Mediagazer: Politico announces new members of its Playbook team, expanding from two writers to four: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza, and Tara Palmeri (Joe Pompeo/Vanity Fair)

7:35 PM ET, January 15, 2021

Top News:

Joe Pompeo / Vanity Fair:

Politico announces new members of its Playbook team, expanding from two writers to four: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza, and Tara Palmeri — Facing stiffer competition, a new crew of writers—Ben Shapiro not included—is promising more scoops and scene as the O.G. political tip sheet reboots …

Maxwell Tani / The Daily Beast:
Some Politico staffers raised concerns internally about the decision to allow Ben Shapiro to guest-write Playbook; editor Matt Kaminski defended the move

Discussion: @erikwemple, @erikwemple, @erikwemple, Washington Post, Washington Post, PRESS RUN, @benyt, @brucebartlett, New York Times, @maxwelltani, @jayrosen_nyu, @sirajahashmi, @paulkrugman, @surabees, @jeff_jacoby, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Federalist, The Media Nut, @abdallah_fayyad, @glcarlstrom, @piersmorgan, @jayrosen_nyu, @benyt, @caitleg, @jrubinblogger, @elaheizadi, @marlownyc, @erikwemple, @samthielman, @arifleischer, @maxkennerly, @wexler, @nycweboy, @tonydleonardi, @andizeisler, @wajahatali, @davidsirota, @sorayamcdonald, @futterish, @elienyc, @corb_the_lesser, @jeremypgordon, @megynkelly, @soledadobrien, @holmesjosh, @willmcavoyacn, @danpfeiffer, @eugene_scott, @katiehill4ca, @imleor, @clarajeffery, @maxwelltani, @bernybelvedere, @gina_goldberg, @adotsad, @justin_higgins2, @zac_petkanas, @senhorraposa, @jamisonfoser, @karlitaliliana, @gabby_hoffman, @sarahw, @nberlat, @jon_allsop, @emorwee, @tpcarney, @casmudde, @maxwelltani, @grace_segers, @susanbordson, @onlxn, @russcanread, @alqabadai, @blackamazon, @wagatwe, @kimcrayton1, @elienyc, @sethfriederman, @espiers, @libbycwatson, @erikwemple, Mediaite, The Hill and The Right Scoop

Leia Idliby / Mediaite:
Politico draws criticism for having Ben Shapiro serve as a guest writer of Playbook; he wrote about “the real reasons” most Republicans opposed impeachment

Discussion: @olivianuzzi, @maxwelltani, @mattnegrin, @lpdonovan, @juddlegum, @benshapiro, @sabrinasiddiqui, Poynter, @seungminkim, @jakesherman, @tarapalmeri, @dfriedman33, @alexkotch, @wajahatali, @charlesppierce, @taradublinrocks, @johniadarola, @jbouie, @pwthornton, @lollardfish, @lollardfish, @gothamgirlblue, @stevedeaceshow, @joshsternberg, @juddlegum, @juddlegum, @mehdirhasan, @danahoule, @sabrinasiddiqui, @green_footballs, @lollardfish, @meredithshiner, @slpng_giants, @froomkin, @jeffsharlet, @green_footballs, @justkelly_ok, @jonfavs, @jbouie, @katearonoff, @barry, @zachwritesstuff, @marcformarc, @theplumlinegs, @breenewsome, @soledadobrien, @mattzeitlin, @jeffhauser, @timodc, @jbarro, @mattzeitlin, @abrowngaywrites, @mattnegrin, @mattnegrin, @jonathanchait, @bridgeinit, @jbouie, @zackbeauchamp, @chrisgeidner, @shotpooter, @ryanlcooper, @zackbeauchamp, @jbouie, @tomscocca, @mattnegrin, @zackbeauchamp, @brianbeutler, @jbouie, @ravmabay, @scottnover, @froomkin and New York Magazine

Alex Pasternack / Fast Company:

How Wikipedia, where neutrality is prized above all, struggled to chronicle the Capitol insurrection in real time — ‘Storming’? ‘Insurrection’? ‘Riot’? ‘Attempted coup’? On Wikipedia, where neutrality is prized above all, volunteers are still searching for the words.

