Mediagazer: Instagram rolls out premium badges on Instagram Live, giving fans a way to support creators and stand out in the comments (Sarah Perez/TechCrunch)

2:20 PM ET, October 20, 2020

Top News:

Alana Wise / NPR:

Debate commission announces new rule where only the candidate with the floor will have an open mic during new two minute sessions of uninterrupted speaking time — The Commission on Presidential Debates announced changes to the debate rules ahead of Thursday's final presidential debate.

Discussion: New York Times, @nbcnews, Mediaite, The Wrap, New York Times, Vanity Fair, @nprpolitics, @asteadwesley, Fortune, CNN, Fox News, Forbes and The Guardian

Ted Johnson / Deadline:

Trump campaign wants Thursday's debate to focus on foreign policy, protests possible rule changes like muting candidate's mics by an “unnamed person” — Donald Trump and Joe Biden are scheduled to meet again on Thursday for the second and presumably last debate …

Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:
The news media is biased in Trump's favor because the only way to cover his lies and misconduct is to create a different, lower standard than other presidents

Discussion: Washington Post, @jonathanchait, @bernybelvedere, @jayrosen_nyu, @johnjharwood, @nprinskeep, @john_sipher, @jessewegman, The Guardian, Mediaite, TVLine, New York Post, Reuters, WAVY-TV, Fox News and @mehdirhasan

Mike Madarasz / Digiday:

Jim Cooper named editor-in-chief of Digiday, which he joined in June as managing editor — Quality over quantity is a core value at Digiday Media. We're relentlessly focused on making sure that comes through in everything that we do and oftentimes, that starts with our editorial coverage and design.

Discussion: Talking Biz News, @joshsternberg, @nickfriese, @jcoopernyc and @jasonlynch

Todd Spangler / Variety:

ViacomCBS promotes Pluto TV CEO Tom Ryan to president and CEO of ViacomCBS Streaming, overseeing the future Paramount+ and Pluto TV — ViacomCBS has restructured its streaming operations with a global lens: Tom Ryan, currently CEO of Pluto TV, will assume the role of president and CEO …

Discussion: Adweek, Hollywood Reporter, MediaPost, Deadline, The Streamable, Light Reading, MarketWatch, The Desk, WORLD SCREEN, Business Wire and Cord Cutters News

Steven Perlberg / Digiday:

The Atlantic has new NY offices and had record subscriptions but is stuck in a long CEO selection process and has been posting losses since its staff expansion — During a rambling press conference last month, U.S. president Donald Trump blasted the Atlantic as “a second-rate magazine,” …

Discussion: @perlberg, @scottnover, @bgrueskin and @raju

Philip Bump / Washington Post:

Survey: Republicans who most trust Fox News as a TV news source are far more likely to approve of Trump compared to those who don't — From the outset of his presidency — or, really, his 2016 campaign — President Trump's approach to politics has been to get those who agree with him to agree with him more and more and more.

Discussion: @pbump, @radiofreetom, @flossobama, @karoli, @jeffjarvis, @getwired, @jeffjarvis and @octonion

David Plotz:

Ex-Atlas Obscura CEO David Plotz is launching City Cast, a national network of daily local podcasts, this winter; Graham Holdings owns the for-profit outlet — Our worlds have shrunk in the pandemic. I used to spend hours every week Amtraking up and down the East Coast.

Discussion: Hot Pod News, @jessgrose, @harrysiegel, @mathewpassy, @davidplotz, @davidplotz, @npraudie and @dankois

Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:

Pandora has completed its acquisition of Stitcher and has now launched Stitcher's podcasts across all tiers of its service — SiriusXM today completed its previously announced $325 million acquisition of podcast platform Stitcher from E.W. Scripps, and has now launched Stitcher's podcasts …

Discussion: The Desk, RAIN News and Hollywood Reporter

Todd Spangler / Variety:

WarnerMedia debuts WarnerMedia Ride, a free video service for smartphones and tablets connected to in-car WiFi via AT&T's unlimited data connected-car plans — Are we there yet? — WarnerMedia is bringing its premium video programming to bored kids and other road-weary passengers …

Discussion: The Streamable, Light Reading, CNET and Cord Cutters News

Sara Fischer / Axios:

Subscription podcast company Quake launches today for $4.99/month, with $2.5M in seed funding and shows hosted by Laura Ingraham, Soledad O'Brien, and others — Quake, a subscription podcast company founded by media veterans, launched on Tuesday with $2.5 million in seed funding, executives tell Axios.

Discussion: @sarafischer and @sarthakgh

Sara Fischer / Axios:

Stir, which helps creators split revenue from online collaborations on platforms like YouTube and Patreon, raises $4M in seed funding and launches a public beta — Stir, a service that lets creators on new online platforms manage their businesses, has raised $4 million in seed funding, executives tell Axios.

