Top News:


Facebook releases a previously shelved Q1 content transparency report, acknowledging the widespread reach of content casting doubt on COVID vaccines — The social-media platform's Saturday evening acknowledgment comes after a lengthy internal debate over whether to share data.
Discussion:
@lizzadwoskin, @pilhofer, @amyklobuchar, @benedictevans, @karaswisher, @donie, @pilhofer, Gizmodo, @mmasnick, @donwinslow, @rmac18, The Signal, @benedictevans, @benedictevans, @peterme, @paulbrislen, @binajv, @asharangappa_, @carnage4life, Boston.com, Facebook, @kevincollier, @danrather, @davmicrot, @amy_siskind, @kamalanation, @dellcam, @tomwarren, @vickerysec, @clearing_fog, @gregbensinger, @ahmedbaba_, @zhugeex, @mollyjongfast, Reclaim The Net, @newhousesu and @pilhofer, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:


Internal emails: Facebook shelved content transparency report in Q1 fearing outcry, as most-viewed link was news article implying doctor died from COVID vaccine — The company praised itself this week for being “the most transparent platform on the internet.”
Discussion:
MediaPost, @daveyalba, Protocol, @jgreenblattadl, The Verge, Reclaim The Net, @daveyalba, @karlbode, @anthony, @daveyalba, @donie, @briansolis, NPR, Insider, @nytimes, @kateconger, @kevinroose, @brendannyhan, @zilevandamme, @rvawonk, @jesselehrich, @rebekahktromble, @brandyzadrozny, @qwongsj, @nicolegoodkind, @martinsfp, @profcarroll, @cademetz, @samred, @jason_kint, @jason_kint, @martyswant, @shannonpareil, @joshsternberg, @hshaban, @dmccabe, @can, @kurtwagner8, @chetfaliszek, @rmac18, @ceciliakang, Raw Story, Pixel Envy and The Verge


Anguished reactions by some in elite US media about Afghanistan come from people who deeply bought into the war and are suddenly forced to confront its reality — I wrote at the beginning of the week that the lightning collapse of the Afghan Army and the Afghan state, far from making …
RELATED:


UK agrees to visa waivers for more than 200 Afghan journalists who worked with the British media and their immediate family — Foreign secretary agrees to visa waivers for group of 200 but British Council staff still in limbo — More than 200 Afghan journalists who worked with the British media …
Discussion:
The Jackal


Sources: Rachel Maddow has agreed to a new multi-year deal with MSNBC, which will include developing new projects with the network and NBCUniversal — Rachel Maddow will stay at MSNBC, according to two people familiar with the matter, after negotiating a new pact that will keep her at the cable-news outlet beyond 2022.
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Axios, Insider, CNN, @benmullin, Raw Story, The Hill, TVLine, @variety and Mediaite


How the bipartisan Local Journalism Sustainability Act in US Congress would publicly fund local media orgs while letting them keep their editorial independence — The Philadelphia Inquirer is unique. The newspaper you are reading is the largest American news publication under nonprofit ownership …
Discussion:
@joycewhitevance


How Russia's crackdown has changed outlets like Meduza, which has an audience of 10M+/month and lost 95% of advertisers after being marked a “foreign agent” — Meduza, a leading independent news site, fights back with jokes and a stunning donation campaign. But can it stand up to the Russian state?
Discussion:
@nytimes, @rasmus_kleis, @cernovich, @benyt, @joelcpj, @antontroian and @crayonscrayons


YouTube says its Partner Program has 2M creators and the number of new channels joining the program in 2020 doubled YoY as channels making $100K+ grew 35% YoY — The program to pay its creators launched 14 years ago — YouTube's Partner Program, which allows users to make money off their videos …
Discussion:
MediaPost, Variety, Adweek, YouTube Official Blog and 9to5Google


This year's media startups are better funded than last year's, yet are similar in their emphasis on subscriptions, newsletters, and relatively small staff — Puck, Off the Record, Confidential and Charter: What they kept and what they tweaked. — A song to read by: “It's My House,” by Diana Ross


Chinese e-comics app Kuaikan, which has 50M MAUs, raises $240M Series F from CCB International, Tencent, and others, source says at a $1.25B valuation — - Comics apps valued at $1.25 billion, a person familiar says — Kuaikan is also backed by the likes of Coatue and ByteDance
Discussion:
CHINAdaily and South China Morning Post, more at Techmeme »


Public radio reporters and editors discuss climate change coverage takeaways: listeners want more stories, newsroom collaboration is key, and more — Public radio newsrooms that have ramped up reporting on climate change are finding new ways to help their audiences understand the local impact …
Discussion:
@copublicradio, @hartoutwest, @rebootingfuture, @aropeik and @coveringclimate


Interview with CNN's Clarissa Ward on reporting from Kabul as the chaos unfolded: “I appear calm, but that doesn't mean I am calm” — When CNN's Clarissa Ward approached a Taliban fighter on the streets of Kabul on Wednesday, a gunshot rang out behind her.
Discussion:
@spj_tweets, @esquire, @trafficbutter, @milamimica1, @baylyjoanne, @dnvolz, @cnnnewsroom, @oliverdarcy and Columbia Journalism Review