Top News:
Oliver Darcy / Status:
Sources: Bari Weiss has kept Anderson Cooper's unaired 60 Minutes piece about Trump's decision to accept South African refugees in a prolonged editorial process — Earlier this week, on Tuesday, members of the “60 Minutes” team gathered for a meeting to discuss the future of Sharyn Alfonsi's delayed piece …
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Jeff Jarvis / Katie Couric Media:
Under Bari Weiss and anchor Tony Dokoupil, CBS Evening News has become state propaganda, costing CBS News respect as mass media's audience shrinks — It's the last nail in the coffin of CBS News as respected journalism. … It would be easy to mock Tony Dokoupil's debut as the latest anchor …
The Wrap:
Sources: Javier Guzman, a CBS Evening News senior broadcast producer, was dismissed on Jan. 7 from his position, just days into Tony Dokoupil's tenure as anchor
Sources: Javier Guzman, a CBS Evening News senior broadcast producer, was dismissed on Jan. 7 from his position, just days into Tony Dokoupil's tenure as anchor
Discussion:
Adweek, Los Angeles Times, New York Sun, CNN, @jessehawken.bsky.social, The Independent, @jeremymbarr, al.com, @mexiconews.bsky.social, Suggest and New York Post
Laura Hazard Owen / Nieman Lab:
A look at the visual investigations of the Minneapolis ICE shooting by The NYT, WaPo, and Bellingcat, and how they helped people trying to make sense of events — When everyone has seen the same videos, what service do news sites provide? — Late Wednesday afternoon …
Discussion:
New York Times, Poynter, Washington Post, CNN, The Daily Signal, Straight Arrow News, Deadline, CBS News, New York Post, @karynpugliese.bsky.social, @alpenglowdreams.bsky.social, @jonathanweisman, @asharangappa.bsky.social, KSTP-TV, @sarajacobs.house.gov, twitchy.com, @sarahscire.com, @samlitzinger.bsky.social, The Verge, CNN, @eliothiggins.bsky.social, @joffirphd.bsky.social, @bellingcat.com, @eliothiggins.bsky.social and @eliothiggins.bsky.social
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Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Sources: Paramount is seeking a strategic partner to invest in MTV as it aims to refocus MTV on music; Nielsen: MTV averaged <200K viewers in primetime in 2025 — Paramount Skydance Corp. is looking to revive MTV — and it wants the music industry's help.
Jennifer Swann / Wired:
How Craigslist has stayed relevant for users as a place to find jobs, housing, and personal connections without relying on algorithmic feeds or public profiles — Millennials are still using Craigslist to find jobs, love, and even to cast creative projects—eschewing other AI- and algorithm-dominated online spaces.
Mark Sweney / The Guardian:
Filings: X's UK revenue fell 58.3% YoY from £69.1M in 2023 to £28.9M in 2024; pre-tax profits fell from £2.2M in 2023 to £767,000 in 2024 — Elon Musk-owned site reports plunging profits amid outcry over use of AI tool Grok to create sexually explicit imagery
Michael Savage / The Guardian:
BBC Director General Tim Davie says the broadcaster will stay on X to try to counteract a flood of global misinformation, despite pressure to leave — Director general says BBC needs to reach young audiences online amid pressure to leave Elon Musk-owned site
Discussion:
The A.V. Club, @pressgazette.co.uk, @jameskanter.bsky.social, @katebevan.com, @ericgordy.bsky.social, Deadline, @grahambs.bsky.social, @mousey@mastodon …, @jab01701mid@mastodon.social, @humanhorseshoes …, @jd@mstdn.ca, @parallax2112.bsky.social, @patricksamphire.bsky.social, @michaelsavage.bsky.social and Mirror, more at Techmeme »
Nicole Sperling / New York Times:
Under its contract with Artists Equity, Netflix will pay the crew a bonus if The Rip performs well, a departure from its usual refusal to make back-end payments — The streaming giant agreed to pay the entire production crew of the pair's new movie a bonus if the film performs well on the service.
Discussion:
The Wrap, /Film, StageRunner, The Hollywood Reporter, People, How-To Geek, Christian Grece on LinkedIn and The Upcoming
Jordan Moreau / Variety:
The Golden Globes signs a deal with Polymarket, which will provide stats and predictions about the awards show at the official 2026 viewing party — The fast-rising digital marketplace will offer real-time forecasts for winners in top races during Sunday's live telecast on CBS
Discussion:
The A.V. Club, Deadline, Gizmodo, Gold Derby, @rootless.bsky.social, Page Six, @devonheinen.bsky.social, @cheyeev.bsky.social, @kennysmith.bsky.social, Business Wire, @cupcakeredford.bsky.social, The Hollywood Reporter, @ryangodfrey.com, @wagatwe.com, WWD, @followtheh.bsky.social, @pluribus-unum.co, Marie Claire, Just Jared and Los Angeles Times, more at Techmeme »
Chris Roush / Talking Biz News:
The San Francisco Standard hires Elizabeth Ralph to oversee its Opinion section; Ralph is currently editor of Politico Magazine and Politico managing editor — Elizabeth Ralph is joining the San Francisco Standard newsroom leadership team to oversee the Opinion section.
Titus Wu / Bloomberg Government:
California's Department of Finance director says Gov. Gavin Newsom doesn't plan to commit more funding in 2026 to a Google partnership to help local newsrooms — California Gov. Gavin Newsom doesn't plan to commit funding this year to a partnership with Google to help local newsrooms …
The Hollywood Reporter:
X sues the National Music Publishers' Association and its members, claiming they conspired to force X into group licensing deals at inflated rates — X alleges antitrust violations over music publishers allegedly refusing to negotiate individual licenses with the company.
Discussion:
Variety, Billboard, The Verge, Reuters, New York Times, @nitishpahwa.com and Global Competition Review
Danielle Riendeau / Game Developer:
Two former Polygon editors say they are launching Mothership, a new game publication, on January 26, to analyze games through the lens of gender and identity — The new publication will focus on gender inclusivity and building community. — Former Polygon editors Maddy Myers and Zoe Hannah …
Discussion:
Kotaku and Mothership
Ryan Autullo / Bloomberg Law:
A district court judge denies Texas AG Ken Paxton's request for a restraining order preventing Samsung from collecting data on TV watchers — Samsung Electronics America can continue to use technology that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) says allows it to unlawfully collect data on TV watchers, a judge ruled Friday.
Discussion:
BleepingComputer