Discussion: @jarroddicker, @apompliano, @stevenkwlim, Joseph Perri Albanese, Tubefilter, @hunterwalk, @ryanvailbrown, @blakeir and @homebrew

Dave McNary / Variety:

AMC Theatres says it may have to file for Chapter 11 in SEC filing about an agreement to sell up to $15M in shares — The beleaguered AMC Theatres chain has warned it may have to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy if it cannot obtain additional sources of liquidity.

Archived Page Info:

This is a snapshot of Mediagazer at 2:20 PM ET, October 20, 2020.

View the current page or another snapshot:

Who's Hiring in Media?

Output Producer, CA — AP

China Markets Correspondent, Shanghai — Reuters

Senior Assignment Editor, DC — WaPo

Breaking News Editor, Tokyo — Bloomberg

Senior Correspondent - Wealth, NY — WSJ

Reporter - Ottawa Bureau — Globe & Mail

Local Government Reporter, IA — The Gazette

Research Director, CA — OCBJ

Immigration Enforcement Reporter — Documented

Presque Island Reporter, ME — Bangor Daily News

Contributing Parks Ed. - SW, CA — SFGATE

AI Content Editor, WA — Outlier

Legislative Reporter, TN — Daily Memphian

Editorial Assistant, Remote US — Launch Potato

Elon Musk Reporter, NY or CA — The Information

Government & Politics Editor, WA — Seattle Times

Business & GA Reporter. VT — VTDigger

Sports Reporter, WA — Everett Herald

Energy Reporter, TX — Houston Chronicle

Senior Reporter, SC — Island Packet

Trade & Climate Correspondent, DC — FT

Reporter, WI — Racine County Eye

Political Newsletter Writer, CO — The Lever

Jackson Reporter, MS — Verite

Music Editor, AZ — Phoenix New Times

Breaking News Reporter, NV — Las Vegas Sun

Fearless Reporter/Producer, IA — BPC

Reporter II - Technology, Remote — NPR

Editor, Remote US — Daily Kos

City Reporter, WA — Tacoma News Tribune

Executive Editor, OR — Lookout Local

Education & Budget Reporter, CA — Politico

Senior Writer/Editor, FL — Gulfshore Business

Media Editor, Remote — Axios

Add your company here

See Also:

Mediagazer: site main

Mediagazer River: reverse chronological Mediagazer

Mediagazer Mobile: for phones

Mediagazer Leaderboard: Mediagazer's top sources

Subscribe:

Mediagazer RSS feed

Mediagazer on X

Mediagazer on Mastodon

More News:

Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Instagram rolls out premium badges on Instagram Live, giving fans a way to support creators and stand out in the comments

Discussion: Adweek, @chrismessina and Engadget

Sara Fischer / Axios:
VENN, the free TV network focusing on video games and esports, raises $26M Series A and partners with investor Nexstar to distribute its content on linear TV

Discussion: TechCrunch, The Wrap, Variety and Sportico.com

Julia Alexander / The Verge:
Moonbug, which has 235M subs for its YouTube channels for kids, says Cocomelon became one of Netflix's three most-watched shows in the US after its June debut

Discussion: @loudmouthjulia, @richlightshed and @emohorgan

Ben Thompson / Stratechery:
Twitter blocking NY Post's story, driven by unfair blaming of tech for the media's 2016 mistakes, undermined its role as a facilitator of information sharing

Discussion: @leonidobusch and @carnage4life

Patrick Brzeski / Hollywood Reporter:
China overtakes North America as biggest Box Office globally in 2020, reaching $1.988B on Sunday, surpassing North America's total of $1.937B

Discussion: Variety, Forbes, The Wrap, Business Insider and TechCrunch

Kerry Flynn / CNN:
About 205 staffers at pubs owned by Bustle Digital Group, which includes Bustle, Romper, and Mic, announce plans to form a union with WGAE

Discussion: @kerrymflynn, @kaitlynwylde, @pkafka, @bdgunion, @kerrymflynn, @kerrymflynn and @kerrymflynn

Earlier Picks:

Laura Wagner / VICE:
The New Yorker suspends reporter Jeffrey Toobin, sources say after he masturbated during a Zoom call; Toobin says he did not realize his video was on

