Top News:
Drew Harwell / Washington Post:
A Washington Post spokesperson says the company has decided to pause advertising on X, after Elon Musk's amplification of the Pizzagate conspiracy theory — The far-right theory motivated a gunman to fire multiple rounds inside the Comet Ping Pong pizzeria in Northwest Washington in 2016.
Discussion:
Washingtonian, Mediaite, The Hill, Gizmodo, @TimKarr@mastodon.social, @shoq@mastodon.social, @dzuidijk@threads.net, @Waterloo2@mstdn.party, @ndrew_lawrence, @froomkin, @tchambers@indieweb.social, Futurism, @kenwhite.bsky.social, Montgomery Independent, @kilgoretrout.bsky.social, @mjk_4mjk@mastodon.ie, Rolling Stone, @mjk_4mjk@mastodon.ie, @kevinmkruse.bsky.social, @kilgoretrout.bsky.social, @robpegoraro@journa.host, @drewharwell@threads.net, @willoremus@mastodon.social, The Daily Beast, @emilybell.bsky.social and The Messenger, more at Techmeme »
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Temur Durrani / Globe and Mail:
Toronto-based venture fund Good Future plans to buy a majority stake in Canadian tech industry publication BetaKit — ////Two former leaders from Shopify Inc. are set to become the majority shareholders of tech-industry publication BetaKit and establish a new advisory board to maintain …
Discussion:
@thescribblr, @aratisharma, @cmlplunkett, The Logic, @skanwar, @betakit, @ambermac, @dskok, BetaKit, @jevon, @tobi, @seansilcoff, @skanwar, @tron, @coreyherscu, @skanwar, @jamespmcleod and Talking Biz News
Natasha Lomas / TechCrunch:
Adalytics: Google ads appear on many compromising sites that make up its Search Partners network; Google attacks Adalytics but says it'll review its findings — Adtech report exposes brand safety and ad fraud risks lurking in the Google Search Partners network...
Discussion:
AdExchanger, Ad Age, Adweek, Search Engine Land, Politico, Digiday and Street Fight, more at Techmeme »
Reuters:
Source: Rupert Murdoch is set to be deposed today and Wednesday as part of the Smartmatic defamation case against Fox Corp — Rupert Murdoch is set to be questioned under oath on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of voting technology company Smartmatic's $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox Corp …
Discussion:
Mediaite, Adweek, The Hill, CNN, New York Daily News, The Wrap, Forbes, CNBC and The Messenger
Jonathan M. Katz / The Atlantic:
Substack and Telegram searches reveal “scores” of white supremacist, neo-Confederate, and Nazi newsletters among Substack's 17K+ total; 16+ display Nazi symbols — The newsletter platform's lax content moderation creates an opening for white nationalists eager to get their message out.
James Kynge / Financial Times:
Report: China is cultivating a growing group of 120+ foreign influencers to support the Communist party and defend China against critical overseas narratives — New report finds social media stars speaking up for Beijing against critical overseas narratives
Discussion:
TweakTown
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Apple Music Replay, which lets users look back at their listening history like top songs and artists in 2023, arrives but is still no match for Spotify Wrapped — Apple's year-end review and answer to Spotify Wrapped, Apple Music Replay, has arrived, but it's still no match for Spotify's personalized look back at your year in music.
Discussion:
The Verge, Forbes, Pocket-lint and Music Ally, more at Techmeme »
Reuters:
Azerbaijan summons US, French, and German envoys for “illegal financial operations” supporting news outlet Abzas Media, which saw three staff arrested last week — Police in Azerbaijan on Tuesday arrested Aziz Orujev, head of the Kanal 13 internet television channel …
Robyn Dixon / Washington Post:
Russia extends the detention of WSJ journalist Evan Gershkovich for a third time to January 30 — RIGA, Latvia — A Moscow court on Tuesday extended the detention of the Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich until at least Jan. 30, prolonging his imprisonment since March on charges of spying …
Discussion:
Committee to Protect …, UPI, abc7NY, @polinaivanovva, The Hill, @ychernova, Talking Biz News, The Daily Beast, The Messenger and The Sun
Deadline:
In a Disney staff town hall a year after CEO Bob Iger's return, executives say they still plan a 2025 streaming launch for ESPN and stress quality over quantity — Bob Iger and top execs stressed a commitment to quality over quantity as the studio's film slate has had a bumpy ride …
Discussion:
CNBC, Variety, New York Post, Reuters, The Wrap, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Cord Cutters News and The Hollywood Reporter
Max Tani / @maxwelltani:
Memo: WaPo CEO Patty Stonesifer says 120 employees have taken buyouts since October, but if another 120 don't do so in the next two weeks, it will start layoffs — In a memo to staff, Washington Post CEO Patty Stonesifer says 120 employees have accepted buyout packages. If the paper doesn't find another 120 people who will accept buyouts in the next two weeks, it will implement layoffs. [image]
Discussion:
The Hill, @wagatwe.bsky.social, The Daily Beast, @youcaughtscott.bsky.social and Washingtonian
Pamela McClintock / The Hollywood Reporter:
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour crosses $250M at the global box office, with $178.2M in North America and $71.8M overseas, and now stands at 19 on the global chart — The concert pic — costing a mere $15 million to make — is one of the most successful and profitable titles of the year.
Discussion:
Variety, @taylorswift13, Billboard, Screen, Gizmodo, @screenrant, The Daily Beast, Polygon, Netflix Junkie, Comic Book, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Deadline, Deadline, Pitchfork, Los Angeles Times, Vanity Fair, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, The Wrap, Billboard, Forbes, ScreenRant, The Hollywood Reporter, Digital Music News, TVLine and The Messenger
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