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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, @ljin18, @apompliano, @annaknicolaou, @hamishmckenzie, Forbes, @niubi, @ike_saul, @substackinc, @carnage4life, @llsethj, @tsoh_investing, @ggreenwald and The Wrap, more at Techmeme »
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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.


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.
Discussion:
@cliomiso, @wesleylowery, @alex_shephard, @blairdayton16, @halbritz, @laraeparker, @caitlinrcruz, @jayrosen_nyu, @grace_segers, @gabemschneider, @meghanbkelly, @jenzerb, @lainnafader, @lmlauramarsh, @theleoji, @terawhunter, @neenareports, @jayrosen_nyu, @drewmagary, @nymag, @dylanmatt, @damemagazine, @samadlerbell, @mattnegrin, @jayrosen_nyu, @feliciasonmez and @feliciasonmez


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.
Discussion:
Media Matters for America, Hartford Courant, Associated Press, Law & Crime, Mediaite, Deadline, Gizmodo, @richardmarx, New York Post, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, The Daily Beast, UPI, CNN, The Wrap, The Week, Forbes, VICE, @brianstelter, @kylegriffin1, Insider, @frankconniff, @aaronblake, New York Magazine and The Hill


Snap signs 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:
Snap Newsroom, Billboard, Adweek, Digital Music News, Music Business Worldwide, TechCrunch and 9to5Mac


The FTC recently announced plans to crack down on companies, including news publishers, using “dark patterns that trick or trap consumers into subscriptions” — Most U.S. news organizations won't let readers cancel online. The Federal Trade Commission wants that to change.
Discussion:
@sarahscire, @andygawt, @jbenton, @jaspar, @_cingraham, @ndiakopoulos, @davelucas and @faduda


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 …


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:
Observer, SlashFilm, IATSE, The Wrap, Gizmodo, Wall Street Journal, Adweek, @iatse, @awolfeful, @robhatchmiller, @carriecnh12, @adequateemily, @jamieson, @jessdrawz, @childbearer, @jbflint, Forbes, @variety, @mizteefranklin, dot.LA, @variety, @variety_cynthia, @kateaurthur and @hesherman

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 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


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.
Discussion:
@kebrightbill, @martinimade, @eschor, @nancyafrench, @estherofreilly, @bernybelvedere, @publicroad, @jeffchu, @mattdpearce, @markcoddington, @megbasham, @philipdbunn, @nytimes, @samthielman, @drantbradley, @jbouie, @elizabethjdias, @dru_johnson, @_silversmith, @davidafrench, @ddiamond, @marvinolasky and @aaron_renn


NBCU says Peacock will be available as a free add-on for Sky's satellite TV customers in the UK and Ireland starting on 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 …
Discussion:
Light Reading, The Streamable, Engadget, Broadband TV News and nexttv.com