Top News:

Private equity firm Great Hill Partners has agreed to acquire Gizmodo Media Group from Univision, forming a new company led by digital media exec Jim Spanfeller — New link at Wall Street Journal
Discussion:
Variety, Business Wire, The Wrap, TechCrunch, @jbenton, Broadcasting & Cable, KABE-LP, @wsj, @benmullin, @gmgunion, @benmullin, @jeremymbarr, @bruce_arthur, @bobbybigwheel, @ryanfmandelbaum, @jwhitbrook, @fawfulfan, @jimwaterson, @edgeofsports, @brendengallager, @mlcalderone, @jeremymbarr, @rafat, @danreilly11 and @benmullin, Thanks:@steverubel


Facebook and Google have placed op-eds and dozens of paid “native ad” articles across major publications, amid other media efforts, to steer future regulations — Three years on from the US election, tech firms are seeking rules that won't hit their profits
Discussion:
Fortune, @stedavies, @janebsinger, @mediaguardian, Beyond Search and New York Post, more at Techmeme »
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Poll: 69% of Americans use social media at least once a day, 82% believe it wastes their time, 55% think it spreads lies and falsehoods, 57% say “it divides us” — A sizable majority say social media does more to divide the country than unite it, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.


As more people use voice-activated smart speakers to request news, publishers are turning newscasts into conversations, challenging the foundations of radio — Smart speakers are challenging the foundations of radio, and news outlets are racing to find a place on the platform
Discussion:
@isalara, @niemanlab, @gnelsoncenter, @kelseyproud, @jypyk, @niemanlab, @niemanlab, @gbullard and NPR


UK whitepaper proposes “code of best practice” for how internet platforms should deal with harmful content, suggests expanding liability to tech company execs — Internet sites could be fined or blocked if they fail to tackle “online harms” such as terrorist propaganda and child abuse, under government plans.
Discussion:
CNN, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, @vranicawsj, Gizmodo, @parmy, Bloomberg, @jason_kint, @javedkhanceo, The Next Web, @paul_shetler, The Guardian, @cjsnowdon and @auerfeld, more at Techmeme »


Interview with Erin Lee Carr about her new book, All That You Leave Behind, exploring her relationship with her father, journalist David Carr — Carr's new memoir, “All That You Leave Behind,” documents her relationship with her father, the former Times reporter and columnist David Carr …
Discussion:
@pamelapaulnyt, @raisingrippers, @raymondpsimon, @jswatz, @erinleecarr and @bryanmarquard


Mark Halperin apologized for his conduct towards women in an interview Thursday yet his punditry on political candidates remained sexist — His first interview post-#MeToo included a pretty sexist assessment of the 2020 field. — Mark Halperin swears he's changed his personal conduct since …
Discussion:
@lkmcgann, @nishachittal and Washington Post


MTV names former Bleacher Report president Rory Brown to the newly created position of Head of Digital and Social for MTV and other networks — MTV has named former Bleacher Report president Rory Brown to the newly created position of Head of Digital and Social for MTV, VH1, CMT and Logo.


Google's DNI Fund backs Noteworthy, a platform from Irish news site The Journal, which will crowdfund investigation ideas and then ask the public to fund them — An Irish news publisher has created a new crowdfunding platform for in-depth reports and investigations into stories suggested by the public.


YouTube, which used to highlight and promote independent creators, is shifting toward more commercial, advertiser-friendly content as it battles misinformation — Danny Philippou is mad. — He's practically standing on top of his chair as his twin brother and fellow YouTube creator Michael stares on in amusement.
Discussion:
@normankarel, @glenngabe, @pejames, @arabellabreck and @cartoonbrew


Sources: Megyn Kelly is planning a comeback following her departure from NBC News and is currently considering her options, including podcasts — Megyn Kelly's antipathy towards Donald Trump may torpedo a return to right wing media—while the NBC ‘blackface’ controversy may prevent her from rejoining the media mainstream.
Discussion:
@thedailybeast, @monaheart1229, @johnnydollar01, @stevendupler and @tvietor08


Paul Caruana Galizia, son of murdered investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, says the Maltese government is blocking a public inquiry into her death — What was your mother like? It's the hardest question I'm ever asked. And since she was murdered, I've been asked it again and again
Discussion:
@friggieri_david, @soficorreia, @seculant, @acaruanagalizia, @mayatcontreras, @tortoise, @camanpour, @elif_safak, @f_obermaier, @camanpour, @willjordan and @laurentrichard0