Looking for a great way to end the week and stay up to date? TBN content correspondent Mariam Ahmed brings you the best of media news and moves with a weekly Friday roundup that recaps what you may have missed, with updates and fresh insights.
Bird droppings: A rotten media musk at Twitter… Mitchell Clark and Alex Heath of The Verge report that Twitter has suspended the accounts of several prominent reporters who cover Elon Musk. In an email to The Verge, Twitter’s head of trust and safety, Ella Irwin said, “Without commenting on any specific accounts, I can confirm that we will suspend any accounts that violate our privacy policies and put other users at risk. We don’t make exceptions to this policy for journalists or any other accounts.” Ah, but what about the suspended accounts of formerly banned Twitter users — now restored — who were deemed toxic to the community? You can read more here.
A WSJ vet’s farewell… Paul Vigna has left The Wall Street Journal after 25 years. Since 2013, Vigna covered bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. He has also been covering the equities market for the Journal and Dow Jones Newswires since 1997. An author of three books, Vigna graduated from Fairfield University in Connecticut. Part of Vigna’s post on LinkedIn reads, “I got to learn from the best journalists in the world and I had opportunities I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. Now I’m going to explore the wider world and see what’s out there. Wish me luck!”
This is Huge… Interpublic Group’s creative growth acceleration company Huge announced the launch of a new editorially independent digital business publication Huge Moves. The new venture is led by award-winning journalist Jennifer Leigh Parker. Huge Moves’ first issue features bylines from a seasoned team of journalists who have contributed to outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Monocle Magazine. Parker: “A lot of people have a narrow idea of what branded content can be. Patronage or sponsorship doesn’t always mean control. With Huge Moves, we’re developing an independent editorial voice for Huge that champions great journalism and intrepid reporting. We have the freedom to tell the stories we want to tell, and we’re here to make the most of it.”
TikTok goes the deadline clock… Digiday’s Sara Guaglione discusses The Wall Street Journal’s strategy to attract young readers using TikTok. Guaglione writes, “The Wall Street Journal launched its TikTok channel on Oct. 3, and since then the channel has grown to over 37,000 followers and 600,000 likes. It’s focused on three core content pillars: careers, personal finance and tech. In a survey published last week, the Reuters Institute and University of Oxford revealed that 25% of people between the ages of 18 and 34 are using TikTok for news. At The Wall Street Journal, the TikTok channel is managed by the publisher’s visual storytelling team, which falls under its broader social team. You can read more here.
Hail to the editor in chief… The Wall Street Journal has named Emma Tucker as its next editor in chief, making her the first female to hold the post in the paper’s 133-year history. Tucker begins on Feb. 1 and replaces Matt Murray, who will take on new projects in a senior role at News Corp. Recently, Tucker was an editor at The Sunday Times, where she worked for more than 15 years. Dow Jones CEO Almar Latour said, “Emma is a champion of independent journalism and high journalistic standards. She brings strong experience in international and digital journalism and an impressive track record in leading journalists and coverage at The Sunday Times, The Times of London and the Financial Times. I look forward to working with her to continue to expand the Journal’s reach and impact.”
…a note from the outgoing EIC… From WSJ outgoing editor in chief Matt Murray’s note to staff: “As you’ve seen, after nearly five years in this post, I will soon be taking a new role in the company and handing the newsroom reins to a new editor. I’m thrilled for Emma Tucker, a highly accomplished editor and leader, and I know she has all our best wishes and support in this transition as she steps into the best job in journalism. I’m deeply grateful to Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch and to Robert Thomson for asking me to serve as editor in chief nearly five years ago, and for trusting me again to take on new responsibilities at News Corp.” Read more here.
…but speaking of Lachlan Murdoch… It remains to see how Lachlan’s deposition in the $1.6 billion lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems turns out. The suit alleges Fox knew the truth as it spread false claims about Dominion’s technology connected to 2020 stolen election lies. If Fox loses — and many legal experts say there’s a strong chance — it may take journalists like Murray to restore some sense of editorial integrity at Fox. We’d put it to a vote, but we think know how Lachlan and his father Rupert feel about voting machine technology. Even when it works.
Fortune’s fintech first mover… Fortune magazine staff writer Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez spoke with UNC-Chapel Hill journalism professor Andy Bechtel on covering the financial technology beat. “I am on the crypto team at Fortune, and my beat mainly focuses on NFTs and the metaverse, which has been really exciting to cover this year,” Quiroz-Gutierrez said. “First thing in the morning, I like to read as much crypto-related news as I can and look for anything huge that I could write a quick story on. After writing one or sometimes two “quick hits” I turn my focus toward longer-term stories.” You can read more here.
BuzzFeed’s buzz kill… BuzzFeed is the latest company that plans a workforce reduction, eliminating 12 percent of its staff as part of a cost-cutting measure. CEO Jonah Peretti wrote a letter to affected employees, stating, “Our revenues are being impacted by a combination of worsening macroeconomic conditions, and the ongoing audience shift to vertical video, which is still developing from a monetization standpoint. That requires us to lower our costs. Unfortunately, reducing our workforce is an essential part of cost cutting. Staff salaries are the single largest cost at the company.”
A strike of the Times… Journalists at The New York Times launched a one-day strike on Thurs., Dec. 8 as negotiations have failed regarding salaries, health and retirement benefits and other issues. More than 1,100 employees signed a pledge to strike for 24 hours; in a statement on Wednesday evening, the union accused The Times of bargaining in bad faith. ‘Their wage proposal still fails to meet the economic moment, lagging far behind both inflation and the average rate of wage gains in the U.S.” The full article can be read here.