Discussion: The Guardian, @bkeegan, @fuzheado, @harrymccracken, The Ringer, @pasternack and @thewikipedian

Columbia Journalism Review:

On Wikipedia's 20th anniversary, the need for nuance in reporting about the project is crucial as sites like Breitbart and Russian media try to discredit it — Last year, as the election approached, we heard that the founder of 8chan had become an active Wikipedia editor.

Alex Barker / Financial Times:

Without naming Fox, James Murdoch blasts media owners who enabled “toxic politics” and says their lies have unleashed “insidious and uncontrollable” forces — Comments from Rupert's son are his strongest rebuke of industry practices since leaving the family business

Discussion: CNN, The Hill, @stopfundinghate, @robinwigg, @fascinatorfun, @andrewcooper__, @maynereport, @lisatozzi, @timbrooks100, @janinegibson, @alexebarker, @suanzes and @oliverdarcy

The Daily Beast:

Sources: Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch are “disenchanted” with Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott and President Jay Wallace; total viewership is down 15% YoY since Dec. 28 — OUTFOXED — Amid sagging ratings, Rupert Murdoch has taken a more hands-on role at Fox, perhaps portending the end …

Discussion: Mediaite, @kim, @chunks_mommy, @justinbaragona, @janemayernyer, @benyt, @benyt, @patrickmcgee_, @noahshachtman, @ericbolling and Daily Truth Report

Taylor Lorenz / New York Times:

As Snapchat starts competing with TikTok via its Spotlight program, some creators begin earning small fortunes and look for ways to expand — Top performers are raking in cash, as the company seeks to compete against TikTok and similar platforms. — In late November, Cam Casey …

The Information:

Sources: Apple is discussing launching a new subscription service that would charge people to listen to podcasts — Apple—long considered the sleeping giant in the podcast space—is waking up. The company, which runs the most widely used podcasting app in the industry …

Jim VandeHei / Axios:

Axios publishes a new Bill of Rights: no opinion section ever, most content free for all people, staff pledge to not take public political positions, more — Axios is expanding into local news this month, and broadening our mission to help restore trust in fact-based news with an audience Bill of Rights.

Discussion: @jimvandehei, @juliewestfall, @jayrosen_nyu, @mikeallen, @ndiakopoulos, @matt_pressman, @karenspringen, @paulconstant, @heidilegg, @mlcalderone, @caseynewton, @qjurecic, @taylorlorenz, @charlesforelle, @fpmarconi, @bensherwood and Nieman Lab

Nathan Bomey / USA Today:

Gannett CEO says the company, which passed 1M paid digital subscriptions in Q3 2020, is aiming for 10M subscribers within five years — Gannett, the owner of USA TODAY and more than 260 other daily publications, is aiming for 10 million paid digital subscriptions within five years, CEO Mike Reed said Thursday.

Discussion: @niemanlab

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:

BBC's next chairman Richard Sharp says he is not in favor of decriminalization of UK's license fee, describing it as the “least worst” option to fund the BBC — The BBC's next chairman, ex-banker Richard Sharp, has said its coverage of Brexit was “incredibly balanced” …

Discussion: @nogoodgods and @pressgazette

Alex Kantrowitz / OneZero:

Services like Substack, Spotify, and Clubhouse are coming under scrutiny now that platforms like Facebook and YouTube have warmed to aggressive moderation — Smaller services are coming under scrutiny now that the big platforms have warmed to aggressive moderation — Glenn Greenwald was pissed.

Discussion: @kantrowitz, @kantrowitz, @abbyatwork, @dlberes, @smorgasboredom, Boing Boing, @markstenberg3 and Big Technology, more at Techmeme »

Amaris Castillo / Poynter:

Journalists in Washington, DC, share how they're preparing to cover the inauguration of Biden amid safety concerns, limited access, and heavy security — After the Jan. 6 insurrection and with access still unclear, some journalists are being extra cautious about safety.

Discussion: @marissa_jae, @itsren, @amariscastillo, Forbes, Politico and Washington Post

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