Top News:
Ev Williams / Medium:
Medium announces buyout offers to everyone in its editorial division and the departure of Siobhan O'Connor, VP of editorial, as it adjusts publication strategy — We announced a buyout and leadership change to the Medium editorial team today. Below is the email I sent to the company. — Team,
Discussion:
New York Times, VICE, Medialyte, The Muffin por Mauricio …, @alexeheath, @carnage4life, @ev, @raju, @melissaryan, @constar24, @stokel, @brookeobie, @jason_koebler, @waywardwinifred, @smashdawg, @timmaughan, @alex, @davezatz, @ryanlawler, @rmac18, @stephaniemlee, @caseynewton, @mrmisocainea, @benedictevans, @jfagone, @alexckaufman, @helaineolen, @dansinker, @harrymccracken, @katie_robertson, @caseynewton, @sarthakgh, @alexeheath, @lukeepplin, @rvoronacote, @kerrymflynn, @micahsingleton, @lmatsakis, @lanceulanoff, @bigblackjacobin, @hcmarks, @devindra, @peterbale, @readdanwrite, @navalang, @thekenyeung, @yaelwrites, @jasonhowell, @vice, @jathansadowski, @aarieff, Insider, @warmoth, @iankar_, @mbaram, @mcwm, @thekenyeung, @thekenyeung, @tomkrazit, @benyt, @tamigraph, @parismarx, @pierce, @thekenyeung, @ryanlawler, @jayrosen_nyu, @rmac18, @robpegoraro, @alexeheath, @benyt, @themadstone, @ow, @kerrymflynn, The Wrap, @s_m_i, @hshaban, @clarajeffery, @bdeskin, @joshsternberg, @thecitywanderer, @adamwren, @grahamstarr, Jezebel and The Information, more at Techmeme »
Steven Perlberg / Insider:
Leaked memo: NYT is creating a system to approve outside work by its journalists, including newsletters, podcasts, book deals, or consulting on film projects — - A committee of Times leaders are expected to review outside work for journalists. — Both paid and unpaid newsletters may require approval from The Times.
Discussion:
@caseynewton, @kellyannepolls, @lowenaffchen, @benthompson, @jamesivings, @nathanblawrence, @bendifrancesco, @jason, @whatthebit, @joshconstine, @esportsguy, @ryanlawler, @perlberg, @josephpalbanese, @kantrowitz, @mdekuijper, @scottbelsky, @mattyglesias, @edzitron, @mattdpearce, @yongfook, @errrica, @ranjanxroy, @adamdavidson, @jacobwolf, @jarroddicker, @joshsternberg, @jamesfdennin, @wetcasements, @oliviasolon, @simonowens, @adriana_lacy, @loudmouthjulia, @baekdal, @mathewi and The Hill
Axios:
Ahead of House hearing, Mark Zuckerberg calls for Section 230 reform that makes protections conditional on platforms' ability to identify and remove content — Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will tell lawmakers his plan for “thoughtful reform” of a key tech liability shield rests …
Discussion:
NBC News, @dylanbyers, CNBC, @matthewstoller, @matthewstoller, @margarethmcgill, @pkafka and @pkafka, more at Techmeme »
David Leonhardt / New York Times:
Analysis finds 87% of COVID-19 coverage in the national US media last year was negative, compared to 51% in international media and 64% in scientific journals — The U.S. media is offering a different picture of Covid-19 from science journals or the international media, a study finds.
Discussion:
@dleonhardt, @elaberwarren, @jonfavs, @natesilver538, @chrisvanderveen, @picardonhealth, @rogerpielkejr, @jeromeadamsmd and @raju
Meg James / Los Angeles Times:
LA Times says it has received a $10M PPP loan, its first during the pandemic, to help cover payroll and other costs amid a plunge in advertising revenue — The Los Angeles Times has received a $10-million loan through the federal Paycheck Protection Program — money that will help cover payroll …
Discussion:
The Hill, New York Post, @dicktofel, @chadterhune, @adriana_lacy, @jessicamartinez, @megjameslat, @dtohl and The Wrap
New York Times:
Brands including Ford and Nike are funding long-form branded content for streaming services like Hulu and HBO to reach audiences who no longer see short ads — As streaming video has gained in importance during the pandemic, advertisers have put more focus on Hollywood-level branded content as a way to reach viewers.
Discussion:
AgencySpy, @tanyadua, @aexm, @nicsperling, @nytmedia, @bristei, @johnbranchnyt, @bristei, @joshsternberg, @kennethturan, @ischafer, @brooksbarnesnyt, @tiffkhsu, @dylanbyers and Variety
RELATED:
Jem Aswad / Variety:
Germany-based music company BMG and investment firm KKR say they will partner to pursue recorded music, music publishing, and other music-rights acquisitions — The already-crowded music-catalog-acquisition business just got a formidable new player: Germany-based music company BMG …
Discussion:
Reuters, Forbes, Hollywood Reporter and Music Business Worldwide
Ian Parker / New Yorker:
A deep look at HGTV, a top-four cable network since 2018, and how it handled two crises: COVID-19, which shuttered TV production, and the slow demise of cable — In the streaming era, does the network need to be more than wallpaper? — One morning last June, a dozen executives at HGTV …
Discussion:
@lanceulanoff, @discoveryinctv, @newyorker, @newyorker and @langealexandra
Allison Schiff / AdExchanger:
Google says FLoC, its tool for advertisers to perform behavioral targeting, might not be compatible with GDPR and hence is stopping its testing in Europe — Google will not make FLoC-based cohorts available for testing in countries where GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive are in effect.
Discussion:
TechCrunch, @carnage4life, @eric_seufert, @jason_kint, @micshasan and @cpokane
Nicole Gallucci / Mashable:
Q&A with WaPo video producer Dave Jorgenson, who has helped the outlet's TikTok account amass close to 900,000 followers through his witty and topical videos — Welcome to Small Talk, a series where we catch up with the internet's favorite Extremely Online individuals offline.
Discussion:
@michellemanafy, @nicolemichele5, @jaconi, @davejorgenson, @eiffeltyler and @kerrymflynn
Associated Press:
AP reporter Thein Zaw, who was arrested more than three weeks ago while covering a protest in Myanmar, released from detention after judge drops all charges — YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Thein Zaw, a journalist for The Associated Press who was arrested more than three weeks ago while covering …
Discussion:
The Hill, @vmsalama, @cpaciolla, @tostevinm, Associated Press and @brianstelter
Murad Ahmed / Financial Times:
Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich sues HarperCollins and the author of Putin's People, in the UK, over claims that he bought Chelsea FC on orders from Putin — Billionaire says claim that he acquired club at Kremlin's orders is defamatory — Roman Abramovich has launched legal action …
Discussion:
@raju and @muradahmed