Mediagazer: Q&A with Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters on not launching an app on the Apple Vision Pro, the WWE deal, content strategy, ads, competition, gaming, bundles, and more (Ben Thompson/Stratechery)

2:30 PM ET, January 26, 2024

Top News:

Kate Knibbs / Wired:

A look at women's blog The Hairpin, which has been resurrected by a Serbian DJ after its 2018 shutdown and is now filled with SEO-optimized, AI-generated trash — Beloved women's website The Hairpin shut down in 2018. This month it returned from the dead to churn out AI clickbait.

Discussion: Business Insider, @sarahscire, @kellyconaboy, @ethangach, @pjmaciak, @lordravenscraft, @tomgara@threads.net, @rick_paulas, @mediaevan, @round, @seejanemarie, @lingerie_addict, @jayasax and @andyorin

Jason Koebler / 404 Media:

404 Media outlines the reasons it wants to reach readers directly via email, including social media fragmentation and AI spam making discoverability tougher — Join the newsletter to get the latest updates. — Success — Great! Check your inbox and click the link. — Error

Discussion: @jason_koebler, Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai on LinkedIn, @josephfcox, @jeffjarvis, @josephfcox, @tnewmstweet, @josephfcox, 404 Media, @josephfcox, @chronotope, @josephfcox, @berkowitzbt, @neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk and @jeffjarvis@threads.net

Reuters:

A Moscow сourt extends the custody of WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich to March 30, 2024 as he awaits trial; Gershkovich can appeal within three days — A Moscow сourt extended the custody of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich by two months on Friday as he awaits trial on spying charges that he denies.

Discussion: Axios, Wall Street Journal, Irish News, 6abc, Fox News and Voice of America

Mark Sweney / The Guardian:

Telegraph Media Group CEO Nick Hugh steps down as the UK prepares to launch a second probe into plans to transfer control of the titles to a UAE-backed group — Nick Hugh's exit comes amid concern over Barclay family's deal to transfer control of titles — The chief executive of the Telegraph …

Discussion: Bloomberg, The Wrap, @j_a_warrington and Press Gazette

Cameron Joseph / Columbia Journalism Review:

As newspapers cut DC reporters, they can no longer pressure legislators on local issues or inform readers about their legislators' performance — This week sucked. — On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times laid off 115 people, more than 20 percent of its total staff.

Discussion: Ed Joyce on LinkedIn, @cam_joseph, @alexclearfield, @kirk_bado, @cam_joseph, New York Times, The Guardian and The Wrap

Joseph Hudak / Rolling Stone:

A group of investors including country singer Morgan Wallen buy Field & Stream, with plans to relaunch it as a brand and biannual print magazine — The country stars will relaunch the hunting, fishing, and outdoors brand digitally, in print, and through a live music festival

Discussion: @fieldandstream, @mediaevan, Variety and Billboard

Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:

Axios launches Axios Entertainment, a new studio division that will develop and produce original nonfiction films and TV shows — The company has projects in development with Tom Brady's Shadow Lion, Chrissy Teigen's Huntley Productions, Media Res, Guy Ritchie, Mark Wahlberg's Unrealistic Ideas, among others.

Discussion: The Wrap, @markhorowitz, @alex and @jimvandehei

Winston Cho / Hollywood Reporter:

George Carlin's estate sues Dudesy over its comedy special featuring an AI George Carlin, alleging copyright infringement and right of publicity violations — “We have to draw a line in the sand,” says daughter Kelly Carlin, who sued creators of an hourlong special titled 'George Carlin: I'm Glad I'm Dead.'

Ben Thompson / Stratechery:

Q&A with Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters on not launching an app on the Apple Vision Pro, the WWE deal, content strategy, ads, competition, gaming, bundles, and more — I am pleased to welcome Netflix Co-CEO Greg Peters for a Stratechery Interview. Peters was named the co-CEO of Netflix …

Discussion: Business Insider, @markgurman, @loudmouthjulia, @markgurman, The Hollywood Reporter, @stevemoser, @loudmouthjulia, @markgurman, Benzinga, @mostly.borrowed.ideas …, @mostly.borrowed.ideas …, 9to5Mac, Gizmodo and AppleInsider, more at Techmeme »

Hanaa' Tameez / Nieman Lab:

How disagreements between the Los Angeles Times and the LA Times Guild over seniority protections resulted in more than 60 journalists of color being laid off — Disagreements between the LA Times and its Guild over seniority protections ended in more than 60 journalists of color being laid off.