Discussion: @jason_koebler, Mediaite, Fast Company, @jason_koebler, The Wrap, @karaswisher, Fox News, Washington Post, Best Evidence, Newser, @ashleyfeinberg, New York Times, The A.V. Club, Deez Links, CNN, @sykescharlie, The Desk, Columbia Journalism Review, @poniewozik, Washingtonian, @mollyemccluskey, Poynter, @s_m_i, Ad Age, @nehashastry, @espiers, @jackmirkinson, @grace_panetta, @fmanjoo, @gmpaiella, @caseyjohnston, @msteib, @pinboard, @pinboard, @barry, @motherboard, @karenhunter, @drewmagary, @motherboard, @weareyourfek, @jonostrower, @markharrisnyc, @mathewi, @thestalwart, @fmanjoo, @hshaban, @gaberivera, @davidlarter, @gregpinelo, @jackmirkinson, @leshorn, @liz_franczak, @ashleyfeinberg, @josephfcox, @ashleyfeinberg, The Guardian, New York Post, Rolling Stone, The Cut, Gizmodo, PAPER, Variety, New York Times, TVLine, Los Angeles Times, TVNewser, The Hill, HuffPost, Deadline, TMZ.com, The Week and Hollywood Reporter

@sacbeeguild:
In a letter, Sacramento Bee News Guild asks McClatchy's new CEO to reconsider a proposal to tie journalists' annual performance reviews and raises to page views

Rick Porter / Hollywood Reporter:
Channing Dungey, most recently VP of original series at Netflix, will succeed Peter Roth as chairperson of Warner Bros. Television Group

Discussion: New York Times, The Wrap, Wall Street Journal, @lucas_shaw, @snoodit, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Adweek, C21Media, Bloomberg, Deadline, Variety and WORLD SCREEN

Katie Robertson / New York Times:
Sources: NY Post's article about Hunter Biden was written mostly by Bruce Golding, who did not allow his byline to be used amid doubts in the tabloid's newsroom

Discussion: Politico, The Guardian, Axios, Forbes, Washington Post, The Wrap, Redneck, Tangle, @politifact, @yashar, bookforum.com, Political Currents, @thekjohnston, Mediaite, Columbia Journalism Review, The Daily Beast, Seriously Risky Business, @benyt, Media Matters for America, @ilvestoomas, @clairecmc, @kylegriffin1, @jonfavs, Slate, @mattgertz, @amy_siskind, @colbyhall, @oliverdarcy, @harrysiegel, @kyledcheney, @nprinskeep, @alexmleo, @brhodes, @jonfavs, Vanity Fair, Newser, @frankrichny, @bgrueskin, @petersterne, @bgrueskin, @petersterne, @nycsouthpaw, @juliancastro, @oneunderscore__, @steveschmidtses, @peterwsinger, @yashar, @timobrien, @petersterne, @caseynewton, @donmoyn, @eshap, @fordm, @greenfield64, @kylegriffin1, @fawfulfan, @hemantmehta, @timodc, @samesmail, Reason, @dnvolz, @glennkesslerwp, @stephgracela, @ericpaine, @maxboot, @katie_robertson, @cmclymer, @benyt, Boing Boing, The Jackal, Poynter, New York Magazine, The Week, Mediaite and Four Freedoms, more at Techmeme »

New York Times:
A look at a pay-for-play network of ~1,300 sites and some papers that fills a local news void in the US with propaganda ordered by GOP and corporate PR groups

Discussion: @daveyalba, @seanilling, RTDNA Recent Articles, @jacknicas, @thisiscamaron, @thisiscamaron, @thisiscamaron, @thisiscamaron, @thisiscamaron, @thisiscamaron, @thisiscamaron, MediaPost, @jacknicas, @vivian, @nickconfessore, @rottenindenmark, Wall Street Journal, @louisathelast, @nandoodles, @mathewi, @janetadamy, @daveyalba, @annehelen, Poynter, Axios, Table For One, The Rural Blog, @jason_kint, @ddale8, @johnbattelle, @markmaxwelltv, Scene and Heard, @damemagazine, @jonathanalter, @bypatrickgeorge, @jjohnsonlaw, @nils_gilman, @arjunbasu, @sandofsky, @mollyjongfast, @banikarim, @davidsirota, @dcherring, @eotaxprof, Media Nation, @alison__berg, @ehernandez, @mckaycoppins, @fawfulfan, @mattyglesias, @bryanboy, @slpng_giants, @nickconfessore, @glenbmulcahy, @nicoleperlroth, @photospice, @terryteachout1, @aaronworthing, @vindugoel, @raju, @therobwalton, @kemc, @tvietor08, @menakadoshi, @maxkennerly, @ericboehlert and @daveyalba

From Techmeme:

Mark Gurman / Bloomberg:
Sources: Apple is working on a smart doorbell system with advanced facial recognition that can wirelessly connect and unlock third-party smart locks

Wall Street Journal:
Gina Raimondo says holding back China in the chips race is a “fool's errand”, and investment, more than export controls, will keep US ahead of Beijing

Kevin Roose / New York Times:
A look at Amazon's revamped drone delivery program near Phoenix, Arizona, where the company's new MK-30 drones deliver dozens of packages a day to customers

Sister Sites:

Techmeme
Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web

memeorandum
What US political commentators are discussing online right now

WeSmirch
The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page