Mediagazer: Groups that want to buy newspapers away from hedge funds like Alden face a problem: funds are making money and execs like Heath Freeman aren't looking to sell (Financial Times)

1:25 PM ET, January 25, 2021

Top News:

Marisa Sarnoff / Mediaite:

NYT reportedly cancels the contract of an editor after her tweets about having “chills” watching Biden's plane land drew criticism, mostly from conservatives — The New York Times has reportedly terminated the contract of an editor who tweeted that she had “chills” …

Joe Pompeo / Vanity Fair:

Sources: NYT told Lauren Wolfe, who had a temporary position, that her name and NYT's name were in headlines after her “chills” tweet, and “we can't have that” — The paper of record's treatment of a freelance editor getting “chills” on Twitter drew accusations …

Discussion: @miriamelder, @jayrosen_nyu, @froomkin, @brianstelter, @mlcalderone, Jill Filipovic, The Wrap, WWD and Conquest of the Useless

Archie Bland / The Guardian:

Forbes drops plans for a trip to Bermuda for 75 people on its “30 under 30” list, meant to provide an escape from pandemic “gloom”, after facing criticism — Invitation for people on magazine's ‘30 under 30’ list is dropped hours after Guardian inquiry

Discussion: @rachel, @harrybaker_md, @alexandrianeas, @caredunton, @timothynoah1, @kaylapekkala, @davejorgenson, @unlandedgentry, @perlberg, @archiebland, @archiebland, @mathewi, @thrasherxy and @chick_in_kiev

Joe Flint / Wall Street Journal:

NBC's Peacock signs a deal for exclusive streaming rights for WWE Network content in the US from March; source says the deal runs five years and is worth $1B+ — World Wrestling Entertainment content will move to Peacock starting March 18 in deal worth more than $1 billion

Russell Contreras / Axios:

Ex-CNN exec S. Mitra Kalita and PA radio exec Sara Lomax-Reese launch URL Media, a newsletter seeking to expand local news on Black and brown communities — Former CNN executive S. Mitra Kalita and Philadelphia radio executive Sara Lomax-Reese have launched a newsletter seeking to expand local news …

Discussion: @mitrakalita, @russcontreras, @cande313, @amlwhere, @kainazamaria, @dawnc331, @ampalm, @ccmnewmarkj, @eramshaw, @schmalie and @raju

Robert P. Baird / Columbia Journalism Review:

An in-depth look at Laurene Powell Jobs' Emerson Collective, which a source says has spent $250M on journalism, buying stakes in The Atlantic, Axios, and others — With the Emerson Collective, Laurene Powell Jobs is becoming a force in American media. What is she trying to achieve?

Discussion: @cjr, @pennyriordan1, @_meher, @raju, @mathewi, @teddyschleifer, @zunguzungu and @cjr

Meg James / Los Angeles Times:

Inside CBS' fraught investigation into allegations of racism and misogyny on the part of CBS Television Stations President Peter Dunn and another senior exec — Gripped by scandal in the summer of 2018, CBS came up with a way to contain the crisis. — The television giant's board hired …

Discussion: TVSpy, Los Angeles Times, @jimmydonofrio, @ckrewson, @latimes, @davidcayj, @katiefehlinger, @mattdpearce, @deggans, @latimes and @megjameslat

Sara Fischer / Axios:

Content recommendation company Taboola says it has agreed to go public via a SPAC, valuing the company at $2.6B and raising $545M — Taboola, the content recommendation company known best for the chum box ads at the bottom of publishers' websites, has agreed to merge with special purpose …

Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:

Nexstar to rebrand its national cable channel WGN America as NewsNation, positioning it as a “fact-based and unbiased” competitor to CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC — As part of the rebrand, NewsNation will add two hours of live coverage from 6-8 p.m. hosted by Nichole Berlie and Joe Donlon, respectively.

