Top News:
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Stephen Hayes, the former EIC of The Weekly Standard who broke ties with Fox to protest Tucker Carlson's January 6 special, is joining NBC News — tephen Hayes, the conservative political analyst who raised eyebrows in November when he took to The New York Times to announce his breaking ties …
Joanne Kenen / Politico:
Some experts say David Leonhardt, author of the influential NYT newsletter “The Morning” underestimates and underplays the risks of COVID by cherry-picking data — THE NIGHTLY READS ‘THE MORNING’ — With 5 million readers, David Leonhardt, the author of The New York Times …
Discussion:
New Republic, @alexanderrusso, @coreypein, @froomkin, @zackstanton, @lpdonovan, @whstancil, @awinston, @jlcroner, @joannekenen, @mdaware, @demfromct, @mikiebarb, @michaelkruse, @yeselson, @alexthomp, @conorpwilliams, @jayrosen_nyu, @joannekenen, @froomkin, @abbydphillip, @michaelbd, @eggerdc, @jbarro, @evanmcmurry, @joannekenen, @alexanderrusso, @joannekenen and @zackstanton
Gene Maddaus / Variety:
US judge refuses to dismiss defamation suit brought by a Georgian chess master against Netflix over a mention of her in an episode of The Queen's Gambit — A judge on Thursday refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a Georgian chess master who alleged that she was defamed in an episode of the Netflix series “The Queen's Gambit.”
Discussion:
The Guardian, SlashFilm, New York Post, The A.V. Club and The Wrap
Rick Edmonds / Poynter:
Hearst Newspapers claims 300K digital-only subscribers, up 50% YoY, of which 140K are the San Francisco Chronicle's, as it plans a shared product and data hub — Heart's newspapers represent a sort of counterpoint to the perception that the industry is all about financial distress and contraction.
Discussion:
American Press Institute
Kara Swisher / New York Times:
Interview with Bob Iger, recently retired as Disney CEO, on the shift to streaming, China, wages, NFTs, and the relationship between Big Tech and Hollywood — (SINGING) When you walk in the room, do you have sway? — I'm Kara Swisher, and you're listening to “Sway”.
Discussion:
@lesliepitterson, @adillaazam, @nytopinion, @kajrozga, @mousterpiece, @karaswisher, @mousterpiece, @tonyuphoff, @nytopinion, @scottgustin, @robertiger and Hollywood Reporter
Zachary Petrizzo / The Daily Beast:
Dan Bongino's website has been suspended from monetizing with Google ads for “persistently” breaching guidelines about pandemic and election misinformation — ‘DEMONSTRABLY FALSE’ — Fox News host Dan Bongino's website has been temporarily suspended from monetizing with Google ads over …
Discussion:
@checkmyadshq, @mhbergen and Mashable
Anna Nicolaou / Financial Times:
Netflix's results show streaming television is going to make entertainment companies less money than cable did as it demands high capital investment — Share price collapse points to worries over the streaming business model — The corporate narrative on Netflix has always been high drama.
Mark Sweney / The Guardian:
UK regional publisher Archant is for sale again, 18 months after being acquired by PE firm Rcapital; it is expected to be sold for £5M to £10M — Exclusive: Publisher of dozens of local titles was sold to Rcapital in deal that promised ‘bright future’
Discussion:
HoldtheFrontPage and @jimwaterson
Shaun Walker / The Guardian:
In Hungary, six journalists and two others targeted by NSO's Pegasus are planning legal action against Hungary and NSO — Legal action planned against Hungary and NSO, the spyware's maker, in what could become template for other cases — Hungarian journalists targeted with Pegasus spyware plan …
Discussion:
@infofannny, @baphometx and @shaunwalker7
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Apple had 785M paying subs globally across all services in Q1, up 27% YoY; Cook says Apple doesn't make “purely financial decisions” about Apple TV+ content — And CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that it isn't necessarily looking for a financial payback on that investment.
Discussion:
The Streamable, @stevesi, @xpangler and MediaPost, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
Jake Kanter / The Times:
During Q&A with staff on January 26, Tim Davie ruled out pay freezes to plug the £1.4B shortfall in the BBC's budget — The BBC director-general has ruled out a pay freeze after the “disappointing” licence fee deal amid fears that cuts are leading to gaffes on air.
