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Memo: WaPo CEO Will Lewis says opinion section changes are “not about siding with any political party” but about “being crystal clear about what we stand for” — David Shipley, The Post's opinion editor, is resigning after trying to persuade Jeff Bezos to reconsider the new direction.
Discussion:
The Guardian, Cameron Barr on LinkedIn, Washington Post, The Washington Free Beacon, Deadline, Wall Street Journal, @benmullin, @davidrlurie.bsky.social, Jerry Davis on LinkedIn, @limeylizzie.bsky.social, The Wrap, Washington Examiner, Townhall, @thiagokrause.bsky.social, GeekWire, The Gateway Pundit, @jerdem.bsky.social, Twitchy, The Verge, @notaaroncraig.bsky.social, @picardonhealth.bsky.social, Reuters, Media Nation, Colin Woodard on LinkedIn, The Present Age, Raw Story, CNBC, @kyra_davis@mstdn.social, @kevinleecaster.bsky.social, @benmullin.bsky.social, Newsbusters, PoliticusUSA, @strangernalps.bsky.social, @silviomarcacci.bsky.social, @briankrebs@infosec.exchange, @mikemadden.bsky.social and The Hill
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Jeff Bezos says the WaPo's opinion pages going forward will largely focus on personal liberties and free markets, and opinion editor David Shipley is leaving — I shared this note with the Washington Post team this morning: I'm writing to let you know about a change coming to our opinion pages. We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets. We'll cover other topics too
Discussion:
Zeteo, @jstein_wapo, NPR, @maxwelltani, The Atlantic, @elonmusk, Chicago Tribune, @maiamindel, @grogsgamut.bsky.social, The National Pulse, @becketadams, @sohrabahmari, @davidmaraniss.bsky.social, New Jersey Online, HotAir, Associated Press, Washington Times, @kejames.bsky.social, @tvietor08, @michaelsavage.bsky.social, @jordanschachtel, @repdonbeyer, The Independent, @brianstelter, @gaywonk, Robert Reich, The Daily Signal, UnHerd, @binarybits, The Wrap, @paulbehrens.bsky.social, @brianstelter, @connor_echols, Backbencher, @ohgodwhatnow.bsky.social, @cat_zakrzewski, @2savedemocracy.bsky.social, @pastpunditry.bsky.social, @budkennedy, @sunraysunray, @pastpunditry.bsky.social, @john_hudson, @ernie.tedium.co, @adiseredinschi, @mattmday, @maxwelltani, @michaelsavage, @benmullin, @binarybits, @Naureckas@mastodon.world, @davidmaraniss.bsky.social, @kylebrussell, @brianstelter, USA Today, Financial Times, @meganotoole.bsky.social, Gizmodo, @sarafischer, @ktmboyle, Mediaite, @chrisoffner3d.bsky.social, @binarybits, @farhip, Garbage Day, @jonsopel, @mgsiegler, @jpodhoretz, @amandalitman, Sara Langhinrichs Gifford on LinkedIn, @cat_zakrzewski, @repdonbeyer, @arrington, Newser, @sherman4949, @kristaachavez, @_cingraham, @jackmirkinson, Variety, @euanmacdonald.bsky.social, @wallstreetmav, @mikeisaac, @alykatzz, @emmma_camp_, Breitbart, @edpilkington, @charlesarthur, @tomhayes.bsky.social, @nkulw, @eastmond_andrew, @susanmcp.bsky.social, @karaswisher.bsky.social, @randomgeek@hackers.town, New York Post, @afternoondelete, @jestastrophy.bsky.social, IJR, @hadas_gold, @chrchristensen, @hunterw.bsky.social, @bencjacobs, @jasoncolavito, The Hollywood Reporter, @jessicalessin, @williamturton, @artjipson, TVNewsCheck, @lionel_trolling, @prem_thakker, @douthatnyt, @kmanguward, @stevebrant.bsky.social, @mattyglesias, @jbenmenachem.com, @tomgara@threads.net, CNN, @ashleyrparker, @arthistorynews, @byelin, @briantylercohen.bsky.social, @keitholbermann, @yaqiu, @heidilifeldman@mastodon …, ZeroHedge News, Howard Pulchin on LinkedIn, Jacqueline Loch on LinkedIn, Fast Company, @jackmirkinson, @johnauthers, Business Insider, The Information, @benmullin, @terilg.bsky.social, @hadas_gold, New York Daily News, Politico, The Daily Wire, New Republic and Blaze Media, more at Techmeme »


Marty Baron condemns changes to WaPo's opinion section, says he is “disgusted” as Bezos is “betraying” WaPo's “longstanding principles” for commercial interests — Former executive editor Marty Baron told the Daily Beast there was “no doubt in my mind” …
Discussion:
The Guardian, Mediaite, The Wrap, @orskov.bsky.social, @davidfolkenflik, @kbeninato@mstdn.party, @michaelgrantbks.bsky.social, @derfbackderf.bsky.social, @knittingknots2@mstdn.social, @corbinbolies, @caitjgibson.bsky.social, @tyburr.bsky.social, @davidfolkenflik, @dandrezner.bsky.social, @jkbjournalist.bsky.social, @robertbohan.bsky.social, @mattsheffield@mastodon.social and The Boston Globe

Sources: WaPo publisher Will Lewis told Jeff Bezos that changes to the Opinion section would have consequences for the health of the paper
Discussion:
Ace of Spades HQ, Sydney Morning Herald, Politico, @nomaga.bsky.social, Axios, @nkulw, @charlottetklein and RedState


