Top News:
Casey Newton / Platformer:
Platformer is leaving Substack and migrating to Ghost, saying the outlet doesn't believe Substack will publicly commit to proactively removing pro-Nazi material — After much consideration, we have decided to move Platformer off of Substack. Over the next few days, the publication …
Discussion:
Washington Post, New York Times, @parismarx@threads.net, @_megconley@threads.net, Search Engine with PJ Vogt, @dsilverman@threads.net, @vthallam@threads.net, @silvermanbrandon@threads.net, Quartz, One Man & His Blog, Media Nation, @hunterwalk@threads.net, @benedictevans@threads.net, @ricmac@threads.net, John V Willshire on LinkedIn, @molly0xfff, @jaredlholt, @molly0xfff, Rolling Stone, @mossbergwalt@threads.net, @benedictevans@threads.net, @alexcox@mastodon.social, @aaronrosspowell@threads.net, @nichcarlson@threads.net, @crumbler@threads.net, @moskov@threads.net, The Verge, The Wrap, @paul_rietschka@threads.net, @pkedrosky@threads.net, @semaforben@threads.net, @taylorlorenz@threads.net, @alexkantrowitz@threads.net, @edzitron@threads.net, @dangillmor@mastodon.social, @0x8007000e@threads.net, @jeffjarvis@threads.net, @crumbler@threads.net and Talking Biz News, more at Techmeme »
Michael Schneider / Variety:
The CW unveils an “evolution” in its logo and brand identity, including dropping the ‘The’ from its logo and a new “hot sauce” color palette — The CW is spicing up its look. Timed to Sunday's airing of the Critics Choice Awards, the Nexstar-run netlet is unveiling an …
David W. Chen / New York Times:
As deepfakes warp elections overseas, US state legislators race to enact laws, with varying penalties, requiring disclosure of the use of AI in political ads — Sophisticated political deepfakes have warped elections overseas. Can U.S. legislators act fast enough to make A.I. campaign ads more transparent?
Discussion:
Semafor and @votepenelope, more at Techmeme »
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Tom Gerken / BBC:
Many prominent voice actors say they weren't told about the SAG-AFTRA's deal with Replica Studios setting out how AI-generated voices can be used in video games — Prominent voice actors say they weren't told about a landmark deal setting out how voices generated by artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in games.
Discussion:
@charalanahzard, @bluehorizon186, @yongyea, @g0ffthew, @andrethetruth, @eliastoufexis, SAG-AFTRA, gamedeveloper, NME and Decrypt
Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
Sources: RedBird IMI CEO Jeff Zucker met Ofcom officials to make a last pitch and win them over RedBird's Telegraph takeover, ahead of a crucial Ofcom report — Jeff Zucker meets Ofcom ahead of its report on whether takeover backed by Abu Dhabi cash should proceed
Phillip Nieto / Mediaite:
A US judge orders Trump to pay $392,638 in legal fees to The New York Times over a “frivolous” 2021 lawsuit he brought against NYT and three of its reporters — A New York state judge ordered former President Donald Trump to pay The New York Times a six-figure legal fee …
Discussion:
The Hill, The Wrap, The Daily Beast, Deadline, CBS News, Boing Boing, @wjcarter, @susannecraig, @katiephang, @jason_kint, @markjacob16, @susannecraig and Rolling Stone
John Herrman / New York Magazine:
A look at TikTok's dogged e-commerce push by subsidizing sales and promoting sellers in user feeds, as ad sales weaken and social media stagnates — It was supposed to be a test. Suddenly hundreds of people were watching. What's going on here? — Over the last four months …
Discussion:
Business Insider, @svzwood, @jwherrman, The Daily Beast, James Hirst on LinkedIn, Business Insider and Bloomberg
Ben Schoon / 9to5Google:
Fubo raised the price of all plans by $5/month as of January 10, with the base plan starting at $80/mo, and plans to offer unlimited DVR “in the coming months” — As traditional cable TV bleeds subscribers and more and more folks sign up for online streaming options …
Discussion:
The Verge, @tvgrimreaper, Help Center, Cord Cutters News and The Streamable
Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:
CNN, Fox, and MSNBC carried Trump's conference after his NY fraud trial live, a reminder of his media advantage and readiness to exploit his trials — The coverage was a stark reminder that the former president's legal troubles offer an outsize media platform as he pursues the Republican nomination.
Discussion:
Mediaite, Reuters, Adweek, Vanity Fair, Associated Press, The Hollywood Reporter, The Hill and Forbes
Neha Gupta / WAN-IFRA:
Project Oasis, a research initiative focusing on european digital-native media outlets, finds those with sales staff average 6x more revenue than those without — Digital native companies with dedicated sales teams and solid gender diversity are more successful than those that do not …
Discussion:
@nehahaz
Sportico:
Sources: Laurene Powell Jobs is looking to sell half of her stake, or about 10%, in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, owner of the Monumental Sports Network — Billionaire Laurene Powell Jobs is looking to sell a chunk of her stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment …
Discussion:
@novy_williams, @novy_williams and @dylanbyers
Bloomberg:
Sources: Universal Music Group plans to cut hundreds of jobs in Q1 2024, as revenue growth slows; in 2022, the company had about 10K employees — - Brunt of firings will fall on the recorded music division — CEO Lucian Grainge talked about impending cuts in October
Discussion:
Billboard, Reuters, Variety and @lucas_shaw
Jon Allsop / Columbia Journalism Review:
A look at the post-election battle over Poland's state-run media, as the new moderate government aims to dismantle the hard right party's media legacy — A little over a year ago, Civic Platform, then the main opposition party in Poland, proposed a bill aimed at doing away …
Discussion:
Bloomberg, @jon_allsop, Fox News, American Press Institute and New York Times