Top News:
Kanis Leung / Associated Press:
Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai is found guilty of colluding with foreign forces and conspiring to publish seditious articles, and faces a possible life sentence — Jimmy Lai, the former Hong Kong media mogul and outspoken critic of Beijing, was convicted in a landmark national security trial …
Discussion:
BBC, The Guardian, Hong Kong Free Press HKFP, HotAir, The Daily Signal, Fortune, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Human Events, @liamjscott, Al Jazeera, Columbia Journalism Review, @nickkristof, Catholic League, Committee to Protect …, NPR, Australian Financial Review, Kyodo News, Reporters Without Borders, Taipei Times, @joshrogin, New York Times, The Daily Register, @tomgrundy, @frances_hui, OCCRP, Courthouse News Service, @kenroth, Washington Examiner, Metro.co.uk, JURIST, @yaqiu, @thecfhk, @klustout, The Daily Wire, @kevinkfyam, Breitbart, @cpjasia, @johnsimpsonnews, @hkdc_us, The Free Press, @klustout@threads.com, Nikkei Asia, Sky News, The Independent, Washington Post, Globe and Mail, CBC News, The Japan Times, New York Times, Reuters, Financial Times, Bloomberg, CNBC, @lorak.bsky.social, France 24, Associated Press, Kagi News, NBC News, UPI, CBS News, Al Jazeera, NewsMax.com, Semafor and WAN-IFRA
Max Tani / Semafor:
Internal tests show WaPo launched its AI podcast feature despite 68%+ of generated scripts failing its standards, saying it would “iterate through” the issues — The Scoop — The Washington Post began putting out AI-generated podcasts even after internal tests found …
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Major brands were replaced by direct-response advertisers during commercial breaks of CBS News' December 13 town hall with Erika Kirk, moderated by Bari Weiss — During a Saturday-night town hall led by Bari Weiss, the recently named editor in chief of CBS News, most of Madison Avenue sought an off-ramp.
Discussion:
New Republic, New York Sun, @matthewkeyslive, @newsjennifer.bsky.social, Sandra Rose, @mford.bsky.social, TVNewsCheck, Salon, @jbflint, @bristei, @bettycrackerfl.bsky.social, Raw Story, @kennysmith.bsky.social, RedState, @5-2blue.bsky.social, CBS News, @dannygroner.bsky.social, The Free Press, @chadloder.bsky.social, CBS News on YouTube, The Gateway Pundit, @joshtpm.bsky.social, @bgrueskin.bsky.social, @joshuaerlich.bsky.social, The Hill, New York Post, @brandonfriedman.bsky.social, @swin24.bsky.social, Althouse and Deseret News
Byron Tau / Associated Press:
Sources: Bay Area radio station KCBS-AM, which faced MAGA backlash over ICE coverage, scaled back political reporting after Brendan Carr's threats of a probe — Before Jimmy Kimmel, there was KCBS. — Just six days into President Donald Trump's new administration, the San Francisco Bay …
Sara Fischer / Axios:
WSJ launches Free Expression, a newsletter-focused opinion brand that will be available via its own channels and Substack, initially offering free content — The Wall Street Journal on Monday launched “Free Expression,” a newsletter-focused opinion brand that will be available via its own channels and Substack.
Discussion:
@sarafischer, Wall Street Journal and Talking Biz News
Aidan Ryan / The Boston Globe:
The Boston Globe says Brian McGrory will return as editor, after Nancy Barnes' departure at the end of 2025; McGrory previously was editor from 2012 to 2023 — Brian McGrory is returning to The Boston Globe as editor, the company's co-owner and chief executive Linda Henry announced to staff Monday.