Discussion:
@jake_kanter
Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab:
Analysis of journalism ads finds mentions of being “passionate” rose from 4% in 2002 to 16% in 2013 as reporting jobs have become economically irrational — News outlets seem to want “passion for the work” above all else in who they hire. But all that passion comes with an unhealthy price tag.
Discussion:
@jbenton, @mathewi, @mrochabrun, @allyschweitzer, @byjoelanderson, @terri_rupar, @niemanfdn, @jen_rice_, @losowsky, @karenmcgrane, @katebevan, @saragregory, @bykenarmstrong, @coreyhutchins, @glennf, @ckrewson, @merecummings, @garethharding, @mattderienzo, @rhhackett, @davidfirn and @zainabshah
Elizabeth Dwoskin / Washington Post:
Center for Countering Digital Hate: Substack makes at least $2.5M/year via anti-vaccine posts; Substack defends hosting “writers with whom we strongly disagree” — Newsletter company Substack is making millions off anti-vaccine content, according to estimates
Discussion:
@alexhern, @lulumeservey, @alexhern, eugyppius, Podcast Movement, @kixes, @gabemschneider, @gabemschneider, @gabemschneider, @gabemschneider, @ddayen, @get_innocuous, @jefftaylorhuman, @ccdhate, @jamisonfoser, @sarahposner, @sarahposner, @sarahposner, @sarahposner, @kayaoakes, @sarahposner, @rothschildmd, @chelseaclinton, @fka_tabs, @l_e_whyte, @gorskon, @sarahposner, @ike_saul, @evelyndouek, @jayvanbavel, @meeranavlakha, @alexhern, @alexhern, @ccdhate, Depresh Mode, American Press Institute, The Tarl Times and The Guardian, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
On Substack:
Substack says it will stick to its hands-off approach to content moderation amid increased pressure to censor what some see as dubious or objectionable content
Discussion:
@lulumeservey, @lulumeservey, The Monday Mole, Defector, @epistemiclyrich, Dude with Decency, @nameshiv, @helpmeskeletor, News Café, @glennbeck, @shannoncoulter, @ggreenwald, @kaivanshroff, @jeffjarvis, @ethanvansciver, @infosec_taylor, @soledadobrien, @karlbode, TK News, @espiers, @lulumeservey, @lulumeservey, @lulumeservey, @lulumeservey, @lulumeservey, @lulumeservey, @lulumeservey, @slpng_giants, @tomgara, @dloesch, @nickgillespie, @bartnijman, Today in Tabs, MB's Word on the Street, Press Gazette, @plinz, @glennf, @emilymiller, Are We Having Fun Yet?, @davidu, A public health …, @rrhoover, @epro, @binarybits, Words TK, @cjgbest, @yugacohler, @lmatsakis, bookforum.com, @doombergt, @caseynewton, @substackinc, @dongwon, How To with Yuri Bezmenov, Cracked Bowl and Sub Pub
Editor - The Upshot, NY — 
Economic Policy Reporter, DC — 
Senior Director - Editorial, NY — 
Accountability Reporter, ME — 
Senior Editor, FL — 
Senior Writer - Politics, NY — 
Senior Sydney Correspondent — 
Investigative Reporter, OR — 
Decision Desk Specialist - Elections, PA — 
Publishing Editor, NY — 
Watchdog Reporter, CA — 
News Editor, IN — 
Senior Writer - Politics, TN — 
Editor - CFO Brew, NY — 
Breaking News Reporter, CA — 
Audience Strategist, CO — 
Senior Editor, Remote US — 
Reporter, NY — 
IT Industry Reporter, MA — 
Jackson Reporter, MS — 
Curation Editor, NY — 
Managing Editor, OR — 
Deputy Editor-in-Chief, NY — 
Arts & Culture Reporter, WI — 
Breaking News Reporter, Remote — 
Assitant Business Ed., TX — 
Asset-Based Finance Reporter, NY — 
Ellsworth/Acadia Reporter, ME — 
Live Blogger, London — 
Criminal Justice Reporter, LA — 
Editorial & Opinion Page Editor, NV — 
Senior Editor, NY — 
Principal Writer - Investigative & Trust — 
Culture & Travel Reporter, NY — 
