Top News:
Charles Kaiser / Columbia Journalism Review:
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:
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Katie Deighton / Wall Street Journal:
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
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 …
David Satin / The Streamable:
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.
Discussion:
The Desk, @tvgrimreaper, @kennysmith.bsky.social, The TV Answer Man!, @2xaught7.bsky.social, Streaming Better and Fortune
Lauren Forristal / TechCrunch:
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.
Kerry Flynn / Axios:
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.
Adweek:
Newsweek generated $90M in revenue at a profit margin of 20% in 2024, up from $20M revenue in 2018; digital advertising made up 63% of revenue in 2024 — The publisher has shaken off its legal woes and super-sized its reach — The general interest publisher Newsweek …
Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch:
Meta begins a “limited, early test” of ads in Threads in the US and Japan, with the goal of making the ads “as interesting as organic content” — Meta's X rival Threads said Friday that it is now testing ads with select brands in the U.S. and Japan.
Discussion:
MediaPost, TVNewsCheck, Fast Company, @mosseri@threads.net, Facebook, Ad Age, @joeo10@mastodon.sdf.org, Adweek, CNBC, Reuters, Engadget, Bloomberg, @parkerortolani@threads.net, @stevepsyd@threads.net, @chartier@toot.cafe, The Verge, @mikeisaac, 9to5Mac, @badinternet.oracularhades.com and Crooks and Liars, more at Techmeme »
Melanie Goodfellow / Deadline:
Apple TV+ signs a four-year agreement with French audiovisual groups, investing 20% of its net annual France turnover in European and French content — The accord, which does not cover cinema, will see the platform adhere to obligations set out in France's 2021 SMAD decree governing investment quotas …
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Similarweb: RedNote's DAUs in the US fell by 54% on January 20 when the TikTok ban was put on hold, after reaching a high of 32.5M DAUs on the day of the ban — In the days leading up to the TikTok ban in the U.S. on Sunday, U.S. users flooded the Chinese app RedNote, which offered …
Matthew Keys / The Desk:
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 …
Charlotte Klein / New York Magazine:
David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker for over a quarter of a century, remains at work amid speculation over his potential successor as the magazine turns 100 — Staffers of The New Yorker who go into the office, as Condé Nast now requires them to do, have noticed something different …
Discussion:
Talking Biz News, New Yorker, @mediaevan, Variety, Deadline, @charlottetklein, @simonowens, The Wrap and RedState
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