Top News:
Anna Nicolaou / Financial Times:
Substack says it has reached 1M paying subscribers, up from 250,000 last December — Many top journalists have left legacy media to go it alone on publishing platform — Newsletter start-up Substack has reached 1m paying subscribers, underlining the growing power of à la carte journalism …
Discussion:
Substack, Axios, Nieman Lab, The Wrap, Forbes, @hamishmckenzie, @niubi, @ike_saul, @substackinc, @carnage4life, @llsethj, @tsoh_investing and @ggreenwald
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Delia Cai / Vanity Fair:
Q&A with newsletter writers Charlie Warzel, Casey Lewis, and Nick Quah on moving back to legacy outlets, losing independence, handling refunds, and more — As burnout and new opportunities beckon, newsletter writers navigate the awkward matter of quitting—and issuing refunds.
Chris Stokel-Walker / Wired UK:
Substack touts itself as an alternative to toxic, ad-driven social media, but many of its top earners are polarizing figures who were deplatformed elsewhere
Substack touts itself as an alternative to toxic, ad-driven social media, but many of its top earners are polarizing figures who were deplatformed elsewhere
Discussion:
American Press Institute, @bradesposito, @counternotions, @kantrowitz, @carnage4life, @jenniferm_q, @ggreenwald, @glennf, @stokel, @jessesingal and @rasmus_kleis
Ezra Klein / New York Times:
Q&A with Jay Rosen on how US political coverage is now a choice between pro- and anti-democratic forces, what a pro-democracy media might look like, and more — I'm Ezra Klein, and this is “The Ezra Klein Show.” — Hey, it's Ezra. While I'm on paternity leave, we have got an All-Star team sitting in for me.
The Guardian:
Myanmar releases US journalist Danny Fenster from prison, three days after sentencing him to 11 years for incitement and breaches of terrorism laws — Fenster freed three days after he was sentenced to 11 years in jail — The American journalist Danny Fenster has been released from prison in Myanmar …
Elizabeth Williamson / New York Times:
US judge finds Alex Jones liable by default in Sandy Hook defamation lawsuits after he refused to turn over documents ordered by the courts — A Connecticut judge's ruling combines with decisions in Texas to grant a clean sweep for families of shooting victims in their cases against the Infowars host.
Clio Chang / New York Magazine:
Inside Felicia Sonmez's lawsuit against the Washington Post that alleges discrimination and cruel, baffling persecution of Sonmez by the paper's highest editors — Why was a reporter punished for speaking up about sexual assault? — In February 2020, the leadership of the Washington Post was in the midst of an internal crisis.
Reuters:
Pope Francis thanks journalists for uncovering the Church's clerical sexual abuse, “helping us not to sweep it under the carpet”, and giving victims a voice — Pope Francis on Saturday thanked journalists for helping uncover the clerical sexual abuse scandals that the Roman Catholic Church initially tried to cover up.
Discussion:
@joekillianpw, @cindy_wooden, @owhguild, @davemckinney, @kyle_whitfield, @sherman_news, @kreissdaniel, @maggiehendricks, @janet_graham15, @richard_scorer, @rwklose, @ckrewson, @markstephenmur2, @chrissiefoster7, @hayekmg, @dgisserious, @jonmsweeney, @mattdpearce, @davetarrantnews, @gavinjones10, @eduardosuarez, The Canberra Times, Yahoo News and The Hill
Ben Smith / New York Times:
World's editor resigns after 27 years, as the Christian pub known for watchdog journalism debuts a secular opinion section on topics like Biden's spending plans — A clash over culture and politics comes to World, a groundbreaking journalistic institution that covers evangelical Christians.
Jem Aswad / Variety:
Snap agrees a licensing deal with Sony Music, following its deals with UMG, WMG, and others, and will add its Sounds on Snap feature to AR Lenses — Snap has struck a licensing deal with Sony Music Entertainment — which means the music of all three major labels/ publishers and many indies …
Discussion:
Billboard, Adweek, TechCrunch, 9to5Mac and Music Business Worldwide
Gene Maddaus / Variety:
IATSE members vote to ratify a three-year agreement with a 54-hour weekend rest period, 3% annual raise, and more, ending the threat of a strike — The membership of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees has voted to ratify a new three-year agreement …
Discussion:
The Wrap, @variety, @mizteefranklin, @variety, @variety_cynthia, @kateaurthur and dot.LA
Jim Waterson / The Guardian:
The BBC's no-bias policy is being pushed to its limits as staff grapple with who gets to choose topics where impartiality matters, such as transgender rights — Analysis: from anti-racism protests to trans rights, who gets to choose topics where impartiality matters is a live issue
Todd Spangler / Variety:
NBCU says Peacock will be available as a free add-on for Sky's satellite TV customers in UK and Ireland starting November 16 — According to NBCU, after the “soft launch” in the U.K. and Ireland, Peacock will continue to roll out across Sky platforms in territories including Germany, Italy …
Discussion:
The Streamable, nexttv.com, Engadget, Light Reading and Broadband TV News