Top News:

A former news exec looks back at Yahoo News: algorithms defining coverage, blogs that never launched, and PR as journalism — Purple Reign — When the great granddaddy of opinion journals, The New Republic, abruptly vanished in a sad, squalid burst of pixel dust and management theory last winter …
Discussion:
@davidsirota, @thecajunboy and @pakhead

Reuters websites become inaccessible in China — (Reuters) - The news websites of Reuters, including those in English and Chinese, were inaccessible in China on Friday, after users first experienced difficulties accessing them late on Thursday. — The websites of Bloomberg News …
Discussion:
New York Times, Quartz, The Next Web, @greatfirechina, Tech in Asia, @jonlsullivan, Reuters, TechCrunch, Shanghaiist, @joshchin and @jenn1marsh
Dylan Byers / Politico:
New York Times ends contract with new columnist, geneticist Razib Khan, after Gawker writes about his earlier affiliation with far-right publications — New York Times drops Razib Khan — The New York Times has terminated its contract with one of its new online opinion writers …
Discussion:
Gawker, @mbeisen, @razibkhan, Gawker, @razibkhan, @razibkhan, @herandrews, VDARE.COM, @s8mb and @charlesmurray

UK Supreme Court to rule Thursday on whether Prince Charles' letters to government should be public — Supreme court to rule on Prince Charles letters — Judgment due on whether government illegally blocked publication of letters to ministers in which prince sought to change policies

Four Sun journalists, including chief reporter John Kay and royal editor Duncan Larcombe cleared of bribery charges — Sun payments trial: Four journalists cleared of paying public officials — Sun journalists, including chief reporter John Kay and royal editor Duncan Larcombe …
Discussion:
Guardian, @bbcbreaking, Irish Examiner, Guardian Liberty Voice, Kent and Sussex Courier and BBC

Guardian Labs alternative approach: 130 people building apps, giving reporters final say on content, and screening all sponsors — One year in: What The Guardian's content studio has learned — While most publishers' content studios are writing articles and filming videos for brands …
Discussion:
@digiday
Margaret Sullivan / New York Times:
Tech column by Nick Bilton exploring the research on cancer risks of wearable devices needed more vetting — A Tech Column on Wearable Gadgets Draws Fire as ‘Pseudoscience’ — Nick Bilton writes a tech-related column called Disruptions, but the name might have been changed to Eruptions this week …
Discussion:
New York Times, Slate, Wired, Washington Post, @reneritchie, Respectful Insolence, @xeni, Mediaite, @alterwired, Tech Times, @ivanoransky, JIMROMENESKO.COM, @charlesornstein, @paulfidalgo, @jswatz, @mhendr1cks, @badastronomer, @michaelsurtees, Business Insider, The Verge and Popular Science

Apple opens iTunes Radio inventory to automated ad buying through iAd, includes granular targeting but emphasizes customer privacy — Apple Opens Up iTunes Radio Inventory to Automated Buying Through iAd — Advertisers Can Target Apple Listeners With Phone, Email Identifiers
Discussion:
9to5Mac, AppleInsider and RAIN News

Interview with NYT Now Editor Cliff Levy on the future of the app, mobile, and curation — New York Times Shifting Resources from ‘Every Division’ to Mobile — Conversation with Cliff Levy, Editor of NYT Now — is The New York Times' lower-priced subscription app.
Discussion:
@readmark

MGM net income for 2014 hits $156M, up 27%; full-year revenues fell 5.4% to $1.44B — MGM Revenues Fall, but Profits Rise on TV Strength, ‘The Hobbit’ — The lack of a James Bond picture caused revenue to fall at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 2014 even as the studio managed to record record profits.

Study: 55% of podcast listeners use mobile; weekly listeners average six podcasts per week — Podcasts Reach Fans' Ears via Mobile — Weekly podcasters listen to an average of six podcasts per week — Digital audio consumption is moving to mobile. eMarketer estimates that this year …
Discussion:
American Press Institute

Placing political ads during news makes candidates appear more credible, especially when broadcasts aren't covering elections with depth — Political ads overwhelm news on local TV — The numbers are simply staggering. — During the final two months of last year's election …