Top News:


Some publishers estimate that Google's Search Generative Experience will cut referral traffic by 20% to 40% if the final version works like current iterations — Tech giant's AI-powered search product is being tested on roughly 10 million users; publishers rely on Google for traffic and see a gathering storm


Ex-NYT editor James Bennet chronicles how fewer jobs for young reporters, the NYT's business model, and new ideals have led to “illiberal bias” at the paper — America's media should do more to equip readers to think for themselves — Are we truly so precious?
Discussion:
David D. Tawil on LinkedIn, Ron Fournier on LinkedIn, Kimberly Lau on LinkedIn, @asveenstra.bsky.social, @nhannahjones, @froomkin.bsky.social, @poniewozik@threads.net, @peterhimler.bsky.social, @asymmetricinfo, @macloo.bsky.social, @mrianleslie, @lugaricano, @benklinepoet, @lionelbarber, @bigmeaninternet, @emilyctamkin, @macloo.bsky.social, @macloo.bsky.social, @macloo.bsky.social, @charlesornstein, @karenho.bsky.social, @schreckreports, @awgordon.bsky.social, @cingraham.bsky.social, @macloo.bsky.social, @dicktofel, @shashj, @karaswisher@threads.net, @michaelhobbes.bsky.social and @codendahl


Two letters, both signed by dozens of Substack writers, criticize and defend the platform's approach to hosting and monetizing Nazis and white nationalists — Last month, The Atlantic published a piece by Jonathan Katz titled “Substack Has a Nazi Problem.”


Mother Jones and the Center for Investigative Reporting plan to merge in early 2024 with Monika Bauerlein as CEO and Clara Jeffery leading the combined newsroom — The combined newsroom will have more than 70 people. — Mother Jones and the Center for Investigative Reporting will merge next year …
Discussion:
@davidcorn1@threads.net, @dicktofel@threads.net and @_lizweil@threads.net


Sensor Tower: 51 of the top 100 US advertisers on Twitter in October 2022, when Elon Musk bought the company, have ceased ad spending on X as of November 2023 — Big U.S. companies including Walt Disney and Comcast increased advertising spending on Instagram after pausing commercials on X last month …
Discussion:
New York Post, Los Angeles Times and National Review, more at Techmeme »


Nelson Peltz's Trian nominates him and former Disney CFO Jay Rasulo to Disney's board as the fund wages its proxy battle with the media giant — - Trian Fund Management said it was nominating Nelson Peltz and former Walt Disney CFO Jay Rasulo to the media company's board.


YouTube updates its TV app to show longer but less frequent ad breaks, after testing since September 2023, and now shows a countdown in the bottom-right corner — The next time you sit down to watch YouTube on your TV, you might notice fewer ads breaking up the video you're watching.
Discussion:
The Messenger and 9to5Google, more at Techmeme »


Film discussion and review app Letterboxd adds showtimes for paying members in the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, and more, using aggregator Assemble's data — The film discussion and discovery platform wants users to see movies after reading about them. — Since its founding in 2011 …
Discussion:
Letterboxd and Variety


Google plans to test Tracking Protection and blocking third-party cookies on January 4 for ~1% of Chrome users globally, ahead of a phased rollout in H2 2024 — Google is about to launch its grand plan to block third-party cookies in Chrome that many websites use to track your activity across the web for profit.
Discussion:
Gizmodo, The Keyword and 9to5Google, more at Techmeme »


Punchbowl News buys legislation data company Electo Analytics, sources say in a deal valuing Punchbowl at $100M+, and plans to raise its price by $50 in January — The congressional news start-up is doubling down on information for its audience of Capitol Hill obsessives.
Discussion:
Anna Palmer on LinkedIn


Vivendi says it is weighing splitting into three businesses: TV platform Canal+, ad agency Havas, and an investment firm that will include publisher Lagardère — French media and entertainment group Vivendi said that it's weighing a split into three separate businesses.
Discussion:
Broadband TV News, Reuters and Wall Street Journal


A Pew survey of US adults finds that ~38% support a federal TikTok ban, down from 50% in March 2023; Republicans' rate of support for a ban fell from 60% to 50% — A new Pew survey suggests that the Republican-led push to ban the app will face a huge challenge in persuading voters, many of whom use the app themselves.
Discussion:
Vox, Fox Business, Pew Research Center, The Hill and New York Times