Top News:


Newly released CIA-led intelligence report concludes Mohammed bin Salman approved the 2018 slaying of journalist Jamal Khashoggi — - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved an operation to capture or kill journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, a U.S. intelligence report says.
Discussion:
New York Times, Washington Post, Just Security, New York Times, The Wrap, @jameeljaffer, @julianbarnes, CNN, @nickkristof, @ryanstruyk, @karaswisher, @kenroth, @jaketapper, NPR, @senduckworth, @nickkristof, @martina, @andykimnj, @skinnerpm, @wesleylowery, @colmorrisdavis, @digiphile, @digiphile, @senblumenthal, @jrubinblogger, @dcwoodruff, @senwarren, @bryangreenberg, @rulajebreal, @froomkin, @froomkin, @mazdaki, @mjfree, @just_security, @dataeditor, @sorayamcdonald, @aymanm, @kaitlancollins, @yay_yee, @nytimes, @repswalwell, @just_security, @freedomofpress, @ammaralijan, @hmousavian, @saimamohsin, @tedlieu, @ronwyden, @kenroth, @brooksbarnesnyt, The Hill, Vanity Fair, Mediaite, The Guardian, Voice of America, Politico, Financial Times, Bloomberg and Insider
RELATED:


US State Dept. announces “Khashoggi Ban”, limiting visas for state-sponsored foreign actors who threaten or harm journalists, activists; 76 Saudis on first list — The Biden administration Friday sanctioned Saudi officials, but not the kingdom's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman …
Discussion:
The Guardian, CBC News, The Daily Beast, Reuters, The Hill, Voice of America, Al Jazeera, Intellectual Curiosity, The Hindu and New York Post


NYT columnist David Brooks wrote a 900-word ode to Facebook Groups on Facebook's corporate website and appeared in a company video; NYT says it was not aware — On Tuesday, New York Times columnist David Brooks published a 900-word ode to Facebook Groups and how they foster online communities around the world.
Discussion:
@craigsilverman, @craigsilverman, @emilybell, @brandyzadrozny, @rmac18, @edroso, @penenberg, @tomlevenson, @digiphile, @keitholbermann, @jesselehrich, @pkafka, @chick_in_kiev, @jaredbkeller, @kari_paul, @glennf, @juliacarriew, @heerjeet, @devindra, @juddlegum, @david_ingram, @scottlucas, @dataeditor, @katzish, @slpng_giants, Mediaite, Wall Street Journal and The Hill


How Marty Baron and Jeff Bezos remade The Washington Post from a paper “for Washingtonians” into a global publication with almost 3M digital subscribers — The celebrated editor is ending his tenure at the helm of a very different newspaper than the one he originally signed on to run.
Discussion:
Media Nation and Quartz


WaPo national editor denounces “racist, sexist, and ill-informed attacks” on reporter Seung Min Kim after she showed a Neera Tanden tweet to Sen. Lisa Murkowski — The Washington Post on Thursday denounced online abuse that targeted one of its reporters after a photo of her speaking …
Discussion:
New York Times, @maureendowd, @kriscoratti, @maggienyt, @ericboehlert, @grace_panetta, @hypatiadotca, @maggienyt, @briankarem, @anniekarni, @stevenjay, @farnazfassihi, @emzanotti, @dlind, @ryangrim, @williams_paige, @mspicuzzamjs, @vilkviktorya, @emilyctamkin, @tedhesson, @lawoftd, @myhlee, @maggienyt, @philiprucker, @gtconway3d, @ecgreaves, @asteadwesley, @asteadwesley, @mattyglesias, @seungminkim, @tedlieu, @seungminkim, @nancook, The Guardian, Mediaite and The Daily Beast


How PBS is adapting to streaming, including one-click donations on Amazon's Fire TV and plans to distribute programming via ad-supported video services — If there were a playbook for the streaming wars, it might read something like this: Take your most valuable assets …
Discussion:
@jank0

Sources: Disney and the NFL reach a broad media rights agreement, with ESPN renewing Monday Night Football; the NFL already reached deals with CBS, Fox, and NBC — Disney and the NFL have reached a broad agreement on a new media rights deal that will see ESPN renew “MNF” …
Discussion:
Forbes, @mattverderame, @darrenrovell, @gbellseattle, @dlolley_pgh, @stevekovach, @thadbrown7, @bizballmaury, @jedigoodman, @kevinmdraper, @randyscottespn, @chrisdaniels5, @ryanfieldabc, @andrewbrandt, @jerrymcd, @ourand_sbj, @richarddeitsch, @richarddeitsch, New York Post, The Information, Sports Media Watch, Larry Brown Sports, Variety, Awful Announcing and Front Office Sports


Shockingly real deepfakes of Tom Cruise are going viral on TikTok, with the account @deeptomcruise amassing 200K+ followers in a few days — FOR THE LOVE OF XENU — Be afraid. Be very afraid. — Three days ago, a TikTok account going by @deeptomcruise began posting video clips …


Netflix shares USC report on its onscreen and offscreen representation and commits to spending $100M over five years on underrepresented groups in film and TV — Netflix received broadly high marks for diversity and inclusion in its movies and TV shows when it came to gender and people of color …
Discussion:
CNN, Breitbart, @squawkalley, The Wrap, @s_m_i, @obedmanuel, @gustavoarellano, @artsypabster, @clamontlives, Hollywood Reporter, @marysolcastro, @kirkacevedo, @davidobowles, @rachwoods97, @lesbrains, @vientofuego, @michellemanafy, @writeinclusion, @cristymsilva, @lucas_shaw, @pranganathan, @wearenetflix, @rfaughnder, About Netflix, Insider, Engadget, The Wrap and Reuters


As Fox News is immune to ad boycotts due to cable carriage fees, mandating a la carte cable where people only pay for channels they want may be more effective — Two Democratic members of Congress are asking giant cable providers like Verizon and Comcast some uncomfortable questions …


How platforms like Spotify and tools like Community, Audigent, and Unitea help artists find their superfans and target them for monetization opportunities — New tech that allows artists to interact with superfans — and turn their data into dollars — promises to open long-term revenue streams
Discussion:
@uniteamusic, @mitchlafon and @tatianacirisano


AMC Networks had Q4 net income of $94.7M, up from $8.58M a year ago, on revenue of $780.3M, and says it has 6M+ subscribers to its various streaming services — AMC Networks said it swung to a profit in the fourth quarter despite a decline in revenue as it narrowed losses in its international …
Discussion:
Variety, @variety, The Wrap, The Wrap, The Streamable, MediaPost and Hollywood Reporter