Top News:
David Folkenflik / NPR:
NYT retracts the core of Caliphate after a review finds that the podcast gave too much credence to its central character and reassigns Rukmini Callimachi — Toggle more options — The New York Times has retracted the core of its hit 2018 podcast series Caliphate after an internal review found …
Discussion:
New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, Variety, @rcallimachi, The Independent, @opcofamerica, The Wrap, Fox News, @mitrakalita, @johnjcook, @nycjim, @madhulikasikka, @peterbale, The Verge, @perlberg, @katie_robertson, Los Angeles Times, @erikwemple, @nprinskeep, Washington Post, Business Insider, allsides.com, Forbes, The Media Nut, @mattgallowaycbc, @erikwemple, @mitrakalita, @katie_robertson, @miriamelder, @neilphauer, @erikwemple, @lailaalarian, @supriyan, @sulliview, @madhulikasikka, @glcarlstrom, @qjurecic, @erikwemple, @johnmoe, Mediaite, @salmanmasood, @davidfolkenflik, @sairakh, @lourdesgnavarro, @lailaalarian, @brianstelter, @chuckatwbhm, The Guardian, @davidfolkenflik, @bgrueskin, @marcatracy, @joshokane, @madhulikasikka, @miriamelder, @janelytv, @hannahallam, The Hill, @katie_robertson, @steveguest, @jbflint, @laurawags, Newser, @radiokitty, @doranimated, @erikwemple, @mitrakalita, @dparvaz, @erikwemple, @absurdistwords, @brianstelter, @titonka, @marcatracy, @erikwemple, @lailaalarian, @amalahmed214, @jonahdispatch, @absurdistwords, @lailaalarian, @lailaalarian, @madhulikasikka, @lourdesgnavarro, @lailaalarian, kottke.org, New York Post and Reason
Benjamin Mullin / Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Digital publishers including BuzzFeed, Group Nine, and Axios are prepping for a wave of consolidation, via acquisitions or going public through SPACs — Big players explore acquiring rivals and going public through blank-check companies — Momentum is building toward consolidation …
Celine Castronuovo / The Hill:
The Washington Post plans to add 150 jobs next year, bringing its total staff to a record high of more than 1,000 — The Washington Post plans to add more than 150 jobs to its newsroom next year, bringing its total staff to a record high of more than 1,000, the newspaper confirmed to The Hill Thursday.
Discussion:
@farhip, Press Gazette, @lesserfrederick, @sarafischer, @farhip, @allyschweitzer and @blowryontv
Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:
FT's union suspends pay negotiations after learning that ex-EIC Lionel Barber made £1.92M in 2019 despite profit falling to £1.89M from £8.2M in 2018 — Former FT editor Lionel Barber received pay and pension benefits worth £1.92m in 2019 as the FT Ltd …
Discussion:
The Guardian, @markcurtis30, Talking Biz News and Press Gazette
Dade Hayes / Deadline:
In a memo, NBCU CEO Jeff Shell says that Premier League soccer coverage is Peacock's number one driver of premium subscriptions and engagement — EXCLUSIVE: NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell didn't mince words about the “bad dream” that was 2020, but touted the success of Peacock and laid …
Discussion:
The Streamable
Brandy Zadrozny / NBC News:
Some local news stations are credulously covering anti-vaxxers' response to the COVID-19 vaccine and failing to feature doctors or public health advocates — Friday night's newscast on WFXG-TV in Augusta, Georgia, a Fox affiliate, featured some exciting news: The Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center …
Discussion:
@brandyzadrozny, @jayrosen_nyu, @fstonenyc, @robcrilly, @mantzarlis, @chelseaclinton, @kubremner, @donlday, @drewpetrimoulx, @joycecaroloates and @katestarbird
Robert Channick / Chicago Tribune:
Tribune agrees to sell product review site BestReviews to Nexstar for $160M and will enter into a licensing and revenue-sharing agreement for use of its content — Tribune Publishing and BR Holding Co. will sell the BestReviews website to TV station owner Nexstar Media Group for $160 million, the companies announced Wednesday.
