Top News:

An interview with Paul Krugman on leaving the NYT in 2024 after his newsletter was killed and editing of his column “became extremely intrusive”, Substack, more — The paper wanted to take away his newsletter or make him write less frequently, he says.
Discussion:
@melinab.bsky.social, @petersuber@fediscience.org, @afib.bsky.social, Troy Tassier on LinkedIn, @oliverdarcy.bsky.social, @buermann@mastodon.social, @atabarrok, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, @thetasalmon.bsky.social, Simon Owens on LinkedIn, @christineloriol.bsky.social, @dicktofel.bsky.social, Dan Gillmor on LinkedIn, @mattcowgill.bsky.social, @jfallows.bsky.social, @harrylitman.bsky.social, @perrybaconjr.bsky.social, @cbarbermd@med-mastodon.com, @amycastor.bsky.social, @scripting.com, @karaswisher.bsky.social, @doughenwood.bsky.social, @katie0martin.bsky.social, @adamserwer.bsky.social, @jonflan.bsky.social, @luciaguimaraes.bsky.social, @columjournreview.bsky.social, @gregggonsalves.bsky.social, @viktorshtrum.bsky.social, @newsjennifer.bsky.social, @ryanlcooper.com, @dynarski.bsky.social and Talking Biz News

Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth wins Senate confirmation to become Donald Trump's defense secretary, after Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote — Pete Hegseth overcame allegations of sexual assault, public drunkenness and questions of financial mismanagement at two veterans' groups …
Discussion:
New York Times, CNN, PBS NewsHour, Forbes, @mikenellis, The Atlantic, New York Post, Digby's Hullabaloo, Al Jazeera, @ChrisBoese@newsie.social, @donmoyn.bsky.social, Republic World, @senwarren, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, @mkraju, Fox News, The Defense Post, Semafor, @mrhoyle.bsky.social, NOTUS, Stars & Stripes, Telegraph, Politico, U.S. Department of Defense, Financial Times, Military.com, The Guardian, Axios, Reuters, Associated Press, MSNBC, BBC, Military Times, @rainwater14.bsky.social, DefenseScoop, The Hill, The Hill, Washington Post, @mollyjongfast.bsky.social, Washington Post, @repjasmine.bsky.social, Bloomberg, Variety, Roll Call, Scripps News, WFAA-TV, The 19th, Business Insider, Daily Caller News Foundation, The Wrap, New York Post, @indivisibleteam …, USA Today, Rolling Stone, @pattonoswalt.bsky.social, Deadline, Wall Street Journal, @joshuajfriedman.com, @chrislhayes.bsky.social, freebeacon.com, Salon, DNyuz, CBS News, IJR, Christianity Today, Daily Mail, Talking Points Memo, The Independent, NBC Bay Area, Hollywood Life, Mediaite, Santa Cruz Sentinel and Slate

Nielsen plans to stop selling its TV ratings product that solely uses consumer panels in Q4 2025, moving to a tool combining panels with smart-TV data and more — The dominant ratings provider hopes to fend off competitors by pivoting to a bundle that combines its consumer panels with data …
Discussion:
@jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, @tvgrimreaper and The Desk

Fubo raises prices on all of its English-language plans for new customers; its least expensive offering, its Essential plan, is now $85/month — Despite launching less than two months ago, Fubo is raising the price of its new Essential package alongside those of its other plans.

An interview with journalist and Ethical Journalism Network founder Aidan White on the current global lack of trust in media and ways to rebuild public trust — Media can adopt mechanisms to prove their credibility, such as self-assessment and independent certification

A look at documentaries at Sundance: indie films still struggle to get distribution, political topics remain crucial despite a challenging market, and more — It's no secret that corporations like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple have lost their appetite for current event documentaries that tackle politics.
Discussion:
Addie Morfoot on LinkedIn, Deadline, Hyperallergic, Associated Press and The Hollywood Reporter

Amended FEC filings: WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's failed 2022 congressional campaign owes $300K+ in unpaid debts that weren't initially disclosed — On Thursday, Karoline Leavitt's failed congressional campaign amended every FEC filing it had ever made to reveal that she failed …
Discussion:
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Jorge Mercado / Pacific Coast Business Times:
How the assets of the Santa Barbara News Press, which closed after bankruptcy in 2023, ended up with nonprofit NEWSWELL, as the nonprofit plans a relaunch — It has been a year and a half since the Santa Barbara News Press, the former longest running daily newspaper in Southern California …

ShopMy, which lets brands run influencer marketing efforts, raised a $77.5M Series B led by Bessemer and Bain, sources say at a $410M valuation vs. $80M in 2024 — Tech firms that speed up and automate brands' partnerships with social-media influencers are becoming hot commodities as advertisers scramble to reach consumers online

Source: Allen Media Group reverses some of its plans to lay off 100+ local TV meteorologists and outsource regional weather forecasts to its Atlanta facilities — Allen Media Group has reversed some of its plans to lay off more than 100 local television meteorologists and outsource regional weather forecasts …

Sources: Blackstone-backed IDG nears a deal to sell Foundry, which runs outlets like PCWorld and Macworld, to private equity firm Regent — The sources wished to remain anonymous because the deal is not yet public. — Terms of the agreement could not be determined.
Discussion:
@harrymccracken.com and @harrymccracken@mastodon …

Flip, which lets shoppers share video reviews and earn cash based on engagement, launches a creator fund that grants up to $100M of equity over 5+ years — Flip is a social commerce app that lets shoppers become creators. They can share honest reviews and earn cash based on engagement on the platform.