Top News:
Charles Kaiser / Columbia Journalism Review:
An interview with Paul Krugman on leaving the NYT in 2024 after his newsletter was killed and editing of his column “became extremely intrusive”, Substack, more — The paper wanted to take away his newsletter or make him write less frequently, he says.
Discussion:
@atabarrok, Troy Tassier on LinkedIn, @buermann@mastodon.social, @oliverdarcy.bsky.social, @afib.bsky.social, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, @thetasalmon.bsky.social, Simon Owens on LinkedIn, @christineloriol.bsky.social, @dicktofel.bsky.social, Dan Gillmor on LinkedIn, @mattcowgill.bsky.social, @jfallows.bsky.social, @harrylitman.bsky.social, @perrybaconjr.bsky.social, @cbarbermd@med-mastodon.com, @amycastor.bsky.social, @scripting.com, @karaswisher.bsky.social, @doughenwood.bsky.social, @katie0martin.bsky.social, @adamserwer.bsky.social, @jonflan.bsky.social, @luciaguimaraes.bsky.social, @columjournreview.bsky.social, @gregggonsalves.bsky.social, @viktorshtrum.bsky.social, @newsjennifer.bsky.social, @ryanlcooper.com, @dynarski.bsky.social and Talking Biz News
Tom Bowman / NPR:
Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth wins Senate confirmation to become Donald Trump's defense secretary, after Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote — Pete Hegseth overcame allegations of sexual assault, public drunkenness and questions of financial mismanagement at two veterans' groups …
Discussion:
New York Times, CNN, Fox News, Associated Press, The Hill, Associated Press, @mikenellis, @rainwater14.bsky.social, Washington Post, NOTUS, @mrhoyle.bsky.social, @mollyjongfast.bsky.social, @indivisibleteam …, Wall Street Journal, The Wrap, The Guardian, New York Post, Daily Caller News Foundation, Axios, MSNBC, The 19th, Al Jazeera, Deadline, Stars & Stripes, Variety, New York Post, DefenseScoop, Reuters, The Hill, Semafor, Washington Post, Rolling Stone, BBC, @joshuajfriedman.com, @pattonoswalt.bsky.social, Republic World, Telegraph, Military.com, The Defense Post, Financial Times, @repjasmine.bsky.social, @senwarren, Military Times, Bloomberg, Business Insider, U.S. Department of Defense, @mkraju, Roll Call, Scripps News, USA Today, @chrislhayes.bsky.social, Politico, freebeacon.com, Salon, CBS News, IJR, Christianity Today, Daily Mail, Talking Points Memo, The Independent, NBC Bay Area, Hollywood Life, Mediaite, Santa Cruz Sentinel, Slate and DNyuz
Patrick Coffee / Wall Street Journal:
Nielsen plans to stop selling its TV ratings product that solely uses consumer panels in Q4 2025, moving to a tool combining panels with smart-TV data and more — The dominant ratings provider hopes to fend off competitors by pivoting to a bundle that combines its consumer panels with data …
Discussion:
The Desk and @tvgrimreaper
Claire Heddles / NOTUS:
Amended FEC filings: WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's failed 2022 congressional campaign owes $300K+ in unpaid debts that weren't initially disclosed — On Thursday, Karoline Leavitt's failed congressional campaign amended every FEC filing it had ever made to reveal that she failed …
Discussion:
@claireheddles, @daveforiowa, @mepfuller, @mepfuller, @endcitizensunited.bsky.social, @mikegrattan.bsky.social, @relisberg.bsky.social, @juddlegum.bsky.social, @davidcorn.bsky.social, @impactofficer.bsky.social, @juliannemcshane.bsky.social, Raw Story, @1bluedonkey.bsky.social, @davidfrum.bsky.social, @zoocoup.bsky.social, @dangillmor.bsky.social, @melwebster.bsky.social and The Bulwark
Addie Morfoot / Variety:
A look at documentaries at Sundance: indie films still struggle to get distribution, political topics remain crucial despite a challenging market, and more — It's no secret that corporations like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple have lost their appetite for current event documentaries that tackle politics.
Discussion:
Addie Morfoot on LinkedIn, Hyperallergic, Deadline, Associated Press and The Hollywood Reporter
Jorge Mercado / Pacific Coast Business Times:
How the assets of the Santa Barbara News Press, which closed after bankruptcy in 2023, ended up with nonprofit NEWSWELL, as the nonprofit plans a relaunch — It has been a year and a half since the Santa Barbara News Press, the former longest running daily newspaper in Southern California …
David Satin / The Streamable:
Fubo raises prices on all of its English-language plans for new customers; its least expensive offering, its Essential plan, is now $85/month — Despite launching less than two months ago, Fubo is raising the price of its new Essential package alongside those of its other plans.
Discussion:
@tvgrimreaper, The Desk, @kennysmith.bsky.social, @2xaught7.bsky.social, The TV Answer Man!, Streaming Better and Fortune
Kerry Flynn / Axios:
Sources: Blackstone-backed IDG nears a deal to sell Foundry, which runs outlets like PCWorld and Macworld, to private equity firm Regent — The sources wished to remain anonymous because the deal is not yet public. — Terms of the agreement could not be determined.
Discussion:
@harrymccracken.com and @harrymccracken@mastodon …
Katie Deighton / Wall Street Journal:
ShopMy, which lets brands run influencer marketing efforts, raised a $77.5M Series B led by Bessemer and Bain, sources say at a $410M valuation vs. $80M in 2024 — Tech firms that speed up and automate brands' partnerships with social-media influencers are becoming hot commodities as advertisers scramble to reach consumers online
Lauren Forristal / TechCrunch:
Flip, which lets shoppers share video reviews and earn cash based on engagement, launches a creator fund that grants up to $100M of equity over 5+ years — Flip is a social commerce app that lets shoppers become creators. They can share honest reviews and earn cash based on engagement on the platform.
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Similarweb: RedNote's DAUs in the US fell by 54% on January 20 when the TikTok ban was put on hold, after reaching a high of 32.5M DAUs on the day of the ban — In the days leading up to the TikTok ban in the U.S. on Sunday, U.S. users flooded the Chinese app RedNote, which offered …
Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch:
Meta begins a “limited, early test” of ads in Threads in the US and Japan, with the goal of making the ads “as interesting as organic content” — Meta's X rival Threads said Friday that it is now testing ads with select brands in the U.S. and Japan.
Discussion:
@mosseri@threads.net, Facebook, Benzinga, Business Insider, @joeo10@mastodon.sdf.org, @mikeisaac, MediaPost, Hindustan Times, TVNewsCheck, Fast Company, @badinternet.oracularhades.com, Ad Age, CNBC, Reuters, @chartier@toot.cafe, Adweek, 9to5Mac, Engadget, Bloomberg, The Verge, @parkerortolani@threads.net, @stevepsyd@threads.net and Crooks and Liars, more at Techmeme »