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, WBUR, @davidfolkenflik, New York Times, Media Nation and Boston Business Journal
Alice Brooker / Press Gazette:
The Associated Press launches AP Verify, an AI-powered tool, including chatbot and geolocation, to help journalists authenticate text, photos, and videos — AP Verify helped find eyewitness videos from Charlie Kirk assassination. — Associated Press has launched an AI-powered tool …
Discussion:
Associated Press and @kennysmith.bsky.social
Chris Morris / Variety:
Acclaimed actor and director Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Singer were found dead in their home; LAPD is investigating the deaths as a homicide — Rob Reiner, who segued from starring in “All in the Family” to directing movies including “This Is Spinal Tap,” “A Few Good Men” and …
Discussion:
TMZ.com, People, @realDonaldTrump …, NBC Los Angeles, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, TMZ.com, New York Times, The Wrap, People, ABC7, IndieWire, Zeteo, New York Post, @mayorofla, Fox News, E! Online, HELLO!, Entertainment Weekly, Chicago Sun Times, WWL-TV, @rapidresponse47, Cord Cutters News, Deadline, Extra, NPR, WNYW-TV, Agence France-Presse, Plain Dealer, @jbenton, Daily Mail, NBC News, The Mahablog, New York Sun, Nicki Swift, El País, ZeroHedge News, @erikdavis, SheKnows, Rolling Stone, Le Monde, The Scottish Sun, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, FemaleFirst, @letterboxd, No More Mister Nice Blog, @da__dealer, The Guardian, RADAR, World of Reel, @nickterrymgr, @angus.bsky.social, The Tab, Mirror, @reallorispencer, The Indian Express, Suggest, The Japan Times, Us Weekly, USA Today, The Forward, San Diego Union-Tribune, Dexerto, TODAY.com, Looper, The Hollywood Reporter, @samstein, The Hill, ABC News, TVLine, Vogue, National Enquirer, The US Sun, Straight Arrow News, NDTV Profit, @lonsj.bsky.social, Townhall, @trumanswhack, InStyle, @fightingliberal.bsky.social, @tjandcasper, RedState, Daily Star, @phillewis.bsky.social, Washington Post, Raw Story, @vronskies, Sandra Rose, @yashar, @spongebobsloth, @ceo_branding, Celebrity News & …, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, @variety, @michaeljstern.bsky.social, @collinrugg, The Post Millennial, NBC Bay Area, NewsMax.com, al.com, Benzinga, @theflickpick, @kathrynw5, @therickwilson, @richarderoeper, /Film, UPI, @antonia2024bsky.bsky.social, Vanity Fair, Advocate, @madgreek2024.bsky.social, France 24, TV Insider, Business Insider, @variety, Washington Examiner, GamesRadar, @sherripizza, Consequence, @danielsilvabook, David Earl Williams III on LinkedIn, CBS News, HuffPost, @elex_michaelson, Breitbart, @stylesgala, @unhealthytruth, Page Six, Channel2 NOW, Pasadena Star News, New York Daily News, masslive.com, Oh No They Didn't!, CNBC, Press Telegram, Alternet.org, OMG.BLOG, Just Jared, IJR, Mock Paper Scissors and Twin Cities
Freddy Mayhew / Press Gazette:
PA Media, the UK's largest press agency, says it has adopted a “video-first” strategy to meet increased demand for live and vertical social media content — PA has adopted a “video-first” approach to its content offering in response to increased demand for live and vertical video content …
Front Office Sports:
Sources: ESPN hired ex-USA Today sports editor Roxanna Scott for the new position of SVP, EIC, in which she will be the top editor across TV and digital — ESPN is beefing up its editorial department. — Roxanna Scott has been hired for a newly created position in which she will be the top editor …
Discussion:
Awful Announcing
Elias Leight / Wall Street Journal:
Christmas music is more popular than ever, with listeners embracing it earlier in the year; by December 10, 20 of Spotify's top 25 tracks were Christmas-themed — One music manager described a holiday hit as a ‘little ATM machine’ — The group Pentatonix are known for their a capella renditions of Christmas classics.
Discussion:
Barrett Media, Digital Music News and Raw Story
Reuters:
Internal documents: Meta earned $18B+ in annual ad sales from China in 2024, making up 10%+ of its global revenue, with $3B+ linked to fraudulent ads like scams — A Reuters investigation reveals the owner of Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp decided to accept high levels of fraudulent advertisements from China.