A Sky goodbye… Head of Sky News John Ryley will step down from his post in Spring 2023. “Being head of Sky News is one of the most exhilarating jobs in journalism. Nonetheless, after almost 40 years in the news business, 28 at Sky including 17 lucky years at the helm – I have decided, as of next year, to stop and leave Sky News behind,” Ryley said. “In the coming weeks, a new head of Sky News will be appointed.”
Vancouver victory… Business in Vancouver has promoted Hayley Woodin to the post of editor in chief. Recently, Woodin was executive editor. Previously, she worked as a writer, editor, co-host, producer, videographer and event host. She was a frequent guest on BBC Radio’s Business Matters program. Woodin has a bachelor’s degree from Kwantlen Polytechnic University and a master’s degree from Columbia University.
New top editor at Crain’s Detroit … Mickey Ciokajlo has been named executive editor of Crain’s Detroit Business and the Grand Rapids Business Journal. Currently, Ciokajlo serves as director of local news at MLive, where he has worked for 12 years. “I am incredibly excited to join the talented team at Crain as we expand our reach to serve readers across Michigan,” Ciokajlo said. “Crain is a highly regarded brand, and my goal is to build on that trusted foundation to deliver even more in-depth, quality journalism that resonates with our growing audience of readers.”
Nekkei’s award… Nikkei Asia has won the Hinrich Foundation Award for Distinguished Reporting on Trade from the National Press Foundation for its “fascinating” coverage of how the pandemic, Russia’s war with Ukraine and the escalating U.S.-China strife over semiconductors combined to upend global supply chains in 2022. Read more here.
A crypto crystal ball… Cas Piancey of Protos writes, “I hope that crypto media won’t go through a life-threatening credit squeeze. I hope that through the brilliant reporting from individuals from every outlet, the importance of freedom is obvious. But I also know that for now, it means a drying up of ad revenue and smaller conferences. Perhaps soon, we’ll see less people reading crypto news. That’s a hard pill to swallow.” But with less people trusting crypto after the disgraceful implosions at Luna and FTX, gulping (choking?) on that pill may be more than inevitable. You can read more here.
Fab Forbes promotions… Forbes has appointed Sherry Phillips to the post of chief revenue officer and Vadim Supitskiy to chief digital and information officer. CEO Mike Federle said, “Both Sherry and Vadim are true partners and invaluable members of our executive leadership team that has brought our business to new heights.” Phillips is a 26-year Forbes veteran was most recently chief sales and marketing officer. Supitskiy is a 15-year Forbes veteran was most recently was chief technology officer.
Departing Pentagon beat… CNN’s Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr will leave the network after more than two decades. Starr announced her departure in a memo: “With the expiration of my contract in the coming days I have made the decision to move on. Let me say this … you never say goodbye to your friends, so I won’t.” Starr joined CNN in 2001 from ABC News, where she had worked since 1998, where she won an Emmy Award as a location producer at NORAD/Cheyenne Mountain.
Expanding coverage on Capitol Hill… NBC News has tapped Julie Tsirkin to serve as a congressional correspondent to cover daily happenings on Capitol Hill. Tsirkin joined NBC News in 2019. Previously, she worked at MSNBC and the Rutgers Council on Public and International Affairs. Tsirkin graduated from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J.
McGraw awards four fellowships… Four veteran journalists have been named the latest recipients of the McGraw Fellowship for Business Journalism, awarded through the McGraw Center for Business Journalism at City University of New York. Each of the winning projects will receive a grant of up to $15,000. The fellows will explore a range of subjects. Read the full details here.
Kim captures Nikkei-Columbia scholarship…Nikkei and the Columbia University Journalism School in New York have awarded the annual Columbia-Nikkei Scholarship to Minju Kim, a data journalist from South Korea. Previously, Kim worked as a media editor for South Korea’s climate think tank Solutions for Our Climate. “Through the Data Journalism program, I am already starting to utilize the extraordinary power of data to report on issues I deeply care about,” said Kim. “As a data journalist, I hope to continue reporting on climate and energy policies in Asia, making the issue more prominent and accessible to others.”
Diversity in biz journalism…TechCrunch senior reporter Dominic-Madori Davis writes about the need for more diversity in tech and business journalism for Nieman Lab. Davis writes, “Next year, I want to see the hiring and retention of diverse staff reporters — and I don’t mean just white women — who are then given platforms to not only cover the news of business and tech but also give opinions and analysis. The key here is putting these reporters on staff and granting them the same rights, opportunities, and privileges as white business reporters. At times, it feels as if there’s a lack of accountability; that issues minority communities point out are either not taken seriously or take too long to land on the radar of those who make of the mainstream. Opening up a bit more will inspire new audiences and reach new hopes and dreams.”
TBN salutes a Kansas City star… Michael Lindenberger, vice president and editorial page editor at the Kansas City Star, has died aged 51. A Pulitzer Prize-winner, Lindenberger also spent 14 years at The Dallas Morning News. “So many things were going right for him,” said Chris Poynter, a former Courier Journal reporter and Lindenberger’s college roommate at Western Kentucky University. An excerpt from the announcement reads, “After friends were unable to reach him, Poynter called Kansas City Police at 5:30 a.m. Monday and asked them to check on him, he said. Police found him dead in the bathroom of his home, which he had just bought.” Read more here.
Mariam Ahmed is Talking Biz News’ content correspondent. For tips on the Friday TBN Ticker, email her at mariam@talkingbiznews.com or connect with her on LinkedIn.