Discussion: TVNewser, The Wrap, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, nexttv.com, @jayrosen_nyu, @alexweprin and @vexedinthecity

Nathan Ingraham / Engadget:

Spotify says it is testing a pilot of audiobooks on the platform, with nine public-domain titles read by well-known names like Hilary Swank — Initial titles include ‘Frankenstein,’ ‘Great Expectations’ and ‘Jane Eyre.’ — Spotify's aggressive move into content beyond music continues today …

Discussion: Hollywood Reporter, @pennyfractions, @natjarv, @amyxwang, @dada_drummer, @lucas_shaw, The Verge and @kerrymflynn

Jessica Bursztynsky / CNBC:

NBCUniversal and Twitter announce a multi-year global content partnership to bring live, trending content, like sports highlights, to Twitter — - Comcast's NBCUniversal and Twitter on Monday announced a multi-year global content partnership. — The deal is an effort to expand …

Discussion: MediaPost, Variety, The Drum, Ad Age, Light Reading, @derella and Hollywood Reporter, more at Techmeme »

Politico:

White House says it will work with WHCA to develop new standards for media passes and won't tolerate outlets trafficking in conspiracy theories and propaganda — Some Trump loving members of the press corps are eager to get access to the Biden White House.

Discussion: NPR, CNN, Roll Call, @ccadelago, The Dossier, WTOP, New York Post, Bubby's Newsletter and The National Interest

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Deputy Ed. - Gen. Assignment Desk, DC — WaPo

EU Technology Reporter, Brussels — Bloomberg

Breaking News Reporter, NY — Guardian US

Harrisburg Reporter, PA — PCBC

Senior Editor - Styles, NY — NYT

Part-time Editor, Remote — Techmeme

Home & Travel Reporter, Ireland — Newsweek

Assistant Digital Editor, MA — Boston Globe

Senior Editor - Visuals (Temporary), DC — NPR

South Reporter, GA/Remote — ProPublica

Private Capital Reporter, London — FT

Staff Writer, MI — Watershed Voice

Articles Editor, CA — SF Standard

Pharma Reporter, Remote US — Endpoints

Metro Reporter, TN — Daily Memphian

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Politics Reporter, Brussels — Politico

Investigations & Enterprise Ed., WI — Cap Times

Social Strategy Editor, NY — WSJ

Business Reporter, TX — Fort Worth Report

Senior Narrative Editor, CA — Cloud Chamber

News Correspondent, MS — Magnolia Tribune

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More News:

Lloyd Grove / The Daily Beast:
Sources: David Pecker, who retired, is still calling the shots and picking covers at National Enquirer and Globe, amid mass layoffs across A360 Media's titles

Discussion: @hollywoodspin and @oliverdarcy

Chance Miller / 9to5Mac:
Apple launches Time to Walk for Apple Watch and Fitness+, offering 25 to 40 minute episodes of original audio from influential people, available today

Discussion: Apple, TechCrunch, Engadget, AppleInsider, @apollozac and @lanceulanoff, more at Techmeme »

Sara Fischer / Axios:
Google details its work on a privacy-conscious cookie substitute, called Federated Learning of Cohorts, claims ~95% effectiveness compared to cookie-based ads

Discussion: Ad Age, The Guardian, TechCrunch, Press Gazette, The Drum, MediaPost, Daily Herald, The Keyword, @jeremarketer, @mathewi, CNBC, @sarafischer, @baekdal and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »

Alexander Gladstone / Wall Street Journal:
AMC Entertainment says it signed deals for $917M in funding to survive the COVID-19 pandemic for months and avoid bankruptcy

Discussion: Variety, Variety, New York Times, Business Insider, Bloomberg, The Wrap and Business Wire

Chris Erik Thomas / Study Hall:
A deep dive into NYT's crossword puzzle, as long time editor Will Shortz has been slow to address cultural changes and diversify its constructors and editors

Discussion: @michaelluo, @kerrymflynn and @niemanlab

Financial Times:
Groups that want to buy newspapers away from hedge funds like Alden face a problem: funds are making money and execs like Heath Freeman aren't looking to sell

