cjr https://www.cjr.org/...
Jo Ellen Kaiser / @jgksf: We need this for all 50 states and territories! https://twitter.com/...
@centercoopmedia: We are SO EXCITED to share the latest research by our very own @SarahStonbely, co-published by @CJR. This research is part of a multi-phase, multi-year effort to understand local news provision ― in detail yet at scale. https://www.cjr.org/...
Jesse Holcomb / @jesseholcomb: This makes proud person #3! Thrilled to be part of this project in the early days. Sarah's work is a major contribution & I'm grateful for @TowCenter support of this and other studies pointing a way forward for community journalism. https://twitter.com/...
Emily Bell / @emilybell: I cannot recommend the brilliant work of @SarahStonbely too highly . This project - started with the also great @JesseHolcomb - is one of the projects I am most proud we supported through @TowCenter . A must read for local news policy and practice people @Sulliview @ehansen02 https://twitter.com/...
@mediathoughts: What makes for robust local news provision? Looking at the structural correlates of local news coverage for an entire U.S. state, and mapping local news using a new method https://www.cjr.org/... via @cjr #usfcaMS
@cjr: New: @SarahStonbely/@TowCenter studied which parts of New Jersey are receiving local news coverage. Among the findings: low-income communities are more likely to be news deserts. Read the report here: https://www.cjr.org/...
Emily Roseman / @emilyroseman1: We need to talk about this more “However, the findings of this study suggest that the audience-revenue model may not work in low-income communities, and that overreliance on it may recreate the inequities documented here.... https://twitter.com/...
Jim Haigh / @jmhaigh: @SarahStonbely @JesseHolcomb @StefanieMurray @jsamditis @CenterCoopMedia @emilybell @beteprown @docmattweber @zevross @shaaf99 @fionamorgan Extremely illuminating and an awe inspiring amount of work — wowza Sarah and team! Seeing positive correlation (exceptions noted) with municipal spending per capita. Did you notice same munis spending more on public notice advertising? More funding and civic content for outlets?
Ian Carlos Campbell / The Verge:
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
Discussion:
Sean Blanda / @seanblanda: Shout to to my fellow elder millennials who can be smug as hell about how we found stuff back in the old days before social. https://twitter.com/...
Jonathan Brown / @jb_au: Heh, I can imagine there's a few members of the Government who won't be too pleased they accidentally gave a boost to the ABC 😅 https://twitter.com/...
Casey Newton / @caseynewton: A homegrown Australian news app is now No. 1 in the App Store. Features include: reverse-chronological feed; less misinformation than the leading brand; and the “stories” here don't disappear after 24 hours! I think it could have a chance .... https://twitter.com/...
Luca Sofri / @lucasofri: @jeffjarvis There's another conflict of interest now: it is big newspapers covering Australia and explaining to readers the consequences for people of Facebook decision, while they are the ones things began with and the ones more hit.
Uma Patel / @umabp: ABC has used facebook's ban to prompt visitors to download its app.. it became the most downloaded app in Australia.... although the next four are all owned by Facebook and the 6th is a company fb tried to buy https://twitter.com/...
Peter Brent / @mumbletwits: A couple of explainers re Facebook google etc. https://www.platformer.news/ ... https://www.platformer.news/ ...
Matt Stoller / @matthewstoller: 1. Here's my summary of what the Australian media law does. It is not a ‘link tax.’ First, the bill is one result of a multi-year extremely in-depth investigation by highly respected Australian Competition and Consumer Commission head Rod Sims. https://mattstoller.substack.com/ ...
Glenn Gabe / @glenngabe: But this is good to see... people might be going directly to the source now -> 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 https://www.theverge.com/... h/t @umabp https://twitter.com/...
Jason Kint / @jason_kint: um... you went on ABC yday and never disclosed your program's funding, yes? I mean, I would stay quiet normally but this tweet is a bit much. News media cover issues all of the time where they have a business interest and should disclose where it's direct or unclear to audience. https://twitter.com/...
Nathan Lawrence / @nathanblawrence: I don't think it's the web prompt so much as it is that the entire country now directly has to seek out news and this is the most universally applicable outlet. https://twitter.com/...
Neeraj K. Agrawal / @neerajka: this would be a good times for news sites to push RSS https://twitter.com/...
Russell Ivanovic / @rustyshelf: @CaseyNewton @jamescroft This is great to see! Worth noting that they got to #1 with a smart banner ad campaign on their site. Some version of this is on every article. Sometimes twice as big and at the bottom. I think most people didn't even know they had an app https://twitter.com/...
Alex Howard / @digiphile: @CaseyNewton Sounds familiar & compelling. So like @tweetbot, but for news from around the Land Down Under, where beer does flow and men chunder?
Javier Pallero / @javierpallero: @CaseyNewton So what Facebook did could actually be good? (stepping out of news leaving that need to be covered by bee services)
Casey Newton / @caseynewton: @javierpallero I think so! There are a lot of good reasons to get your news directly from the source and I hope more Australians try it out
@cameronwilson: This is obviously good but, as with news traffic, I think the real test is in a month. Do people develop habits to seek out more news? Or do they forget about it when it's not in its feed https://twitter.com/...
Brooke Binkowski / @brooklynmarie: See, this is how @Facebook is choking off my industry worldwide. https://twitter.com/...
Andrew Brandt / @threatresearch: Facebook's Australian ragequit is going great. Maybe they can ragequit elsewhere. Everywhere. https://twitter.com/...
