Top News:
Lucy Clarke-Billings / BBC:
Dark Horse Comics cancels Neil Gaiman's upcoming work after sexual misconduct allegations were made against him — A publisher of Neil Gaiman's graphic novels and comic books has cancelled his upcoming work after sexual misconduct allegations were made against him.
Discussion:
@darkhorsecomics, Deadline, NME, Variety, @conversecomics, WFAA-TV, The Hollywood Reporter, Oregonian, AV Club, Rolling Stone, The Wrap, @darkhorse.com, Screen Rant and Gizmodo
Wall Street Journal:
Despite assurances, advertisers worry Meta's tools may not prevent ads from appearing near offensive content as the new content moderation approach takes effect — Social-media giant's loosening of speech restrictions is unsettling advertisers, who say a decade of efforts to protect their reputations is at risk
Tim Ingham / Music Business Worldwide:
Spotify and UMG announce a new multiyear deal, establishing a direct license between Spotify and Universal Music Publishing Group in the US and other countries — It's official: as MBW reported earlier, Spotify and Universal Music Group have inked a new multi-year licensing agreement.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, Reuters, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, UMG and Consequence
Reuters:
Trump denies talks with Oracle about a TikTok deal, says “I have spoken to many people about TikTok” and expects a decision in the next 30 days — ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, Jan 25 (Reuters) - (This Jan. 25 story has been refiled to add the missing words ‘some of’ in paragraph 9)
Kate Wright / The Conversation:
The VOA and its journalists remain vulnerable despite measures introduced after an intense wave of politicization during the waning months of Trump's first term — With President Donald Trump installed for a second term, one big item on the new administration's agenda appears to be rearranging …
Discussion:
@niemanlab, @uk.theconversation.com, @patriziac.bsky.social, @kaedotcom.bsky.social and Instapundit
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:
Fox News, Noahpinion, @inthehands@hachyderm.io, @petersuber@fediscience.org, @melinab.bsky.social, @atabarrok, @afib.bsky.social, Troy Tassier on LinkedIn, @oliverdarcy.bsky.social, @buermann@mastodon.social, Simon Owens's Media Newsletter, @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
Rest of World:
Major Chinese social media apps have mastered the “shoppertainment” experience, blending social media with shopping, that Western competitors struggle to match — Addictive algorithms fuse social networking with shopping and entertainment. — In the days leading …
Discussion:
@anup.bsky.social and The Guardian
RELATED:
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, Democrats, @donmoyn.bsky.social, CNN, The Atlantic, Digby's Hullabaloo, New York Post, @mkraju, @mikenellis, @senwarren, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, PBS NewsHour, Al Jazeera, @ChrisBoese@newsie.social, The Defense Post, Semafor, @mrhoyle.bsky.social, The Gateway Pundit, NOTUS, Stars & Stripes, Telegraph, Politico, U.S. Department of Defense, Financial Times, Military.com, The Guardian, Axios, Reuters, Associated Press, MSNBC, BBC, Military Times, @rainwater14.bsky.social, DefenseScoop, The Hill, Washington Post, @mollyjongfast.bsky.social, Associated Press, @repjasmine.bsky.social, Bloomberg, Variety, Roll Call, Scripps News, The 19th, Business Insider, Washington Post, The Wrap, New York Post, @indivisibleteam …, USA Today, Rolling Stone, @pattonoswalt.bsky.social, Deadline, Wall Street Journal, @joshuajfriedman.com, @chrislhayes.bsky.social, IJR and CBS News
Global Voices:
An interview with journalist and Ethical Journalism Network founder Aidan White on the current global lack of trust in media and ways to rebuild public trust — Media can adopt mechanisms to prove their credibility, such as self-assessment and independent certification
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:
@tvgrimreaper, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social and The Desk
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, Deadline, Hyperallergic and Associated Press
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.
