Top News:
Chris Willman / Variety:
Gannett appoints Bryan West as its Taylor Swift reporter, who will be working out of the Tennessean's newsroom for USA Today and other Gannett local dailies — Gannett, the biggest newspaper chain in the U.S., no longer has a blank space under the title of “Taylor Swift reporter.”
Discussion:
Awful Announcing, MediaPost, The Tennessean, @kyleodegard, @tomaxwell, @kristoncapps, @jakeharris4, @gregrajan, @tonybiasotti, @slavkandyba206, @laurenpeikoff, @mirjamswanson, @seungminkim, @jbenton, @annatarkov.bsky.social, @variety, Media Play News, @annatarkov.bsky.social and @marcuskdowling
Financial Times:
Sources detail Hunterbrook's plans for a “news hedge fund” and questions about how the business would operate, comply with securities law, and have credibility — ‘Narrow needle to be threaded’ as start-up combines journalism with trading house
Discussion:
@chassnews, @justinjfj, @rbrtrmstrng, @simko_bednarski, @tanarrowz, @jfk_america and @justin_cash_1
Madison Malone Kircher / New York Times:
An interview with former TMZ staffer Kristi Cook, who unmasked herself as the person behind popular YouTube channel Spill Sesh, which covers social media stars — For years, people have wondered who's behind the popular Spill Sesh channel. On Friday, the person behind the account unmasked herself.
Discussion:
@4evrmalone, @takethepoints20 and @4evrmalone
Jacob Kastrenakes / The Verge:
Meta says there are now 1M active subscriptions to Instagram creators, just over a year after launching the subscriptions feature, and unveils new creator tools — There are now 1 million paid subscriptions to creators on Instagram, slowly transforming the platform into a space where creators can get paid directly by their fans.
Discussion:
The Information and Meta, more at Techmeme »
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Digital-i: fewer than 5% of Netflix's original programs in 2022 would have triggered performance bonuses under the new WGA-AMPTP contract — Using Hollywood's new metrics, less than 5% of streaming originals count as hit shows. — Let's kick things off with a fun data point.
Karen Lema / Reuters:
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr condemns the killing of journalist Juan Jumalon, who was shot while broadcasting at home, and orders an investigation — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Sunday strongly condemned the killing of a Filipino journalist and ordered the police …
Discussion:
Reporters Without Borders, Committee to Protect …, Associated Press and Newser
Tim Ingham / Music Business Worldwide:
Sources: Spotify sets its royalties threshold at 1,000 annual streams per track, which could demonetize 0.5% of its Streamshare that earns less than $0.05/month — Last month Music Business Worldwide broke the news that major changes were coming to Spotify's royalty model in Q1 2024.
Editor and Publisher:
The Pulitzer Prize Board expands its awards' eligibility to include written journalism from digital news sites operated by broadcast and audio organizations — The Pulitzer Prize Board has decided to expand eligibility for its journalism awards to digital news sites operated by broadcast and audio organizations.
Discussion:
@nicolefcarr, @niketa, @pulitzerprizes and @raju
Washington Post:
A look at changes in MrBeast's hometown of Greenville, North Carolina: studios, high-stress jobs, pyrotechnics, and college courses on creating YouTube content — Jimmy ‘MrBeast’ Donaldson brought jobs to his North Carolina hometown. Now locals are part of the show, whether they like it or not.
Discussion:
Jim Roberts on LinkedIn, @sara__pequeno, @kelsaywhat, @supdogsecu and @mattnavarra@threads.net
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
CBS News and Stations launches CBS News Confirmed to examine misinformation and deepfakes, led by SVP and Head of Standards and Practices Claudia Milne — CBS' news-and-stations division will launch a new unit to examine misinformation and so-called “deepfakes,” or false videos that can often be generated via artificial intelligence.
Discussion:
Deadline, Adweek, The Wrap and @davidclinchnews
Matt Grobar / Deadline:
Time Studios names Majordomo Media co-founder Dave O'Connor as its president, replacing Ian Orefice, who left to launch the content studio EverWonder — - Crazy Legs Developing Prince Biopic Based On First Wife Mayte Garcia's Memoir ‘The Most Beautiful’ — Good Deed Entertainment …
Discussion:
MediaPost, The Wrap, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Jason Wagenheim leaves BDG Media to become the first North America CEO of Footballco, which owns soccer websites, ahead of the 2026 World Cup on the continent — Jason Wagenheim is leaving BDG Media, the parent company of Bustle and a slew of other female-focused lifestyle brands …
Washington Post:
The Washington Post names former Wall Street Journal publisher and former Dow Jones CEO William Lewis as its new publisher and CEO, effective January 2, 2024 — The Washington Post announces William Lewis as its new Publisher and CEO. Lewis will assume the role effective Jan. 2, 2024 …
Discussion:
@emilybell, Axios, @tcarmody.bsky.social, @sarafischer, @benmullin, Bill McIntosh on LinkedIn, @jason0x21.bsky.social, Press Gazette, New York Post, @phostetlerart.bsky.social, @hammancheez.bsky.social, @samdrinksbeer.bsky.social, Talking Biz News, @trengriffin, @trengriffin, Washington Post, Financial Times, @nicolelee.bsky.social, MediaPost, @rahawahaile.bsky.social, @louisestory, @chrisgalea, @katie_robertson, @washpostpr, @_queenofstaves, @louisestory, @katie_robertson, @jeffjarvis@threads.net, Kamal Ahmed on LinkedIn, Fox Business, The Hill, CNN, Wall Street Journal, Axios and Reuters
RELATED: