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Monday, December 17, 2018
 | Local news fails — in a good way“If local newsrooms are going to achieve digital sustainability, we must try new things. That means getting out of our own way and taking risks, while knowing some attempts will fail.” By Kristen Muller. |
 | Toward a symphony model for local news“You can see the glimmers of a sustainable model for nonprofit local news — a combination of ongoing revenue (ads and circulation, along with events or membership fees), combined with ongoing philanthropic support and, over time, an endowment to fill in the gaps.” By Bill Grueskin. |
 | We can acknowledge what we don’t know“When it comes to the big questions in local news maybe the safer bet is to admit that no matter how venerable our institutions or talented our people, none of us has the answers” By Chase Davis. |
 | There is no magic — you’ve got this“It was and always will be about serving your readers and now viewers, listeners, users and continuing to do so by adapting journalism fundamentals to ever-evolving contexts and challenges.” By Millie Tran. |
 | Say it with me: Racism“We are not in the hint business; we are here to report facts, including the difficult facts of racism.” By Errin Haines Whack. |
 | Mapping the local news ecosystem — with scale but detail“In addition to seeing from 30,000 feet, we also need to be able to zoom in and know a journalism landscape as it exists from the vantage of those who live there.” By Sarah Stonbely. |
 | The end of “loudspeakers for liars”“We'll also see news organizations and social media platforms clarify that deception and disinformation, like fraud, are unethical, and that these things violate their terms of service.” By Craig Newmark. |
 | The year of actionable (local) journalism“There's a lot of information out there. So what can the average information consumer do with it all?” By Geetika Rudra. |
 | More algorithmic accountability reporting, and a lot of it will be meh“When reporters find a suspect algorithm, they should also try to cover what could be done better.” By Jonathan Stray. |
 | Selling more stories to Hollywood“The bidding wars over story options, typically a nice bonus check of a few hundred dollars, have created six and seven figure deals for writers and podcast producers.” By Reyhan Harmanci. |
 | The subscription-pocalypse is about to hit“You can't expect people to subscribe to their local paper (which is vital to democracy, we tell them) AND The New York Times and the Washington Post (because Democracy Dies in the Dark) AND…” By Brian Moritz. |
 | Video — yes, video“A generation of producers, VJs and reporters who grew up watching and making videos online is now leading the charge in many places.” By Nathalie Malinarich. |
 | Reaching Generation Z beyond the coasts“How can we reach an audience if that audience doesn't see themselves, their hometowns, their families, even the brand of jeans they wear, portrayed in the media?” By Nico Gendron. |
 | Publishers whose products can stand up to social media giants will win“As users look to rebuild their news habits, they'll be looking for products that seamlessly integrate into their lives.” By Zainab Khan. |
 | We will finally confront systemic market failure“Those unconstrained by market ideology might dare to consider what a new, truly public, digital media system could look like in the United States and beyond.” By Victor Pickard. |
 | Ahead of African elections, unlock partnerships with fact-checkers“In Africa, about 13 countries, including Senegal, Botswana, Namibia, Senegal, Nigeria, South Africa and Guinea, will hold general elections at some point in the coming year.” By Tshepo Tshabalala. |
 | Content competition from the tech companies“Facing the expiration of streaming rights with networks that, too, resented the disruption that the platform created, Netflix did the only thing they could: they doubled down on originals.” By Mat Yurow. |
 | The pivot to reader revenue’s unintended consequences“There will be tension between the need to satisfy the subscriber with the information she expects while still challenging her with the opposing views that she needs to make sense of the world.” By John Saroff. |
 | The traffic hunt, CMS battle, and magazine identity crises loom“In the end, the platform fracturing will continue.” By Axie Navas. |
 | Yes, they signed up — but our job’s not over“These are hard-won subscribers. Ensuring that they remain so loyal, so engaged and so connected to the journalism and mission that they stick around can't be done by sales and marketing alone.” By Elisabeth Goodridge. |
 | Facebook refugees, from ad revenue to news habits“In 2019, the media's insistence on biting the hand that feeds it will drive it to examine the new biases and shortcomings of the new gatekeepers of attention.” By Jack Riley. |
What We’re Reading
Twitter / Joseph Cranney
Local investigative reporters’ blockbuster work in 2018, from Alabama to Wyoming →
“In Delaware, @ChristinaJedra reported at least a half-dozen people accused of nonviolent, minor crimes, including loitering, have been banned from a city as a condition of their release from jail… In Nevada, @AnjeanetteDamon reported people lost their homes and livelihoods because officials ignored warnings and recommendations from state-commissioned studies ahead of a devastating flood that has cost millions in cleanup.”
Washington Post / Craig Timberg and Tony Romm
A new report on Russian disinformation, prepared for the Senate, shows the operation’s scale and sweep →
“‘What is clear is that all of the messaging clearly sought to benefit the Republican Party — and specifically Donald Trump,’ the report says. ‘Trump is mentioned most in campaigns targeting conservatives and right-wing voters, where the messaging encouraged these groups to support his campaign. The main groups that could challenge Trump were then provided messaging that sought to confuse, distract and ultimately discourage members from voting.'”
Columbia Journalism Review / Andrew McCormick
The law firm in the trenches against media unions →
“At a time when uncertain market forces have driven more and more newsrooms to organize, Jones Day has become notorious for aggressive anti-union tactics that journalists and union leaders say have helped downgrade media union contracts and carve employee benefits to the bone. Jones Day's portfolio of media outlets includes, among many others, Slate, whose union members voted Tuesday to authorize a strike amid pushback from management on their demands.”
Committee to Protect Journalists
Nicaraguan police have raided an independent news organization’s newsroom →
“The police raid targeted the Managua office of privately owned Confidencial and its sister television programs, ‘Esta Noche’ and ‘Esta Semana.’ Carlos Fernando Chamorro, one of Nicaragua’s most prominent independent journalists, is the founder and director of all three news outlets.”
The New York Times / Adam Satariano and Elian Peltier
How France is experimenting with teaching students to recognize misinformation →
“The younger you start, the better.”
Los Angeles Times / Ryan Faughnder
The L.A. Times is launching a prime-time TV show →
“The one-hour show, ‘L.A. Times Today,’ will air Monday through Thursday starting in February and will take an in-depth look at the day's top stories with the paper's reporters, columnists and photographers.” It will be on Charter Communications’ recently-launched Spectrum News 1 channel.
Washington Post / Renae Merle and Thomas Heath
Venture wariness: Investors closed 27 deals worth about $206 million in 2014 but will close just 19 deals worth $130 million this year →
“As legacy news companies suffered tremors over the past decade, money from venture capitalists poured into upstarts that promised to leverage a keener understanding of online reading habits to create a giant-killing class of new media ventures. Today, the money is starting to dry up.”
Axios / Sara Fischer
Facebook touts its video metrics and outlines how it will be funding shows in the future →
“Facebook says that the criteria used to determine whether someone is a daily active visitor of its product is by measuring whether a users spends at least one minute on the ‘Watch’ platform per day, but Axios has confirmed that those 60 seconds do not need to be consecutive.”
Variety / Brian Steinberg
Lesile Moonves’ $20 million severance is going to 18 organizations ending sexual harassment in the workplace →
“Moonves was ousted [from CBS] in September in the wake of multiple allegations from women detailing unwanted sexual advances he made on them. The former CBS chief has denied any non-consensual interactions.”