The White House kicked out Reuters and a HuffPost reporter from Trump's Wednesday press pool; with AP still blocked, just one wire service remained in the pool — Breaking with decades of precedent, the Trump White House is insisting on the ability to choose which reporters cover the president.
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New York Post, The Hill, The Post Millennial, New York Times, Washington Examiner, @jeremymbarr, @jeremymbarr, @jeremymbarr, @andrewfeinberg, @jbendery, Daily Mail, Vanity Fair, Reuters, Deadline, Politico, Townhall, @cuzcaroline.bsky.social, @svdate, The Daily Wire, @samstein, @floofmcgoof.bsky.social, @freedom.press, Bloomberg, The Guardian, @arifleischer, @jbendery.bsky.social and Reuters
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Editors of Reuters, AP, and Bloomberg News, all permanent members of the White House pool, say limiting wire access to the president harms people and markets — By: Reuters News Agency — Reuters, The Associated Press and Bloomberg News today issued the following statement:
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, Mediaite, Washington Examiner, @reuterspr and WTTG-TV


On day one of choosing its own “press pool,” the White House replaced HuffPost with Axios; two staunchly pro-Trump outlets, Newsmax and The Blaze, were added

WHCA President Eugene Daniels said the White House move to take over the press pool “tears at the independence of a free press”; longtime reporters share alarm
Discussion:
NPR, @jacquiheinrich, The Wrap, The Hill, Mediaite, Business Insider, The Federalist, @lauraphillips.bsky.social, Columbia Journalism Review, Poynter, IJR, The Daily Signal, @presssec, @jenicearmstrong, @sueannhowell, @clumsyandshy, @taylorpopielarz, @tvreporter, @patrickdehahn, @bpopetv, @tbonier, @jamesrbuk, @aclufl, @glennthrush, @billgertz, @pamelafessler, @patricialopez_4, @arifleischer, @milligansusan, @toddgillman, @ahaywa, @timothy_bellman, @farhip, @farhip, @farhip, @jacquiheinrich and @walshfreedom.bsky.social

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says the White House, not the WHCA, will now decide which outlets will be in the pool covering presidential events
Discussion:
New York Times, Washington Post, White House Correspondents …, HuffPost, Fox News, The Hill, @chrisblue.bsky.social, @rcfp.org, Cele|bitchy, The NewsGuild, @aclu.org, Associated Press, The Hill, @kodiakmoments.net, @dlboardman, @cernovich, @jacquiheinrich, @grynbaum, @nycsouthpaw.bsky.social, @nytimespr.bsky.social, @ianjames.bsky.social, @dfriedman.bsky.social, @pressfreedomtracker.us, Rolling Stone, @justinbaragona.bsky.social, @markjacob.bsky.social, @viktorshtrum.bsky.social, @sonofathomp.bsky.social, @kylehaynes.bsky.social, @davidrlurie.bsky.social, @sodrock.bsky.social, @mehdirhasan.bsky.social, Fox News, @marisakabas.bsky.social, @realtuckfrumper.bsky.social, @greatscottusa.bsky.social, Townhall, @mariopro.bsky.social, Axios, @peterbakernyt.bsky.social and @peterbakernyt.bsky.social


YouTube's VP for News Partnerships Tim Katz says the platform has continued to boom as a news platform, particularly for news commentators like MeidasTouch — The News — YouTube is touting a mind-boggling statistic to demonstrate its increasing dominance in podcasting.
Discussion:
YouTube Official Blog, Pedro Pina on LinkedIn, @maxwelltani and Kimberly Diaz on LinkedIn
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NPR Chief Diversity Officer Keith Woods says he is retiring May 2 after 15 years at NPR; CEO Katherine Maher says NPR won't veer from a dedication to diversity — NPR Chief Diversity Officer Keith Woods announced Wednesday that he would retire after a 46-year career in journalism and 15 years …
Discussion:
Fox News, RedState and @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social


Sources: UK lawmakers plan key concessions for artists about plans to make it easier for AI companies to use copyrighted work, after lobbying by top artists — Exclusive: partial climbdown over use of work protected by copyright considered after intense lobbying by top artists


Meta's Oversight Board says it will weigh in on Meta's hate speech policies, changed before Trump's inauguration, in a test of the enforceability of its powers — It's unclear how much the group will be able to influence the rules. — Less than two weeks before Donald Trump's inauguration …
Discussion:
TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »


Internal memo: Paramount is making changes to its DEI policies to conform to efforts by the Trump administration to eliminate diversity programs — The company has a merger pending before the Federal Communications Commission, whose chief has criticized programs focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Discussion:
Variety, TechCrunch, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, @benmullin, @doriandavis, Yahoo Finance, RetailWire, Observer, Fortune, New York Post, The Wrap, Bloomberg and Forbes, more at Techmeme »


Source: Instagram considers launching a standalone Reels app, improving recommendations, and distributing more three-minute-long videos, to compete with TikTok — Instagram is considering launching a stand-alone app for its short-form-video feature, Reels, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri told staff this week …
Discussion:
Digital Music News, more at Techmeme »


Wired gained 62,500 new subscribers in the US during the first two weeks of February, as the tech outlet aggressively covers the Trump administration and DOGE — Shortly after becoming Wired's global editorial director in 2023, Katie Drummond acted on an early-morning idea.