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:
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Josh Taylor / The Guardian:
Facebook now lets users and pages turn off comments on their posts, after a 2019 Australian court ruling that news pubs are liable for comments on their pages — The new feature to limit comments comes after an Australian court ruling that found news outlets are liable for comments on their pages
Discussion:
Medium, TechCrunch, @adamholmes010, @manjusrii, @flipprior, @brittneyrigby, @earleyedition, @missrobinson and About Facebook, more at Techmeme »
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:
Digiday, Electronic Frontier Foundation, AdExchanger, web.dev, The Verge and The Keyword, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
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
Ingrid Lunden / TechCrunch:
Linkedin launches a Creator mode, like its Influencer network but letting anyone be a creator, launches video Cover Stories, adds Service pages for freelancers — LinkedIn, the social network now with 740 million users around the world, has carved out an identity for itself as the place online …
Discussion:
TechCrunch, The Verge, @caseynewton, The Indian Express, @lanceulanoff and Gizmodo, more at Techmeme »
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Regional publishers JPI Media and Archant top furlough claims for the UK news media industry in January; Al Jazeera and Tortoise newly joined the scheme — Regional publishers JPI Media, Archant and Midland News Association topped furlough claims for the UK news media industry in January.
Foo Yun Chee / Reuters:
Google says it will contribute €25M to the European Media and Information Fund, which was established last week to improve media literacy — BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Alphabet unit Google will contribute 25 million euros ($29.3 million) to the newly set up European Media and Information Fund …
Discussion:
The Keyword
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.
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:
Variety, Financial Times, CNN, Insider, Al Jazeera, Axios, @lotteleicht1, Reuters, @catholicsat, @mattcknight and @pressgazette
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, @lockerroomapp, @spotifynews, Wall Street Journal, @atrupar, @tomcampbell, @ashtonpittman, @asemota, @philparkbot, musically.com, @barleyscotch, @andizeisler, @gadyepstein, @isocialfanz, @gvteam, @dylanbyers, @parkermolloy, @mmasnick, @harthanson, @leavittalone, @bmkibler, @dada_drummer, @joshelman, @pitdesi, @cheriehu42, @bmccandless, @howardakumiah, @lazchance, @richlightshed, MaC VC, ScreenRant, The Wrap, Variety, Music Business Worldwide and CNBC, more at Techmeme »
Matthew Panzarino / TechCrunch:
Apple leads $50M Series B in 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:
Financial Times, @anthony, @ingridlunden, Variety, Wall Street Journal and Music Business Worldwide, more at Techmeme »
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 …