Top News:

Memo: BDG Media suspends Gawker operations and CEO Bryan Goldberg says the company will cut 8% of its full-time staff after “a surprisingly difficult” Q1 2023 — BDG Media is suspending Gawker and will lay off 8% of full-time staff, according to an internal memo from CEO Bryan Goldberg that was obtained by Axios.
Discussion:
@leahfinnegan, Variety, Crikey, @brocklesnitch, @eeberquist, @lizzywol, @glinner, @brotigupta, @thatjenmonroe, @bdsixsmith, @jessesingal, @choire, @themaxburns, @espiers, @taylorlorenz, @kindahagi, @z_hu__, @benfowlkesmma, @oliviacraighead, @cjr, @martinsfp, @tomaxwell, @tarpleyhitt, @nkulw, @legsfrank, @anthony, @emmasarappo, @jennygzhang, @nichcarlson, @jennygzhang, @pjmaciak, @hazlitt, @samuel_rutter, @jayasax, @annetdonahue, @film_girl, @mckinneykelsey, @ericdharvey, @elenasb_, @chrislongview, @allierileyjones, @theashleyray, @ohitsstuart, @coreyatad, @uncanny_eli, @ikanteventoday, @maxwellstrachan, @emgusk, @georgeciveris, @noahlove, @martynwendell, @kyleorl, @kjfernelius, @tajjaisen, @nickripatrazone, @knibbs, @theballisorange, @christress, @therealbradbabs, @theashleyray, @clublefttennis, @luke_winkie, @uncanny_eli, @davidgross_man, @jeremypgordon, @leximcmenamin, @brandyljensen, @dwaldenwrites, @daisandconfused, @pblest, @gaberivera, @nkulw, @jeremypgordon, @kerpen, @hunterw, @ashihipar, @mediaevan, @333333333433333, @jamesrbuk, @markwby, @brianstelter, WWD, New York Times, Popula, New York Post, CNN, Nieman Lab, Newser, The Information, Press Gazette, The Wrap, The Daily Beast, @maxwelltani and Observer

Netflix Japan used AI art in the anime short “The Dog & The Boy”, citing a “labor shortage” in the industry, which has long faced labor abuses and poor wages — A new short film called ‘The Dog & The Boy’ uses AI-generated art for its backgrounds. — Samantha Cole
Discussion:
Fortune, @joshanimator, Mashable, @janusrose, Ars Technica and Polygon, more at Techmeme »

The US DOJ charges former ABC News foreign correspondent James Gordon Meek over the alleged transportation of CSAM; the FBI raided Meek's home in April 2022 — The Department of Justice on Wednesday announced the arrest of an award-winning investigative reporter on charges related to child pornography.
Discussion:
Department of Justice, Variety, Washington Post, @awprokop, Rolling Stone, @tomaxwell, @awprokop, @mattwolking, @michaelehayden, @maxwelltani, TVNewser, @noahshachtman, @calebjhull, The Hollywood Reporter, @arlnowdotcom, @semaforben, Los Angeles Times, Mediaite, Fox News, New York Post, The Wrap, Deadline and The Daily Beast

Netflix says US password sharing rules haven't been set yet and removes rules from its US help page saying users must connect to a “primary Wi-Fi” every 31 days — Based on info sourced from Netflix's support pages, The Streamable reported on Tuesday details about its upcoming anti-password sharing efforts.
Discussion:
TechCrunch, KRQE-TV, @jacefrederick, @jamiekaywilde, @bugsmaytrix, @ow, @pt, @jeremymauss, @scottmendelson, @tinu, @imani_barbarin, @verge, @emmavigeland, @mmasnick@mastodon.social, @hasanthehun, CNBC, @jewish_activist, @ericafails, @carnage4life, @mattxiv, @grantmcauley, @roywoodjr, @andiesophia23, The Streamable, Observer, Screen Rant, The Daily Beast, ZDNet, The Wrap, gHacks Technology News, 9to5Mac, Gizmodo, Forbes, Mashable and Sky News, more at Techmeme »
Lizzie Johnson / @lizziejohnsonnn:
[Thread] After the murder of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German, The Washington Post picked up and finished his work on an alleged $500M Ponzi scheme — Not long after Jeff German — a reporter at the @reviewjournal — was slain outside of his home last fall, my editor called me with a question. The Post had reached out, asking if we could help in some way. Jeff's editor had an idea. Maybe we could take on the last of his work.

As documentaries boom, filmmakers, their subjects, and the bill-paying streamers wrestle with questions of ethics, money, and control, amid shrinking budgets — The boom — or glut — in streaming documentaries has sparked a reckoning among filmmakers and their subjects.

Q&A with Holden Foreman, The Washington Post's first accessibility engineer, on his role, improving access for people with disabilities, challenges, and more — “It is definitely stressful to be the first in this new role. I feel deep down like I need to justify its creation with every step that I take."
Discussion:
Ad Age

TikTok is limiting the number of songs that some users in Australia can post on its app, an experiment meant to assess how much they value music in their videos — TikTok is limiting the number of songs that users can post on its app, an experiment to assess how much they value music in their videos.
Discussion:
New York Times, Complete Music Update, Music Ally, @quicktake, Social Media Today, Fox News and Newsday

A profile of James McNicholas, who covers Arsenal for The Athletic and has an acting career that includes starring in the BBC's Horrible Histories and Ted Lasso — Even in an age when sportswriters are hyphenates (reporter-podcaster-whatever pays the bills), The Athletic's McNicholas leads an odd and fascinating double life
Discussion:
@david_rudnick, @ringer, @brettgoldstein, @bryancurtis, @bryancurtis, @jamesmcnicholas, @stephenjnesbitt and @gunnerblog

A look at ad industry meme accounts, often run by anonymous industry veterans to share news, create a sense of community among junior staff and CMOs, and more — Ad industry meme creators have begun breaking news, earning revenue and attracting attention from industry leaders
Discussion:
@media_lad, @mjbarash, @patrickcoffee and @patrickcoffee

SEC filing: Comcast sold 5,726,385 BuzzFeed shares from January 30 to February 1 as BuzzFeed's stock surged, leaving the company with 19.97% of BuzzFeed's stock — Buzzfeed stock has rocketed in recent days amid enthusiasm over its use of AI — Comcast Corp. has sold part of its stake in Buzzfeed Inc. …
Discussion:
@matthewkeyslive and Crain's New York Business

Sony Pictures reports Q3 operating income down 86% YoY to ~$179M and leaves its FY profit forecast unchanged at ~$894M; Music revenue rose 23% YoY to $2.83B — Sony Pictures Entertainment recorded $179 million in operating income for the third quarter ended December 31, 2022.
Discussion:
Variety, Financial Times, The Verge, Bloomberg and The Hollywood Reporter, more at Techmeme »