Top News:
Brian Stelter / CNN:
Opinion columnist Jennifer Rubin leaves WaPo to launch The Contrarian on Substack, to combat the “authoritarian threat” with the tagline “Not owned by anybody” — New York CNN — — Veteran opinion columnist Jennifer Rubin is becoming the latest in a long list …
Discussion:
The Hill, TVNewsCheck, The Contrarian, New York Post, RedState, @bluthrunthru.bsky.social, Newsbusters, The Mahablog, freebeacon.com, Mediaite, @fiona-webster22.bsky.social, Instapundit, CNBC, Townhall, Breitbart, @glegum.bsky.social, acecomments.mu.nu, @jeffjarvis, @benmullin, @dcboy.bsky.social, Raw Story, @brianstelter, Newser, @tribelaw.bsky.social, @brianstelter, @leahmcelrath.bsky.social, The Post Millennial, @brianstelter, The Gateway Pundit, @bgrueskin.bsky.social, @milesklee.bsky.social, The Daily Caller, @robertpjones.bsky.social, @passantino.bsky.social, @benmullin, @ianbassin.bsky.social, @jik@federate.social, @brianstelter, @gtconway.bsky.social, @benmullin, @marisakabas.bsky.social, @brianstelter.bsky.social, Twitchy, Fox News and Diane Ravitch's blog
Dominic Preston / The Verge:
Mastodon CEO Eugen Rochko plans to transfer Mastodon's ownership to a new non-profit, saying it “should not be owned or controlled by a single individual” — Mastodon says the decentralized network ‘should not be owned or controlled by a single individual.’
Discussion:
Mastodon Blog, TechCrunch, Ars Technica, @m474.bsky.social, @GuyNamedBrian@mastodon.social, @Mastodon@mastodon.social, @zeldman@threads.net, @nevillehobson.xyz, @faraiwe@beige.party, @Johannab@wandering.shop, @jeffgreco.com, @JMarkOckerbloom …, @Ascendor@social.tchncs.de, @cliffwade@infosec.exchange, @digiphile@mastodon.social, Magdalena Hai on LinkedIn, Esra'a Al Shafei on LinkedIn, BetaNews, @john@vyrse.social, @mszll@datasci.social, @kissane@mas.to, @matt@oslo.town, @aardrian.bsky.social, @GossiTheDog@cyberplace.social, @webology@mastodon.social, Anil Dash on LinkedIn, @Edent@mastodon.social, Hannah Aubry on LinkedIn, @thegibson@hackers.town, @mhoye@mastodon.social, @icesheetmike.bsky.social and @tilvids@mstdn.social, more at Techmeme »
Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:
UK's Daily Mirror gives journalists individual online page-view targets; some print reporters covering more serious news fear the targets will affect quality — Mirror journalists have been given individual targets for online page views in a move that has raised concerns for some about the potential impact …
Ben Smith / Semafor:
Tech reporter Ashlee Vance has left Bloomberg to start a media company called Core Memory, with documentaries, a YouTube show, podcast, and newsletter planned — The Scoop — The prolific Bloomberg tech journalist Ashlee Vance has left to start a new media company around his curious …
Discussion:
Core Memory, CNN, @alanjeffries, @jamescham, @davidramli, @nearcyan, @ashleevance, @johncoogan, @bznotes, @ashleevance, @markmilian, @gaurabc, @ashleevance, @urbanistvc, @dadiomov, @fleetwood___ and Talking Biz News
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Rachel Maddow, who scaled back anchoring duties to Mondays in 2022, will return to five nights a week as part of MSNBC's plans for Trump's first 100 days — Maddow, who scaled back anchoring duties after the spring of 2022, holding forth only on Mondays, will return to five nights a week …
Discussion:
New York Times, Deadline, Forbes, CNN, USA Today, The Hill, The Wrap, One America News Network, @tabithaspeaks.bsky.social, Daily Caller News Foundation, Mediaite, RedState, @barbarasobel.bsky.social, Adweek, Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, TV Insider, @micheil.bsky.social, @brianstelter, Raw Story and @garymlevin
Max Tani / Semafor:
Sources: This American Life has discussed staff cuts; last year, the podcast quietly changed its “about” page, revising its listenership from 4M per week to 3M — The venerable podcast This American Life is poised to reduce staff for one of the few times since its founding in 1995, Semafor has learned.
Discussion:
@matthewkeys.net, @mjosephlc.bsky.social, @dannygroner.bsky.social and @romanmars.bsky.social
Mark Gurman / Bloomberg:
Sonos CEO Patrick Spence is leaving following a botched app revamp that upset customers and stymied growth; Sonos names board member Tom Conrad as interim CEO — - 'We've let far too many people down,' company tells staffers — Former Snap and Pandora executive Tom Conrad named interim CEO
Richard Nieva / Forbes:
Jimmy Wales, Mark Ruffalo, others debut Free Our Feeds to raise $30M by 2028 to “billionaire-proof” AT Protocol, by making it easier for users to leave Bluesky — Free Our Feeds, which includes support from the Mozilla Foundation, is working with Bluesky to make sure …
Discussion:
Social Web Foundation, TechCrunch, The Desk, The Verge, @taylorlorenz.bsky.social, @davewiner, @marcfaddoul.com, @aiforensics.org, @richardnieva.bsky.social, @dmeyer.eu, @robin.berjon.com, @shoqv4@threads.net, Fortune, @william_fitz, User Mag, @ben.werdmuller@threads.net, @newpublic.substack.com, @johnhatchard.bsky.social, @taylorlorenz.bsky.social, @freeourfeeds.com, @bmlto, @jordanuhl.com, @taylorlorenz and @taylorlorenz.bsky.social, more at Techmeme »
Etan Vlessing / The Hollywood Reporter:
Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Will Cain will replace Neil Cavuto on Fox News, aiming to bring his “signature podcast style” to the 4pm slot — The ‘Fox & Friends Weekend’ co-host will take over the 4 p.m. time slot with ‘The Will Cain Show’ on Jan. 21.
Bloomberg:
Filing: Pete Hegseth, Trump's pick to lead the DoD, earned at least $6.2M over the last two years, including $4.6M from his job as a weekend host on Fox News — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to run the Pentagon, earned more than $6 million over the last two years thanks …
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, Mediaite, The Detroit News, Breitbart, Business Insider, NC Newsline, Hollywood Life and CBS News
Salvador Rodriguez / CNBC:
IAC board approves the spinoff of home improvement marketplace Angi; IAC CEO Joey Levin will leave his role and executives will report directly to Barry Diller — Barry Diller's IAC said Monday that its board approved the spinoff of Angi, the home improvement marketplace the company acquired in 2017.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Benzinga, The Hollywood Reporter and @pkafka, more at Techmeme »
Ben Smith / Semafor:
Facing a Trump lawsuit, The Pulitzer Board based its decision to stand by Russiagate coverage awards on a confidential review by ex-Reuters EIC Stephen Adler — The View From The First Amendment Bar — THE SCOOP — The Pulitzer Board, facing a lawsuit from Donald Trump over its Pulitzer Prize …
Discussion:
Media Nation and @semaforben
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