Top News:
Jeff Schogol / Task & Purpose:
Top Biden administration spokespeople became hostile when reporters pressed them to provide at least some proof to back up their claims about Syria and Russia — If it's starting to feel like March 2003, that's because President Joe Biden's administration is definitely taking an “either you are with us or with the terrorists” vibe.
Discussion:
@feliciasonmez, @thehill, Washington Post, Politico, CNN, The White House, NPR, Eunomia, @mattrinalditx, @combatjourno, @akheriaty, @snowden, @jaketapper, @howardmortman, @maggienyt, @zaknafeindc, @marcthiessen, @presssec, @aaronjmate, @nprinskeep, @taskandpurpose, @dionnissenbaum, @kevinliptakcnn and @nprinskeep
Wall Street Journal:
Filing: News Corp discovered a hack on January 20 that accessed emails and documents of some staff; an expert says the attack is likely linked to China — The attack, discovered on Jan. 20, affected publications including The Wall Street Journal, New York Post and the company's U.K. news operation
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Kimberly Chin / Wall Street Journal:
News Corp Q2: $235M profit on $2.72B revenue, up 13% YoY; Dow Jones' revenue hit $508M, up 14% YoY; News Corp news-media unit had $111M profit on $638M revenue — Publisher of The Wall Street Journal reports 13% increase in revenue as digital subscriptions grow
Discussion:
New York Post and @rasmus_kleis
Tatiana Siegel / Rolling Stone:
Source: WarnerMedia's probe into Chris Cuomo advising his brother broadened to include ties between Jeff Zucker, Allison Gollust, and Andrew Cuomo — The ongoing investigation, which exposed an affair that led to Zucker's abrupt resignation yesterday, has expanded to include possible …
Discussion:
CNN, CNBC, Puck, Media Nation, Breitbart, Slate, Who the Heck Is Jim Treacher?, @brettmmurphy, Vanity Fair, Variety, @jennifersey, @andrewfeinberg, Common Sense, @sherman4949, @sherman4949, @tvmojoe, @felixsalmon, @dylanbyers, @lucas_shaw, @marlownyc, @stupolitics, @brooklynmarie, @rollingstone, @levinejonathan, @dylanbyers, Wall Street Journal, @jon_allsop, @akiperitz, @sanasaeed, @raesanni, @juddlegum, @mattgertz, @alexweprin, New York Post, Too Much TV Newsletter, Insider, Axios, RADAR, @miriamelder, Mediaite and Poynter
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Sara Fischer / Axios:
A 40-minute recording of a CNN staff meeting with WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar showcases frustration and confusion over how and why Jeff Zucker was forced out — CNN staffers on Wednesday pummeled WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar with tough questions in the wake of the resignation of CNN boss Jeff Zucker …
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, CNN, Vanity Fair, Insider, Insider, Deadline, @miriamelder, @sherman4949, @noahshachtman, @dylanbyers, @megjameslat, @jayrosen_nyu, @indivisibleteam, @vanityfair, @ichotiner, @joepompeo, @jbarro, @sherman4949, @benyt, @keitholbermann, @soledadobrien, @noahshachtman, @maxwelltani, @maxwelltani, @jbarro, @maxwelltani, Denver Post, @maxwelltani, @maxwelltani, @maxwelltani, Wall Street Journal and The Daily Beast
Shawn McCreesh / New York Magazine:
Jeff Zucker's resignation puzzles CNN staff as his relationship was an “open secret”: “Everyone thinks this is Kilar taking his succession swipe back at Jeff”
Jeff Zucker's resignation puzzles CNN staff as his relationship was an “open secret”: “Everyone thinks this is Kilar taking his succession swipe back at Jeff”
Discussion:
@grynbaum, Washington Post, @grynbaum, New York Times, CNN, @grynbaum, Katie Couric Media, @mediaite, @grynbaum, @kimmasters, @mattnegrin, @dicktofel, @goldman, @soledadobrien, @espiers, @tombevanrcp, @jeffjarvis, Columbia Journalism Review, @grynbaum, @grynbaum, @edmundlee, @brianstelter, Barrett Media, The Wrap, Los Angeles Times, @tomgara, RADAR, @mrernestowens, @robenfarzad, @joshsternberg and @nymag