Discussion:
Dallas Morning News, Chicago Business Journal and MediaPost
Elaine Low / Variety:
Charli D'Amelio and her family will star in The D'Amelio Show, an eight-episode docuseries on Hulu that will follow “the first family of TikTok” — Charli D'Amelio, who at 16 rocketed to fame with over 150 million followers on TikTok, is getting her own show on Hulu alongside her sister …
Discussion:
The Verge, @paginaskinner, The Wrap, Hollywood Reporter, @yashar, @stokel, @spencerpratt, @taylorlorenz, Deadline, @teroterotero, @mathewi, @richlightshed, @lucas_shaw, @mathewi, @karlbode and New York Post
Fred Vogelstein / Fred's Newsletter:
In an August note to Substack, a veteran writer shared ideas to improve the platform, including a Substack Reader, transcription, media subscription deals, more — I met Hamish McKenzie about a year ago when he came by the San Francisco Writers Grotto to tell us about Substack.
Discussion:
@fvogelstein, @prsarahevans, @iankar_ and @tomcritchlow
USAGM:
Michael Pack, CEO of USAGM, has announced that Ted Lipien will be CEO and president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty — WASHINGTON, D.C. — Michael Pack, CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), announced today that veteran civil servant Ted Lipien is returning to U.S. international broadcasting …
Discussion:
USAGM, @davidfolkenflik and @davidfolkenflik
Christopher Palmeri / Bloomberg:
Disney stock is up 20% for 2020 despite the pandemic and $5.4B in losses over the past two quarters, largely due to the success of its streaming video services — - Shift to streaming overshadowed struggling parks, empty ships — Pandemic uncertainty, suspended dividend weighed on investors
Discussion:
Forbes, @newsynick and @ballmatthew
Karlene Lukovitz / MediaPost:
Survey: US consumers used seven SVOD and free streaming services in October, up from five in April; 47% used free services in October, up from 39% in April — - by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, Yesterday — U.S consumers who stream now use seven subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) …
Jack Morse / Mashable:
Twitter says it will stop prompting users to Quote Tweet, restoring the standard RT functionality, and says QT use increased but overall sharing dropped by 20% — Well, it was worth a shot. — Twitter announced Wednesday that it will cease prompting users to quote tweet in lieu of the standard retweet.
Discussion:
@twittersupport, ScreenRant, @twittersupport, @carolinesinders, @carnage4life, @henrymance, @robmanuel, @oliverjia1014, @javi_draws, @veronica, @anthony, @jordanlperkins, Adweek, Breitbart, @noupside, @jsstansel, @sistertoldjah, @luulubuu, @carynrose, @kevinbparry, @parkermolloy, @dacidbro, @digiphile, @twittersupport, 9to5Mac, Engadget, MacRumors and Pocket-lint, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
Twitter:
Twitter says it will start its new verification policy on January 21 and is developing profile labels to designate bots and memorial accounts
Discussion:
@twittersupport, Gizmodo, Android Police, Slate, @mayakaczorowski, @danznewz, @ecmclaughlin, @maxwildstein, @godisrivera, @bruzanin, @bluechoochoo, @oliverdarcy, @lizkelley, @janelytv, @mattnavarra, @wongmjane, @ketanj0, @hodgesmr, TechCrunch, Adweek, ScreenRant, Reuters, The Verge, Mashable, The Desk, 9to5Mac, Washingtonian and Engadget, more at Techmeme »
Senior Data Journalist, NY — 
Manager - Publishing Editorial, Manila — 
Oil Reporter, Singapore — 
Newsperson - State Govt. & Politics, CA — 
Business Reporter, SC — 
State Government Reporter, WA — 
Climate Crisis Columnist — 
Multimedia Journalist, CA — 
Community Engagement Mgr., DC — 
Senior California Politics Reporter, CA — 
Staff Writer - Business, NY — 
Team Editor - Opinion, ON — 
Assistant Correspondent, DC — 
Climate & Weather Reporter, MN — 
Senior Tech Editor, Remote US — 
Lead Business Reporter, TN — 
Managing Editor, WA — 
Private Credit Reporter, NY — 
Trending News Reporter, TX — 
City Correspondent, London — 
Legislative Reporter, CA — 
Reporter, PA — 
Visual Editor, Remote — 
Staff Writer, MI — 
Senior Political Reporter, DC — 
California Playbook Writer, CA — 
National Investigative Reporter, NY — 
Business & Gaming Reporter, NV — 
Coastal Climate Reporter, SC — 
Environment & Energy Reporter, CT — 
Coordinating Editor, OR — 
Editor, Remote US — 
Business Reporter, WA — 
Editor-in-Chief, AZ — 
