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David Smith, executive chairman of Sinclair, acquires Baltimore Sun Media from Alden, which bought the outlet in May 2021; Sinclair wasn't involved in the deal — The Baltimore Sun, the largest newspaper in Maryland, has been acquired in a private deal by David D. Smith …
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Washington Post, Poynter, @aodespair, Axios, Hollywood Reporter, Newser, @jeffjarvis, Zuri Berry on LinkedIn, @sarafischer, The Baltimore Banner, @skamidi, @ckrewson, @margotsusca, @baltimorebrew, Next TV, @bencjacobs, @nicolefcarr, The Desk, @farhip, @joelmathis.bsky.social, @flglmn, WBFF-TV, The Hill, @torreysnowwbal, @healthcarerenew, @jbflint, @clarajeffery, @scottshanenyt, @benmullin, @farhip, @samjmintz, @bgrueskin, Amy L. Kovac-Ashley on LinkedIn, @sarafischer, @2021_willitend, @bgrueskin, @youngjeopardy, @farhip, @jbflint, @thepacketrat, Talking Biz News, @brianstelter, TVNewsCheck, The Wrap and Cord Cutters News


News outlets calling Trump as the winner of the Iowa caucuses early infuriates his Republican rivals and prompts new hand-wringing about the media and elections — No votes had been cast at some locations when The Associated Press and TV networks projected Donald Trump as the winner, half an hour after the caucuses began.
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@andrewromeo33, CNN, Salon, Washington Examiner, The Messenger, Axios, Washington Post, @tightoff, Columbia Journalism Review, @michaelscherer, @michaelscherer, @grynbaum, @conrad_aml, Newsweek, @mattwolking, @sonofhas, @daveweigel, Breitbart, Heavy.com, The Hill, Slate, Associated Press, Mediaite, Deseret News and Business Insider
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Worcester, MA-based The 016 says the news-oriented social network with no algorithmic feed had 17M email opens and 13M click-throughs over the past five years — Congratulations to Mark Henderson, a Worcester media entrepreneur who's celebrating the fifth anniversary of The 016 …
Discussion:
The 016, @henderson_mark and @dankennedy_nu@journa.host


OpenAI shares its plans ahead of 2024 elections, including image provenance tools and not letting users make tools for impersonation or political campaigning — We're working to prevent abuse, provide transparency on AI-generated content, and improve access to accurate voting information. — Authors


Apple details select streaming and sports apps available on Vision Pro at launch, including Disney+, ESPN, MLB, PGA, Max, and TikTok; some will have 3D movies — Apple today listed some streaming, video, and sports apps that will be available on the Vision Pro when the headset launches on February 2 …
Discussion:
Variety, AppleInsider, The Verge, @maxwinebach, Apple, BGR, The Walt Disney Company and Apple TV+ Press, more at Techmeme »


WBD's HBO and Max won 31 awards at the 75th Emmy Awards, while Netflix won 22, FX 16, Apple TV+ 10, Disney+ nine, Amazon Prime Video six, and NBC five — This year, the conglomerate did not designate if a show was made for HBO proper or its streamer, Max, instead grouping its nominations under …
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Forbes, Billboard, @pucknews, @royprice, MacRumors, Reuters, Bloomberg, The Hollywood Reporter, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, Variety, New York Times, @ballmatthew, New York Times, The Wrap, GoldDerby, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, The Ringer, Deadline and The Playlist


Netflix tests a joint subscription plan with French retailer Carrefour in a pilot project in Bordeaux and Rouen, to win more customers to its cheapest ad tier — - French retailer will offer a joint subscription with Netflix — Carrefour customers in Bordeaux, Rouen offered €5.99 plan
Discussion:
Seeking Alpha, ESM Magazine and Broadband TV News


Sources: UK-based TV producer Box to Box raised ~£30M from NY-based Bruin Capital to help fund its expansion; Bruin is taking a minority stake in Box to Box — UK's Box to Box Films agrees fundraising with Bruin Capital as demand grows for sports documentaries
Discussion:
Jon Stubbings on LinkedIn, George Pyne on LinkedIn, Deadline, Sportico and The Hollywood Reporter


How Clarissa Ward, the first Western reporter to enter Gaza without an IDF escort since October 7, highlights Arab suffering as she faces pro-Israel bias claims — Clarissa Ward, the first Western reporter to enter Gaza without an I.D.F. escort since October 7th, has faced accusations …
Discussion:
The Times of Israel and @lconecnn


A look at the surge of fashion content on Substack, as veteran fashion editors, stylists, and other newsletter writers give shopping recommendations — We used to look to magazines, store assistants and bloggers to help us decide what to buy. Now the publishing site has become the go-to spot for style advice
Discussion:
@simondowens@threads.net


How Spotify's on-the-ground work in Nigeria, like hiring local staff, contributed to the success of Afrobeats, which grew 550% on Spotify between 2017 and 2022 — The Swedish music giant is pushing to make Africa's biggest sound the world's favorite sound. — • LAGOS, NIGERIA
Discussion:
MIT Technology Review, more at Techmeme »


A look at music streaming fraud, including bot farms and pirates relabeling musicians' work to steal revenue; Beatdapp estimates fraud costs musicians $2B/year — Bad Dog, a group from D.C., was forced to take a crash course in streaming fraud, a shadowy realm that costs musicians $2 billion a year.
Discussion:
@zernerlaw, @soupsranjan, @surrealist888, @klonick, @orinkerr, @pogue and Breakfast At Ralf's, more at Techmeme »