Margaret Sullivan / Washington Post:
Jeff Zucker's legacy is defined by his pursuit of TV ratings at NBC and CNN and his relationship with Donald Trump, whose persona he helped create and burnish
Jeff Zucker's legacy is defined by his pursuit of TV ratings at NBC and CNN and his relationship with Donald Trump, whose persona he helped create and burnish
Discussion:
Poynter, TVNewser, Media Nation, CNN, @jayrosen_nyu, @sulliview, Politico, @sree, New York Times, @carlcannon, PRESS RUN, @dbernstein, @davidgura, @pilhofer, @dankennedy_nu, @colmorrisdavis, @jeffjarvis, @dominicholden, @jrubinblogger, Insider, Newser, @mrdanzak, Substack, @brianstelter, The Wrap, @parkermolloy, @lisabloom, @megynkelly, @levinejonathan, @oliverdarcy and @jdawsey1
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Filing: Amazon spent $13B on TV, movie, and music content in 2021, up 18% YoY, a significant slowdown from 2020, when spending grew 41% — The ecommerce giant disclosed total video and music expense for 2021 in its annual SEC filing Friday. That total is compared with $11 billion the year prior, which was up roughly 40% versus 2019.
Discussion:
Deadline and Hollywood Reporter, more at Techmeme »
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Jordan Novet / CNBC:
Amazon breaks out advertising services revenue for the first time, reports $9.7B for Q4, up 32% YoY, $31.2B for FY 2021; subscription services grew 15% to $8.1B — - Amazon disclosed advertising for the first time on Thursday. — Amazon said its advertising business is growing 32%, and booked $31 billion last year.
Discussion:
@benedictevans, @benyt, Business Wire, BIG by Matt Stoller, CNBC, The Drum, The Diff, @stacyfmitchell, @daveleeft, @stacyfmitchell, @stacyfmitchell, @ryan_browne_, @stacyfmitchell, @tomgara, @benedictevans, @mattrosoff, @sarthakgh, @0xdabbad00, @rakeshlobster, @pathedger18, @benyt, @edmundlee, @pkafka and @craigsilverman, more at Techmeme »
Chance Miller / 9to5Mac:
Apple reduces the Apple Music free-trial offer from three months to one month; new AirPods, HomePod, or Beats owners still get six months free — Apple has quietly made a big change to Apple Music this week, reducing the initial free-trial offer from three months.
Discussion:
MacRumors, more at Techmeme »
Meghan Bobrowsky / Wall Street Journal:
Snap CFO says parts of the company's ad business began to recover from Apple's privacy changes quicker than expected, as Snap sees its first quarterly profit — Snapchat maker says it will take time to fully adapt to the iPhone maker's software changes; shares rally after hours
Discussion:
CNBC, Ad Age, Fast Company, Axios, Stock Quest, New York Times, @tonymoonbeam, @cnbc, Insider, @aagave, @willoremus, @sarahfrier, @thorntonmcenery, @tanayj, @anthony, The Information, Reuters, 9to5Mac and ZDNet, more at Techmeme »
Peter Guest / Rest of World:
Documents show how reputation laundering companies like Eliminalia use fake DMCA and legal notices to scare news outlets into taking down investigative stories — Reputation firms like Eliminalia use legal threats and copyright notices to have material taken down around the world.
Discussion:
@restofworld, @restofworld and @peterguest
Lillian Rizzo / Wall Street Journal:
After complaints of limited Tokyo Olympics coverage on Peacock in 2021, NBCUniversal is offering all its Beijing Olympics coverage live on Peacock premium tiers — Comcast's nascent streaming service will provide full access to live coverage after drawing criticism during Tokyo Games
Discussion:
@rwhelanwsj and @benmullin
Kate Briquelet / The Daily Beast:
Two Epstein victims sue Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown for publishing defamatory statements in her 2021 book about Epstein — Two victims of the sex trafficker claim the legendary journalist misrepresented their stories in her book. — When Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown published …
Discussion:
Miami Herald, @csd and Rolling Stone