Mediagazer: The EU Commission says WhatsApp's Channels fall under the DSA's Very Large Online Platform rules, joining Instagram and Facebook, requiring it to address risks (Anupriya Datta/Euractiv)

@erikwemple:

Foreign correspondents at WaPo send a letter to Jeff Bezos raising alarm over impending layoffs, which are expected to “land hard” on international coverage — Update on turmoil at the Washington Post that I've been following w @BenMullin: Foreign correspondents at WaPo have sent a letter, a “collective plea,” to owner Jeff Bezos raising alarm over impending staff reductions, which are expected to land hard on international coverage.

Discussion: Status, @maxwelltani, @dankennedy.net, @dylanbyers, Cord Cutters News, Raw Story and The Wrap

Benjamin Lindsay / The Wrap:

Memo: WaPo won't send sports staffers to cover the Winter Olympics in Italy, as it assesses financial priorities for 2026, following reports of expected layoffs — Managing Editor Kimi Yoshino says the decision to not send reporters to the Milano Cortina 2026 Games comes after assessing financial priorities for the year

Anupriya Datta / Euractiv:

The EU Commission says WhatsApp's Channels fall under the DSA's Very Large Online Platform rules, joining Instagram and Facebook, requiring it to address risks — Commission designation means Meta-owned messaging giant's public channels must comply with the EU's Digital Services Act rules for very large platforms

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, Politico and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »

The Information:

Source: OpenAI targets ~$60 per 1,000 views for ChatGPT ads, on par with live NFL broadcasts and above Meta's sub-$20 CPM, while offering little conversion data — In its initial rollout of ads, OpenAI is charging prices that rival those for coveted video programs like the NFL …

Discussion: Motley Fool, Observer, Android Headlines and TVNewsCheck

Michael Savage / The Guardian:

Outgoing BBC DG Tim Davie warns the BBC faces “profound jeopardy” unless it embraces significant changes to funding but rejects ads or subscriptions as options — Exclusive: Outgoing director general indicates support for update to licence-fee model as part of wider changes

Discussion: Broadband TV News and @paulblinkhorn.bsky.social

Zhiyu Luo / Los Angeles Business Journal:

California Post, a daily newspaper produced by the same company that publishes the New York Post, debuts on Monday in Southern California, led by EIC Nick Papps — News Corp.'s California Post will begin daily circulation in Los Angeles on Jan. 26. — California Post will premiere …

Discussion: The Wrap, Adweek, New York Post, Fox News, The Wrap and r/LosAngeles

Dan Evans / Byline Times:

Daily Mail publisher's High Court trial over alleged phone hacking threatens to derail its £500M Telegraph bid, as main funder NatWest considers the legal risks — Allegations that the Mail engaged in phone hacking, landline tapping, burglaries, and the theft of medical records …

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:

Email: Future plans a “significant restructure”, with 45 editorial redundancies while creating 15 new roles at titles including TechRadar and Tom's Guide — Future plc has proposed to make 45 editorial redundancies at its technology titles. — Some 15 new roles are being created …

Discussion: Talking Biz News

RJI:

A survey of 135 leaders at US weekly newspapers found 88% charge a fee for obituaries, yet the revenue makes up less than 5% of income in 80% of newsrooms — Study shows that paid obits bring in little income but are nearly universal … Charging to publish obituaries …

Discussion: The Philadelphia Inquirer

Editor and Publisher:

An interview with Audrey Cooper, EIC of The Baltimore Banner, on local news decline, growing regionally, paywalls, experimenting with AI, and more — Episode 317 of “E&P Reports” - A Vodcast series hosted by Mike Blinder — Audrey Cooper's decision to take the helm at The Baltimore Banner …

Discussion: RTDNA

Catherine Balston / Monocle:

The persistence of the foreign film category at the Oscars feels increasingly misplaced as foreign films and shows are now mainstream viewing due to streaming — Film's gilded night is drawing ever closer and today The Academy will shortlist the titles up for winning an Oscar come March.

Discussion: American Prospect and Axios

Dan Kennedy / Poynter:

Steven Waldman of Rebuild Local News estimates US local newsrooms will get ~$74M from state governments, but CA, MA, NJ, and NY efforts have fallen short — Steven Waldman of Rebuild Local News is optimistic but warns that action is needed now because ‘the house is on fire’

Discussion: @daviddaniel.bsky.social, @dankennedy.net and @rebuildlocalnews.bsky.social