Brian Boyer / @brianboyer: Had a feeling this'd be an own goal. I'll bet TV news sees a spike too, and that both gains will sustain. https://twitter.com/...
Paris Marx / @parismarx: The Australian public broadcaster's app jumping to the top of the App Store charts after Facebook restricted news sharing seems like a good unintended consequence to me. https://www.theverge.com/...
Karl Bode / @karlbode: oh no, news outlets being approached directly for news https://twitter.com/...
Uma Patel / @umabp: Or will audiences just sub out of news entirely... my bet is that users will still need reliable information, especially right now, and will gravitate more towards checking a news site first thing in the morning instead of their Facebook feed
Uma Patel / @umabp: It'll be really interesting to see how audience behaviours change in the next couple of months in Australia - will habits trend more towards checking news directly from news sites (instead of relying on their friends to refer them)...
Joshua Benton / @jbenton: Positive adaptation —> https://twitter.com/...
Rasmus Kleis Nielsen / @rasmus_kleis: Well played ABC. (Now stay tuned for the lobbying against public service media to resume.) https://twitter.com/...
Jonathan Lewis / Known Knowns: Australia vs. Big Tech
RELATED:
Sheldon Chanel / The Guardian:
Facebook's Australia ban is acute for people in places like Fiji, who rely on phone plans with cheap Facebook access as going to news websites costs more data
Discussion:
Matt Stoller / BIG: Facecrook: Dealing with a Global Menace
Dan McGarry / @dailypostdan: @emilybell @mmasnick @foofdawg @robpegoraro Amanda Watson, who probably knows more about Pacific islands telecoms than anyone, explains the dependency problem that's developed in the Pacific, and how it's biting today: https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
Dan Froomkin / @froomkin: “Across the Pacific, thousands of people are on pre-paid data phone plans which include cheap access to Facebook. [They] can get news through the social network, but cannot go to original source websites without using more data, and spending more money.” https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
@blackamazon: Again the pissing contests between privileged people have real consequences. And " People will still find news @ Ain't the wave homies https://twitter.com/...
Ryan Heath / @politicoryan: Case study #84 of tech giants not knowing what they do before they do it: Facebook's Australia ban threatens to leave Pacific nations without key news source https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
Matt Stoller / @matthewstoller: @ZaidJilani @MattBruenig FB is core infrastructure. https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
Ben Doherty / @bendohertycorro: “From people all around the world: Fijians in South Sudan, Tongans in Utah, Pacific Islanders are everywhere, and they are telling us they are not seeing anything out of Australia.” | @sschanel16 @sueahearn @ahawatson https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
Matt Stoller / @matthewstoller: The Australia-Facebook spat isn't about Rupert Murdoch, that's a tired line by tech lobbyists. “From Australia, the Guardian visited the Samoa Observer, Vanuatu's Daily Post, the Fiji Times, and Papua New Guinea's Post Courier. None had visible posts.” https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
@ahawatson: There's confusion across the #Pacific region about the practical ramifications of Facebook's Australian news ban, as I said to @sschanel16 @GuardianAus @BenDohertycorro https://www.theguardian.com/ ... #tech #digital #ICT #socialmedia #ANUExpert @anudpa @ANUasiapacific @ANUBellSchool
Gavin Costello / @gavincostello: Is this actually relevant to Australia which, as I understand it, is the only place affected by the change in the FB experience? https://twitter.com/...
Ben Doherty / @bendohertycorro: @antsharwood For lots of people in Australia's region (eg the Pacific, SE Asia), FB is included in pre-paid data plans, so people with limited incomes/in developing countries can get news through FB, but can't go to the original source without using more data/more $.
Ben Doherty / @bendohertycorro: @gavincostello Reportage originating from Australia, or on Australian sites, about the Pacific/SE Asia, are blocked. The ABC's Pacific Beat for instance - vital source of Pacific news across the region.
Blake E. Reid / @blakereid: @mmasnick @emilybell @dailypostdan @foofdawg @robpegoraro Live by the sword, die by the sword. Facebook can't spend years trying to conceptualize itself as this transcendent quasi-sovereign all-things-to-all-people bastion of human rights and then insist on sympathy for selling out its users the second it loses a tough political fight.
Blake E. Reid / @blakereid: @mmasnick @emilybell @dailypostdan @foofdawg @robpegoraro It blocked news from users who rely on FB to access news on broadband access plans that are specifically premised on Facebook's viability as a conduit to news, and before the law even passed.
Mike Masnick / @mmasnick: @blakereid @emilybell @dailypostdan @foofdawg @robpegoraro How did it sell out its users? Again, I don't see that.
Mike Masnick / @mmasnick: @blakereid @emilybell @dailypostdan @foofdawg @robpegoraro But the only reason it can't keep that promise IS BECAUSE AUSTRALIA CHANGED THE RULES drastically. That's the impetus for this move, and it's bizarre to me that all of you are blaming Facebook for *this*. There's LOTS to blame FB for. But not this.
Mike Masnick / @mmasnick: @emilybell @dailypostdan @foofdawg @robpegoraro The problem in that piece is zero rating. And we've spent *years* screaming about how dangerous zero rating is. But mixing zero rating and linking to news as if they're the same thing is wrong. You're conflating separate issues. https://www.techdirt.com/...
Blake E. Reid / @blakereid: @mmasnick @emilybell @dailypostdan @foofdawg @robpegoraro They are connected though—Facebook banning news is the dire consequence of its zero rating initiatives. Australia may be in the wrong with this new law, but Facebook is externalizing the costs to users that depend on it. It made a promise it couldn't keep and now the users lose.
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