Discussion: @blackamazon, @lisaabramowicz1, @ryanlcooper, @mattdpearce, @ftlifearts, @hazelsheffield, @mcallguild, @natalie_devito, @ress_kim, @mcallguild, @aodespair, @5plish, @adam_marton, @aodespair and @adam_marton

Earlier Picks:

USAGM:
USAGM's acting CEO replaces the heads of RFE/RL, RFA, and Middle East Broadcasting Networks and three board directors named by Pack days before his resignation

Discussion: @vermontgmg, @ilangoldenberg, @byronyork, @davidfolkenflik, @davidfolkenflik, The Hill and NPR

Nilay Patel / The Verge:
Marques Brownlee, aka MKBHD, on starting and scaling one of the biggest YouTube tech channels to 13.5M subscribers, day-to-day work, and future of his business

Discussion: contextisking.com, @blackamazon, @steven_aquino, @taylorlorenz, @coreybehnke and Business Insider

Archie Bland / The Guardian:
Emails suggest members of Rolling Stone's influencer network, who pay $2K in fees, can have their content published; Rolling Stone says it labels the content

Caitlin L. Chandler / Columbia Journalism Review:
In Germany, the publication and court-ordered retraction of articles alleging sexual abuse raise questions about the right to privacy vs. press freedom

Discussion: @rosao_hara, @sesmith, @legalnomads, @laloeffelstiel, @laloeffelstiel, @davidmackau, @leahlibresco and @katiejmbaker

CNN:
Larry King, a long time CNN talk show host, dies at 87

Discussion: @kingsthings, @piersmorgan, New York Times, @cnn, Poynter, @missbitcoin_mai, Always Be Watching, @hughriminton, @jscollinsap, @philippecorbe, @jmileskhou, @booth, @cnnpr, @trevinwax, @sapere_vivere, @edborgato, @aeharshada, @derekwatts, @matthwatson, @craigyferg, @ajkatztv, @ashkan, The Guardian, @nygovcuomo, @karaszewski, @davidbegnaud, @keitholbermann, @camanpour, @annericeauthor, @sedano, @roybelly, @rolandsmartin, @marclamonthill, @edlavacnn, @acosta, @marclamonthill, @sruhle, @wajahatali, @bob_wachter, @mariashriver, @oliverjia1014, @stephaniebusari, @adweek, @anacabrera, @harrymccracken, @kaitlancollins, @cwarzel, @shinangovani, @madisonsiriusxm, @trevorncube, @kimberleyeleo, @ddayen, @sagaftrafound, @markwarner, @trevorncube, @edlavacnn, @wakeupsheeeep, @raysteelertv6, @adweek, @bensherwood, @brianstelter, @karaszewski, @dcsportsbog, @theryanparker, @mastertes, @nytimes, @jeffreygoldberg, @philrosenthal, @sizwedhlomo, @shimonpro, @edlavacnn, @ocktalks, @scottwthr, @viaalana, @thr, @georgetakei, @markdevenport, @oliverdarcy, @patkiernan, @virsanghvi, E! Online, Mononym Mythology, ScreenRant, Associated Press and The A.V. Club

From Techmeme:

Alphabet:
Alphabet Q1: revenue up 15% YoY to $80.5B, net income up 57% to $23.7B, Google Cloud revenue up 28% to $9.6B, and headcount down 5%; GOOG jumps 12%+ after hours

Microsoft:
Microsoft Q3: revenue up 17% YoY to $61.9B, net income up 20% to $21.9B, Office Commercial revenue up 13%, LinkedIn revenue up 10%; MSFT jumps 4%+ after hours

Kif Leswing / CNBC:
Intel reports Q1 revenue up 9% YoY to $12.72B, vs. $12.78B est., Data Center and AI up 5% to $3B, and Q2 revenue guidance below est.; INTC falls 9%+ after hours

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