Mediagazer: How pro-Trump influencers and others on social media used misdirection and fabricated content to muddle the evidence of ICE agents killing a man in Minneapolis (New York Times)

@erikwemple:

Foreign correspondents at WaPo send a letter to Jeff Bezos raising alarm over impending layoffs, which are expected to “land hard” on international coverage — Update on turmoil at the Washington Post that I've been following w @BenMullin: Foreign correspondents at WaPo have sent a letter, a “collective plea,” to owner Jeff Bezos raising alarm over impending staff reductions, which are expected to land hard on international coverage.

Benjamin Lindsay / The Wrap:

Memo: WaPo won't send sports staffers to cover the Winter Olympics in Italy, as it assesses financial priorities for 2026, following reports of expected layoffs — Managing Editor Kimi Yoshino says the decision to not send reporters to the Milano Cortina 2026 Games comes after assessing financial priorities for the year

Rick Porter / The Hollywood Reporter:

Amazon MGM TV Chief Peter Friedlander restructures the unit into genre-based teams, moving away from a structure around wholly owned series and co-productions — Laura Lancaster and Nick Pepper are leaving the studio, while Netflix alum Blair Fetter joins as head of genre series.

Discussion: The Wrap and Deadline

Michael Savage / The Guardian:

Outgoing BBC DG Tim Davie warns the BBC faces “profound jeopardy” unless it embraces significant changes to funding but rejects ads or subscriptions as options — Exclusive: Outgoing director general indicates support for update to licence-fee model as part of wider changes

Discussion: @paulblinkhorn.bsky.social and Broadband TV News

New York Times:

How pro-Trump influencers and others on social media used misdirection and fabricated content to muddle the evidence of ICE agents killing a man in Minneapolis — Some social media posts tried to warp the evidence of the killing of a nurse in Minneapolis, including in ways intended to support …

Discussion: Media Matters for America, The Atlantic, CNN, Columbia Journalism Review, Associated Press, Mediaite, Semafor, @edmundlee, Twin Cities, NOTUS, @brianstelter, Livemint, Al Jazeera and Wired

Dan Evans / Byline Times:

Daily Mail publisher's High Court trial over alleged phone hacking threatens to derail its £500M Telegraph bid, as main funder NatWest considers the legal risks — Allegations that the Mail engaged in phone hacking, landline tapping, burglaries, and the theft of medical records …

Zhiyu Luo / Los Angeles Business Journal:

California Post, a daily newspaper produced by the same company that publishes the New York Post, debuts on Monday in Southern California, led by EIC Nick Papps — News Corp.'s California Post will begin daily circulation in Los Angeles on Jan. 26. — California Post will premiere …

Discussion: Press Gazette, The Wrap, Sports Business Journal, Associated Press, New York Post, Adweek, Fox News, The Wrap and r/LosAngeles

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:

Email: Future plans a “significant restructure”, with 45 editorial redundancies while creating 15 new roles at titles including TechRadar and Tom's Guide — Future plc has proposed to make 45 editorial redundancies at its technology titles. — Some 15 new roles are being created …

Discussion: Talking Biz News and @samuelwroberts.bsky.social

RJI:

A survey of 135 leaders at US weekly newspapers found 88% charge a fee for obituaries, yet the revenue makes up less than 5% of income in 80% of newsrooms — Study shows that paid obits bring in little income but are nearly universal … Charging to publish obituaries …

Discussion: @losowsky.com and The Philadelphia Inquirer

Editor and Publisher:

An interview with Audrey Cooper, EIC of The Baltimore Banner, on local news decline, growing regionally, paywalls, experimenting with AI, and more — Episode 317 of “E&P Reports” - A Vodcast series hosted by Mike Blinder — Audrey Cooper's decision to take the helm at The Baltimore Banner …

Discussion: RTDNA

Catherine Balston / Monocle:

The persistence of the foreign film category at the Oscars feels increasingly misplaced as foreign films and shows are now mainstream viewing due to streaming — Film's gilded night is drawing ever closer and today The Academy will shortlist the titles up for winning an Oscar come March.

Discussion: American Prospect and Axios

Anupriya Datta / Euractiv:

The EU Commission says WhatsApp's Channels fall under the DSA's Very Large Online Platform rules, joining Instagram and Facebook, requiring it to address risks — Commission designation means Meta-owned messaging giant's public channels must comply with the EU's Digital Services Act rules for very large platforms

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, The Economic Times, Politico and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »