Top News:
Lorraine Mirabella / Baltimore Sun:
David Smith, executive chairman of Sinclair, acquires Baltimore Sun Media from Alden, which bought it in May 2021; Sinclair wasn't involved in the transaction — The Baltimore Sun, the largest newspaper in Maryland, has been acquired in a private deal by David D. Smith …
Discussion:
The Hill, The Desk, Talking Biz News, The Wrap, Next TV, The Baltimore Banner, @brianstelter, @farhip, @jbflint, @youngjeopardy, @torreysnowwbal, @ckrewson, @margotsusca, @healthcarerenew, @farhip, @farhip, @thepacketrat, @samjmintz, @baltimorebrew, WBFF-TV, @scottshanenyt, @clarajeffery, @sarafischer, @bencjacobs, @flglmn, @2021_willitend, @skamidi, @benmullin, @joelmathis.bsky.social, @nicolefcarr, @bgrueskin, @sarafischer and Cord Cutters News
Sam Jones / Financial Times:
Memo: BI CEO Barbara Peng says an internal review found reporting on plagiarism in Neri Oxman's MIT thesis to be rigorous and fair; Axel Springer stands by BI — Owner Axel Springer says it ‘stands by’ publication amid dispute with academic and her husband Bill Ackman
Discussion:
Business Insider, Associated Press, New York Post, @billackman, Wall Street Journal, Fox Business, @bgrueskin, @carnage4life, @karaswisher, @billackman, Mediaite, @nerioxman, @mikeisaac, @mikeisaac, @maxwelltani, @michaelpleahy, @aaschapiro, @mehdirhasan, @ijbailey, @asharma, @disabilitystor1, @bondhack, @disabilitystor1, @keitholbermann, @nichcarlson, @epicureandeal, @1991wolfpack, @benjamin_goggin_@threads.net, @karaswisher@threads.net, @karaswisher@threads.net, The Wrap, @daveleebbg@threads.net, @originalspin@threads.net, @lorakolodny@threads.net, CNN, Talking Biz News, The Daily Beast and Bloomberg
Max Tani / Semafor:
Apple's September 2023 change to how its Podcasts app automatically downloads episodes dramatically cut the download numbers for some of the biggest podcasts — The News — Apple has quietly tightened its reporting of how many people listen to podcasts, sending shock waves through …
Discussion:
@ewerickson, @semafor, @missmollymary, @michaelbkelley, @akwyz, @semafor, Podnews, @quantum49er, @baldur@toot.cafe, @mikebrice, @kevinrothrock@infosec …, @johnkoetsier, @unbranded63, @clive@saturation.social, @js@podcastindex.social, Cam Wilson on LinkedIn and Hacker News, more at Techmeme »
Ananya Bhattacharya / Quartz:
Luminate: Hindi songs' share of the top 10K global tracks grew from 6.1% in 2022 to 7.8% in 2023; English fell from 62.1% to 54.9%, Spanish from 11.8% to 10.1% — Bollywood music and indie musicians — hip-hop artists especially — are fueling the Hindi music streaming phenomena
Discussion:
Luminate, Fast Company, @chartdata, Billboard, @ashleycarman@threads.net and @ashleycarman@threads.net
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
Anchors and network correspondents talk about covering the unconventional and an unusual Iowa GOP primary, the differences from 2016, media mistrust, and more — The Iowa caucus on Monday will be like no other — and that was apparent from the start, well before subzero weather raised doubts …
Discussion:
Rolling Stone, CBS News, Mediaite, Associated Press, Semafor, @edokeefe, @bencjacobs, Fox News, The Hill, @sopandeb, @nbcnewspr, Politico, New York Times, @noahshachtman@threads.net, @grynbaum, Deseret News, The Atlantic, Los Angeles Times, New Yorker, New York Post, Washington Post, Fast Company, Des Moines Register and The Rural Blog
Loni Prinsloo / Bloomberg:
Showmax, available in 50 African countries, relaunches, appoints Andrea Zappia as chair, and partners with Comcast, aiming to generate $1B revenue in five years — - Showmax re-launched its service on Monday to grow audiences — Service is targeting $1 billion in revenues in five years
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Despite nine years of music industry growth thanks to streaming, companies like Spotify and UMG are tightening payouts or laying off employees — After years of a streaming boom, record labels are searching for their next big win. — Last year was brutal for the media business …
Discussion:
Lucas Shaw on LinkedIn, @lucas_shaw, Digital Music News, CMU, Music Ally and Reuters
Laura Wagner / Washington Post:
A look at issues at The Messenger, including its reliance on a high-volume publishing strategy, as the outlet lays off staff and struggles to stay afloat — Jimmy Finkelstein had big dreams and a $50 million investment. Eight months after the Messenger's launch, it is laying off staff and struggling to stay afloat.
Discussion:
@ron_fournier, @amyargetsinger, @titivil, @mszafranski413, @rhondaneu, @jeffjarvis and @adammcginnis
Daniel Dylan Wray / The Guardian:
A profile of Blindboy, host and creator of the weekly Blindboy Podcast, which launched in 2017, covers a wide-range of subjects, and is fully listener-funded — He wears plastic bags as an ‘autistic protest’ and makes podcasts about everything from fish fingers to the Baileys sex cult.
Discussion:
@inahill, @senorastacy and @danieldylanwray
Richard Lawler / The Verge:
Nielsen: Peacock's exclusive stream of the NFL AFC Wild Card game was the most-streamed event in US history, with 27.6M total viewers and a 24.6M peak average — The streams we were watching mostly held up, if you saw the game, how was the experience for you?
Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
The Irish Sun appoints Deputy Editor Fiona Wynne as editor, replacing Kieran McDaid, meaning all three national editions of The Sun are now led by women — The appointment means each national edition of The Sun is edited by a woman. — Irish Sun deputy editor Fiona Wynne will replace Kieran McDaid …
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Mirror Editor-in-Chief Alison Phillips plans to step down at the end of January after almost four years, succeeded by Reach Magazines EIC Caroline Waterston — Mirror editor-in-chief Alison Phillips will step down at the end of January after almost six years leading the brand.
Discussion:
MediaPost, @samcarlisle, The Guardian and @aaronbastani
OpenAI:
OpenAI shares its plans ahead of 2024 elections, including image provenance tools, not letting users make tools for impersonation or political campaigning, more — We're working to prevent abuse, provide transparency on AI-generated content, and improve access to accurate voting information.
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