Top News:
Paul Farhi / Washington Post:
Journalists covering the Olympics plan to use burner phones and laptops as they assume total surveillance by the government intent on controlling China's image — Journalists covering the Winter Olympics next month say they'll do their work in Beijing on brand-new cellphones and laptops.
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Andy Hall / ESPN Front Row:
ESPN, which planned to send four reporters to the Winter Olympics in China, says it won't send any personnel due to COVID-19 concerns and related restrictions — Robust remote coverage plans will kick off prior to start of competition — Due to concerns about COVID-19 …
Discussion:
The Hill, The Daily Beast, @femme_thoughts, @darcymaine_espn, @espnpr, @darcymaine_espn, @wyshynski, UPI, nexttv.com and Awful Announcing
Christine Brennan / USA Today:
NBC Sports says it won't send any Winter Olympics announcing teams to Beijing due to COVID-19 but still plans “a large presence on the ground”
NBC Sports says it won't send any Winter Olympics announcing teams to Beijing due to COVID-19 but still plans “a large presence on the ground”
Discussion:
CNN, TVNewser, Poynter, @a_picazo, Awful Announcing, @cbrennansports, Los Angeles Times, American Press Institute, @devin_heroux, @tvgrimreaper, @b52malmet, Bulletin, Pew Research Center, Associated Press, NPR, The Wrap, Bloomberg, The Hill, Awful Announcing, Deadline, Sports Illustrated, The Streamable and NBC Sports Pressbox
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Netflix reports Q4 revenue of $7.71B, up 16% YoY, net income of $607M, 222M paid subscribers, and $30B in 2021 revenue, up 19%; stock down 20%+ on weak guidance — Netflix ended 2021 with a slightly lower-than-expected subscriber gain in the fourth quarter, and its stock took a dive with a weak Q1 outlook.
Discussion:
Netflix, CNBC, @natjarv, Variety, @natjarv, Axios, The Wrap, @lucas_shaw, Bloomberg, @edmundlee, @xpangler, @alexweprin, @dfriend, @xpangler, @hedgemind, Digiday, @ldignan, Protocol, @xpangler, @dangillmor, @samro, @thesignaldotco, Reuters, @lucas_shaw, @stevekovach, CNN, TechCrunch, MediaPost, Light Reading, The Verge, New York Post, Ad Age and Wall Street Journal, more at Techmeme »
Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:
Docs from Congress' January 6 committee show Sean Hannity texted advice for Trump on January 7, 2021, to then WH press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, now at Fox — The Fox News host Sean Hannity had some blunt advice for President Donald J. Trump on Jan. 7, 2021: “No more stolen election talk.”
Discussion:
@atrupar, @grynbaum, @acyn, @joshsternberg, @atrupar, @acyn, @jaysbookman, @azi, @grynbaum, @mollyjongfast, The Independent, Vanity Fair, Mediaite, The Hill, Select Committee …, Mediaite and Insider
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
BBC News has the biggest news account on Instagram, with 20M followers, which it says regularly drives 700K+ clicks weekly to its website, 5x more than in 2019 — BBC News crossed 20m followers on Instagram in December - the first news account in the world to do so.
Discussion:
@shivanidave, @jonnymcguigan, @hannahfearn, @sophiasgaler, @kadywardell, @fionasnp, What's New in Publishing and @robinlevinson
A.J. Katz / TVNewser:
Memo: David Firestone, NBC News Digital's executive editor and a former NYT reporter and editor, plans to retire in mid-May after 45 years in journalism — NBC News Digital executive editor David Firestone is retiring in mid-May after 45 years in the journalism business, the last five of them at NBC.
Reuters:
Myanmar police arrest three people working for independent news outlet Dawei Watch without giving reasons for the arrests — Myanmar's military has arrested three people working for the independent news portal Dawei Watch, an editor at the publication said on Thursday …
Discussion:
@kyawhsanhlaing1, @lindadeutsch and Voice of America
Sam Biddle / The Intercept:
Meta's content moderators seem unable to distinguish Sri Lankan outlet Tamil Guardian from the long-defunct Tamil Tigers, highlighting risks to press freedom — Facebook's Dangerous Individuals and Organizations policy, a vast library of secret rules limiting the online speech of billions …
Discussion:
@evan_greer, @thusi_kumar, @davidgreene, @theintercept, @varathas and @samfbiddle
Ted Gioia / The Honest Broker:
MRC Data: in 2021, songs more than 18 months old represented 70% of the US streaming market, up from 65% in 2020, meaning the new music market is shrinking — All the growth in the music business now comes from old songs—how did we get here, and is there a way back?
Discussion:
@dainfitzgerald, @adamasnemesis, @nicholaspaul26, @kayreneeesq, @jr_foust, @ezraklein, @tedgioia, @ezraklein, @mirandareinert, @doctorsyntax, @ezraklein, @toivohaimi, @smithpatrick08, @chaykak, @bobtarantino, @prairielaura, @mattyglesias, @jkfecke, @joelmmathis, @ezraklein, @bradluen, Nicola's Newsletter and Binge Thinking
AAP:
The Australian Associated Press names former Sydney Morning Herald editor Lisa Davies as CEO, replacing Emma Cowdroy, who will step down but stay at the AAP — Emma Cowdroy to step down from heading Newswire service, which was saved from attempted closure by News Corp and Nine
Discussion:
@lisazdavies and Mumbrella
Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:
ABC announces a Good Morning America podcast and entertainment podcast Close Up as part of a renewed audio focus, starting on February 9 — A ‘Good Morning America’ podcast and new programming are part of the renewed audio focus. — ABC News is planning a fresh podcast push …
Discussion:
insideradio.com, @emarvelous, @kelleylcarter and ABC News
Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:
Political reporter Robert Costa is leaving The Washington Post to become a full-time TV journalist at CBS News but will keep collaborating on some Post projects — The longtime Washington Post political reporter will take an on-air role covering campaigns and elections.
Discussion:
@costareports, @costareports, @brianstelter, CNN, @scottfeinberg, @meredithshiner, @cbsnewspress, @yamiche, @kaitlancollins, @nytmedia, @philiprucker, @ashleyrparker, @norahodonnell, @weijia, @froomkin, @edokeefe, @costareports, @costareports, @meredithshiner, @jakesherman, @owillis, Variety, Deadline, The Hill, TVNewser and Hollywood Reporter