Discussion: @suhaunah, @raeoflion, @tatecurtis, @stufalk, @suhaunah, @raminskibba, @froomkin and @sarahscire

Deadline:

Marie Donoghue, former vice president of global sports video at Amazon's Prime Video, joins DraftKings as its chief business & growth officer — UPDATE: Marie Donoghue is the new Chief Business & Growth Officer at gaming company DraftKings. — In her new role, Donoghue will work closely …

Discussion: Awful Announcing, Sports Media Watch, New York Post, @austinkarp, @draftkingsnews, DraftKings and Sportico

Sara Salinas / CNBC:

In a memo, Paramount CEO Bob Bakish announces layoffs, citing a need to “operate as a leaner company and spend less”; he did not disclose the size of the cuts — - Paramount CEO Bob Bakish announced layoffs at the media company. — He did not disclose how many jobs the company would cut.

Discussion: Variety, NBC Bay Area, NME, @weareyourfek, @madisonmills22, @tracytran, The Wrap, Benzinga, Deadline, Reuters, Deadline, Bloomberg, The Hill and The Messenger, more at Techmeme »

Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter:
In a memo, Paramount CEO outlines growth strategies for 2024, including “driving to streaming profitability” and “maximizing content with the biggest impact”

Discussion: The Wrap, Deadline, @paulvrea, Broadband TV News, @tvgrimreaper, Adweek, Reuters and Next TV

Sara Fischer / @sarafischer:

Forbes CEO Mike Federle announces layoffs affecting less than 3% of staff, saying Forbes “must remain vigilant in our current economic environment” — NEW: @forbes layoffs announced today, the same day its union announced a 3-day walkout. — Unclear how many impacted yet — CEO Mike Federer said in a note to staff that Forbes “must remain vigilant in our current economic environment.”

Discussion: CNN, @taradublinrocks, @dankennedy_nu@threads.net, @jayrosen_nyc@threads.net, @nyguild, @forbesunion, @redsteeze, @ethangach, @bill_shea19, @iamkylemullins, @alexrkonrad, @sarafischer, Talking Biz News, BNN Bloomberg, @crumbler@threads.net and The Wrap

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More News:

Katie Kilkenny / The Hollywood Reporter:
The WGA East files an unfair labor practice charge against G/O Media, alleging that G/O Media has been “bargaining in bad faith” in ongoing negotiations

Discussion: The Information

Katie Kilkenny / The Hollywood Reporter:
The Directors Guild of America says it has secured the same streaming residuals and access to streaming platform viewing data that the WGA won

Discussion: @tvgrimreaper, @joerussotweets, @katiekilkenny7, Variety, The Wrap and Deadline

Amy Hawkins / The Guardian:
Documents reveal that several eligible sci-fi works were excluded from the 2023 Hugo Awards, held for the first time in China, raising censorship concerns

Discussion: @amyhawk_, @wang_maya, Chris Cottorone on LinkedIn, @cstross@wandering.shop, Ad Astra Science Fiction …, The Bookseller and @tess@mastodon.social

Khadeeja Safdar / Wall Street Journal:
Janel Grant, an ex-WWE staffer who received a payout from Vince McMahon and signed an NDA in 2022, files a lawsuit accusing WWE and McMahon of sex trafficking

Meg James / Los Angeles Times:
The Los Angeles Times appoints Terry Tang as the paper's interim executive editor; Tang has been LA Times's editorial page editor since February 2022

Discussion: @olgakhazan, @georgia_geen, @mitrakalita, @ryfons, @alexbruell, @megjameslat, @megjameslat, Talking Biz News, The Objective and The Hollywood Reporter

Earlier Picks:

Bloomberg:
Sources: Disney's India assets are being valued at ~$4.5B in merger negotiations with Reliance, less than the $10B Disney initially pursued

Discussion: Reuters

Wall Street Journal:
Sources: BuzzFeed is looking to sell its food sites, Tasty and First We Feast; Fortress Investment Group, which took over Vice, is in talks to sell Refinery29

Discussion: @mediaevan, The Information and The Wrap

Luke Bouma / Cord Cutters News:
Fubo TV launches Instant Headlines Beta, which uses AI to generate headlines from live news programs on Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, and other networks

Nate Raymond / Reuters:
A US appeals court rules 9-7 that Texas-based citizen journalist Priscilla Villarreal cannot sue officials over her arrest for asking a police source questions

Discussion: The Texas Observer

From Techmeme:

Gavin Anderegg / anderegg.ca:
Bluesky is working to become fully decentralized but it could take years amid financial concerns as it makes money only by selling domains for usernames

Wall Street Journal:
Sources: T-Mobile's network was among the systems hacked by the China-linked Salt Typhoon group, and some foreign telecommunications firms were also compromised

Wall Street Journal:
Sources: ByteDance is valuing itself at about $300B as part of a recent buyback offer, one of its highest valuations ever

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