Top News:
James Bennet / The Economist:
Former NYT editor James Bennet chronicles how fewer jobs for young reporters, the NYT's business model, and new ideals have led to “illiberal bias” at the paper — America's media should do more to equip readers to think for themselves — Are we truly so precious?
Discussion:
New York Post, @tomscocca.bsky.social, Politico, Kimberly Lau on LinkedIn, @peterhimler.bsky.social, @asymmetricinfo, @poniewozik@threads.net, @macloo.bsky.social, @mrianleslie, @lugaricano, David D. Tawil on LinkedIn, @benklinepoet, @lionelbarber, @bigmeaninternet, @emilyctamkin, @macloo.bsky.social, @froomkin.bsky.social, Ron Fournier on LinkedIn, @macloo.bsky.social, @asveenstra.bsky.social, @macloo.bsky.social, @charlesornstein, @karenho.bsky.social, @nhannahjones, @karenho.bsky.social, @schreckreports, @awgordon.bsky.social, @tomscocca.bsky.social, @nhannahjones, @cingraham.bsky.social, @macloo.bsky.social, @dicktofel, @shashj, @karaswisher@threads.net, @michaelhobbes.bsky.social, @codendahl and The Wrap
Wall Street Journal:
President Vladimir Putin hopes to “find a solution” regarding detained WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich, who on December 14 lost another court appeal for release — Russian president says he hopes to ‘find a solution’ regarding Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, who are both in Russian custody
Discussion:
The Moscow Times, Voice of America, The Desk, Talking Biz News, HuffPost, Semafor, CNN, The Detroit News, New York Times, Bloomberg, CBS News, Reuters, Associated Press, The Hill, The Wrap, NPR, UPI, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, New York Post and The Sun
Wall Street Journal:
Some publishers estimate that Google's Search Generative Experience could cut referral traffic by 20% to 40% if the final version resembles recent iterations — Tech giant's AI-powered search product is being tested on roughly 10 million users; publishers rely on Google for traffic and see a gathering storm
Katie Robertson / New York Times:
Mother Jones and the Center for Investigative Reporting plan to merge in early 2024 with Monika Bauerlein as CEO and Clara Jeffery leading the combined newsroom — The combined newsroom will have more than 70 people. — Mother Jones and the Center for Investigative Reporting will merge next year …
Eileen AJ Connelly / The Wrap:
Endeavor Group invests in Chess.com, and Endeavor's entertainment agency WME signs with Chess.com to help develop unscripted content including documentaries — The site, which hosts 10 million games daily, also signed with Endeavor's WME with eyes on projects like documentaries, celeb “moments”
Discussion:
Variety, Chess.com, The Hollywood Reporter and Sportico
Jaspreet Singh / Reuters:
Sensor Tower: 51 of the top 100 US advertisers on Twitter in October 2022, when Elon Musk bought the company, have ceased ad spending on X as of November 2023 — Big U.S. companies including Walt Disney and Comcast increased advertising spending on Instagram after pausing commercials on X last month …
Joseph Pimentel / Spectrum News 1:
The SCNG Guild's members held a one-day strike on December 14 amid protracted contract talks with Alden's Southern California News Group — LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The union representing Southern California newspaper reporters, photographers and others plans to hold a one-day strike Thursday, protesting working conditions and low pay.
Cristina Criddle / Financial Times:
UK regulator Ofcom investigates TikTok over concerns the company supplied “inaccurate” information about its parental controls; TikTok blames a technical issue — Ofcom's investigation comes amid intensified efforts to protect children from harmful online material
Discussion:
Ofcom, The Guardian and BBC, more at Techmeme »
Parker Molloy / The Present Age:
Two open letters, signed by dozens of Substack writers, criticize and defend the platform's approach to platforming and monetizing Nazis and white nationalists — Last month, The Atlantic published a piece by Jonathan Katz titled “Substack Has a Nazi Problem.”
Discussion:
Fast Company, The Future, Now and Then, @amywestervelt.bsky.social, @rusty.todayintabs.com, @judedoyle.bsky.social, @davekarpf.bsky.social, The Racket, @marisakabas.bsky.social, @kevinmkruse.bsky.social, @jonpennington.bsky.social, @vortexegg.regretfully.online, @judedoyle.bsky.social, @thorncoyle.bsky.social, @pennyoaken.bsky.social, @thewanderingjew.bsky.social, @radleybalko.bsky.social, @judedoyle.bsky.social, @lindseyromain.bsky.social, @hormiga.bsky.social, @carynrose.bsky.social and The Elysian
Emma Roth / The Verge:
YouTube updates its TV app to show longer but less frequent ad breaks, after testing since September 2023, and adds a countdown timer in the bottom-right corner — The next time you sit down to watch YouTube on your TV, you might notice fewer ads breaking up the video you're watching.
Discussion:
Radio & Television …, 9to5Google and The Messenger, more at Techmeme »
CNBC:
Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management nominates him and former Disney CFO Jay Rasulo to Disney's board as the fund wages its proxy battle with the media giant — - Trian Fund Management said it was nominating Nelson Peltz and former Walt Disney CFO Jay Rasulo to the media company's board.
Dan Primack / Axios:
Vivendi is weighing splitting into three businesses: pay TV platform Canal+, ad agency Havas, and an investment firm that would include publisher Lagardère — French media and entertainment group Vivendi said that it's weighing a split into three separate businesses.
Discussion:
Financial Times, Broadband TV News, Reuters and Wall Street Journal