Top News:
Katie Robertson / New York Times:
The Texas Tribune's editorial director, Stacy-Marie Ishmael, and chief product officer, Millie Tran, say they will leave next month, both citing an intense year — The Texas Tribune, a digital news outlet in Austin, is losing two of its leaders. — Stacy-Marie Ishmael, the editorial director …
Discussion:
@evanasmith, @millie, @millie, @evanasmith, @s_m_i, @saraheglen, @freeblackgirl, @clockwerks, @tball, @kerrymflynn, @khushbuoshea, @wendi_c_thomas, @losowsky, @dalyahj, @keaux_, @jimschachter, @susanelizabeth, @dkiesow, @vivian, @telkinsjr, @juliastmi, @cande313, @mjenkins, @erika_owens, @moorehn, @s_m_i, @felixsalmon, @mitrakalita, @eramshaw, @jeffjarvis, @raju, @megreenwell, @millie, @cwarzel, @bcrodriguez, @hayskali, @vivian, @chasingcrumbs, @jessicahuseman, @loisbeckett, @evanasmith, @katie_robertson, @dangillmor, @markstenberg3, @meena_thiru, @bobbycblanchard, @lisatozzi, @jillgeisler, @telkinsjr and @anoushasakoui
Aoife White / Bloomberg:
A group of ad-tech companies, including PubMatic, details SWAN, an anonymous identifier that lets users control ads they see, as an alternative to web cookies — - SWAN network, backed by PubMatic, others, to launch in summer — Google's FLoC has been criticized by privacy advocates
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Frederic Lardinois / TechCrunch:
Google says it is rolling out FLoC, its alternative to cookies and a crucial part of its Privacy Sandbox project for Chrome, as a developer origin trial — Google today announced that it is rolling out Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC), a crucial part of its Privacy Sandbox project for Chrome, as a developer origin trial.
Discussion:
Electronic Frontier Foundation, Digiday, AdExchanger, web.dev, The Verge and The Keyword, more at Techmeme »
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Spotify buys app developer Betty Labs, creator of Locker Room, a live social audio app where fans can talk about sports, which Spotify plans on expanding — The acquisition will allow creators of all kinds to host anything from debates to live concerts.
Discussion:
@dylanbyers, Spotify, NBC News, The Verge, @ashleyrcarman, @caseynewton, musically.com, Wall Street Journal, @lockerroomapp, @spotifynews, @isocialfanz, @atrupar, @tomcampbell, @ashtonpittman, @asemota, @philparkbot, @gadyepstein, @barleyscotch, @andizeisler, @gvteam, @dylanbyers, @parkermolloy, @mmasnick, @harthanson, @leavittalone, @bmkibler, @dada_drummer, @joshelman, @pitdesi, @cheriehu42, @bmccandless, MaC VC, @howardakumiah, @lazchance, @richlightshed, ScreenRant, The Wrap, Variety, CNBC and Music Business Worldwide, more at Techmeme »
Hollywood Reporter:
Univision reports Q4 revenue of $722.9M, up 4% YoY, and a loss of $39.1M, compared with a year-ago profit of $93.9M — “We will begin unlocking the enormous potential of Univision,” says CEO Wade Davis in the Spanish-language media giant's first financial report since selling a majority stake to an investor group.
Matthew Panzarino / TechCrunch:
Apple leads $50M Series B of music distributor UnitedMasters, with a16z and Alphabet participating; UnitedMasters enters a strategic partnership with Apple — Independent music distribution platform and tool factory UnitedMasters has raised a $50M series B round led by Apple.
Discussion:
Variety, Wall Street Journal and Music Business Worldwide, more at Techmeme »
BBC:
BBC's China correspondent John Sudworth has left the country and moved to Taiwan following pressure and threats from the Chinese authorities — The BBC's Beijing correspondent John Sudworth has left China and moved to Taiwan following pressure and threats from the Chinese authorities.
Discussion:
CNN, Variety, Insider, Financial Times, Reuters, @catholicsat, @mattcknight and @pressgazette
Marcela García Globe / The Boston Globe:
By normalizing Trump's former senior adviser Stephen Miller, Politico and others are helping launder his white supremacist ideas into the mainstream — Journalists who normalize Trump's former senior adviser ‘are helping him launder his white supremacist ideas into the mainstream.’
Discussion:
@alexpadilla4ca, @globeopinion, @brooklynmarie, @mattnegrin, @joncoopertweets, @ezhurb, @susanbchurch11, The Daily Beast and Mediaite
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Radio and podcasting company Entercom is rebranding itself to Audacy and retiring Radio.com — After more than 50 years as Entercom Communications, the radio and podcasting company is unfurling a new banner: Effective immediately, it is changing its name to Audacy. … The company's new website is audacyinc.com.
Discussion:
Axios, AudacyInc, @jamescridland, @davidjfieldaud, @bothompsonwbt, @jason_kint, RAIN News, RadioInsight, Hot Pod News and Radio & Television …
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Time Out Media reports revenue of £9M in H2 2020, down 59% YoY, and a loss of £1.7M, vs. earnings of £675K in H2 2019; both digital and print ad revenue fell — Revenue at Time Out Media was down 59% to £9m in the second half of 2020 as continued worldwide Covid-19 lockdowns …
Jon Allsop / Columbia Journalism Review:
The broadcast of Derek Chauvin's trial, allowed due to intense interest and limited physical access due to COVID, reignites debate over cameras in the courtroom — Earlier this month—with jury selection set to begin in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the white former Minneapolis police officer …
Discussion:
NPR, Mediaite, @athenacnn, @jon_allsop, USA Today, NBC News and Associated Press
Erik Wemple / Washington Post:
Dominion's suit against Fox News lists a torrent of disinformation and says the few stories that told the truth show that Fox knew it was spreading lies — Media critic — Back in December, Dominion Voting Systems warned Fox News and other spreaders of election-related conspiracy theories that lawsuits were imminent.
Discussion:
@oliverdarcy and @brianstelter
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