Top News:
Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:
Sources: WaPo is trying a new mission statement internally: Riveting Storytelling for All of America; there are no plans to replace its strident public slogan — This week, The Post began trying out a new mission statement: “Riveting Storytelling for All of America.”
Discussion:
The Hill, @juddlegum.bsky.social, @lisatozzi.bsky.social, @jkarsh.bsky.social, @kimly.bsky.social, @sarahposner.bsky.social, @benmullin, @margarita.bsky.social, @zackbeauchamp.bsky.social, @pkafka, @bgrueskin.bsky.social, @mikebsacks.bsky.social, @dansinker.com, @alexweprin, @scottnover, @mediaevan, @michaelsocolow, @jyarow and @markpopham.bsky.social
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David Folkenflik / NPR:
A look at Will Lewis's difficult first year as The Washington Post's CEO and publisher, after 400+ journalists signed a letter asking Jeff Bezos to intervene — One debacle after another has engulfed The Washington Post since veteran newspaper executive Will Lewis became CEO and publisher …
Discussion:
Media Nation, Status, The Guardian, Townhall, Poynter, @davidfolkenflik, @exlibjourno, @nick_field90, @amalyuchik, Newser, @ashleyrparker, @oliverdarcy.bsky.social, Lawyers, Guns & Money, @joshuafoust.com, @ebadofsky.bsky.social, @danmitchell.bsky.social, @glennf.com, @emmaroller.bsky.social, @fiona-webster22.bsky.social, @wajali.bsky.social, @bgrueskin.bsky.social, HotAir, Business Insider, New Republic, MediaPost and Daily Kos
David Folkenflik / @davidfolkenflik:
[Thread] 400+ WaPo journalists, including some star reporters, call on Jeff Bezos to intervene, saying they are “deeply alarmed by recent leadership decisions”
Discussion:
@benmullin, Digiday, Axios, @davidfolkenflik, @davidfolkenflik, @sidhubaba, @henryporters, @dilanesper, @curtishouck, @adudeandhisart, @maxasteele, @tonymoonbeam, @natzbandwagon, @notalwayswrite, @kimleannelliot, @scarylawyerguy, @dcg1114, @jofchalcedon, @sunnyright, @mediaevan, @edmundlee, @yeathatterrence, @tom_watson, @adelbrown, @hoosier114, @johnbiggs, @davidfolkenflik, CNN, @jlbarrow@threads.net, @cnn@threads.net, Fox News, New York Post, The Independent, The Wrap, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, @danmitchell.bsky.social, @jason0x21.bsky.social and Eschaton
Bloomberg:
Sources: the biggest shareholders of viral app Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, are in talks to sell part of their holdings at a valuation of at least $20B — - Existing VC backers are in talks to unload some of their stock — Xiaohongshu on track to regain 2021 peak as TikTok ban looms
Discussion:
Reuters, @chen_yenhan, @nicolatyche@threads.net, @tomgara@threads.net, @khamchanh, @raewolff_, @jerryiannelli.bsky.social, @nycxclothes@threads.net, @rebeccawilliams.info, @jeanchimera.bsky.social, @wongmjane@threads.net, @goodvibepolitik, @junlper.beer, @zbowling, @gldivittorio, User Mag, @juniorhoncho.bsky.social, Business Insider and Billboard, more at Techmeme »
Todd Spangler / Variety:
YouTube, Google, Meta, and Snap join media companies and studios contributing to LA fire recovery efforts, with funding, products and services — YouTube, Google, Meta and Snap are pitching in to help L.A. recover from the wildfires that have caused devastation across the region and forced thousands to evacuate in the past week.
Discussion:
YouTube Official Blog, Jeremy Brown on LinkedIn, Billboard, Music Ally, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, @jeffbezos, Kathy Baker on LinkedIn, @teddyschleifer, Matt McLernon on LinkedIn, BetaNews, @sundarpichai@threads.net, @youtube@threads.net, David Krinsky on LinkedIn, The Hollywood Reporter, Karan Bhatia on LinkedIn, @netopia.bsky.social, Digital Music News, CNBC, TechCrunch, Social Media Today, MediaPost, The Wrap, Billboard, Forbes, Just Jared and Media Play News
Brian Stelter / CNN:
Outgoing FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel rejects complaints that she says “seek to weaponize” FCC, including three pro-Trump efforts and one against Fox News — New York CNN — — The outgoing Democratic chair of the Federal Communications Commission is taking bold action …
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Letter: Google told EU it will not add fact checks to search results and YouTube videos or use them in ranking or removing content, despite new EU requirements — - The code would require Google to incorporate fact-check results alongside Google's search results and YouTube videos.
Discussion:
@colinbphoto, more at Techmeme »
Max Tani / Semafor:
NYT opinion leader Kathleen Kingsbury says NYT is continuing to reconsider its future political endorsements, after dropping local endorsements in 2024 — The New York Times is continuing to consider the future value of political endorsements. — The paper has already dropped local endorsements …
Discussion:
@mediaevan
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Memo: Dotdash Meredith CEO Neil Vogel says the publisher will lay off 143 people; its headcount grew by 170 in 2024, despite laying off 53 positions in November — - Dotdash Meredith grew headcount by 170 people in 2024, despite laying off 53 positions in November.
Josh Carpenter / Sports Business Journal:
Fox Sports and LIV Golf announce a multi-year rights deal, with “more than half” of the league's 14 events airing on Fox or FS1 and some on the Fox Sports App — LIV Golf has plugged in its two biggest offseason puzzle pieces in the last 24 hours, with the league announcing …
Romain Dillet / Tech Crunch:
Mistral announces a content deal with the Agence France-Presse to improve answer accuracy in Le Chat, marking the French AI startup's first such partnership — Just a day after Google inked a deal with The Associated Press, Mistral is also announcing a content deal with the Agence France-Presse …
Discussion:
Mistral AI, Agence France-Presse, Benzinga and Financial Times, more at Techmeme »
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Sources: Blackstone hires advisers to explore the sale of song rights, including from Bob Dylan, Adele, and Ariana Grande, that it expects to fetch $3B or more — - Music valuations have soared since Blackstone acquired SESAC — Apollo, Warburg, Pincus are among firms that looked at assets
Discussion:
@lucas_shaw
Jake Kanter / Deadline:
Source: News UK has told staff that jobs are at risk amid a “rightsizing” initiative at its studios division News Studios after Piers Morgan's departure — Deadline understands that staff have been told that jobs are at risk amid a “rightsizing” initiative at News Studios …
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