THE DAILY NEWSLETTER -TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

Media Winners & Losers

MEDIA WINNER:
NYT's Joe Kahn

Let the parlor games end: The New York Times has announced its next top editor.

Joe Kahn, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and longtime Beijing bureau chief who was promoted to managing editor of the paper in 2016, will succeed Dean Baquet as executive editor.

In a memo to Times staff obtained by Mediaite, publisher A.G. Sulzberger announced Kahn will be taking over from Baquet in June.

The selection was widely expected: The Times has a mandatory retirement age of 65 for top editors (Baquet turns 66 this September) and in recent months, the rumor mill all but confirmed Kahn as his successor.

“For many people, especially those who have worked alongside Joe — a brilliant journalist and a brave and principled leader — this announcement will come as no surprise,” Sulzberger wrote in his memo to staff.

“Joe brings impeccable news judgment, a sophisticated understanding of the forces shaping the world and a long track record of helping journalists produce their most ambitious and courageous work.”

He cited the paper’s coverage of the #MeToo movement, the success of The Daily podcast, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning “1619 Project” as successful endeavors under Baquet.

“It is difficult to imagine a leader who could have guided our newsroom so fearlessly — and at the same time, with such grace and warmth,” he wrote.

Running what is arguably the world's most influential newsroom is an impressive media win for an already impressive career.

MEDIA LOSER:
Brad Ferrer & CNN+

Warner Bros Discovery has suspended marketing spending for CNN+ and laid off CNN's chief financial officer, in a pair of decisions that Axios reports are tough news for the new subscription service.

CNN CFO Brad Ferrer has been replaced by Neil Chugani, Discovery’s current CFO for streaming and international, as part of what Axios terms “a broader finance team restructuring.”

“Inside CNN, executives think the launch has been successful. Discovery executives disagree,” according to the report, written by media reporter Sara Fischer, who did note CNN+ has over 150k subscribers so far - which is not nothing.

The streaming service was projected “to become profitable in four years by investing $1 billion into the service,” according to Axios, but the roll-out has been plagued with problems and bad press.

Despite CNN+ now being available on Roku, “with marketing around the service suspended, there are concerns that growth will be short-lived,” wrote Fischer.

Axios blamed “bad timing, limited communications and misaligned incentives" for the incredibly rocky rollout of the service.  Mediate founder Dan Abrams and founding editor Colby Hall discussed that misalignment, and the marketing misses, just days ago.

"Other high-level positions at WarnerMedia across different business functions are likely to be eliminated to cut costs and streamline leadership in coming weeks," Axios added.

It's just the latest losing moment for the fledgling streamer, and Ferrer the latest of many blows to CNN's existing leadership. 

New York Daily News Police Bureau Chief Rocco Parascandola on
the Wild, 29-Hour Manhunt For Frank James

The A-Block

Libs of TikTok

The internet is mad  Taylor Lorenz again, and this time it’s for reporting on the creator behind the popular Twitter account “Libs of TikTok.”

In a Tuesday piece for the Washington Post, Lorenz wrote that Libs of TikTok “reposts a steady stream of TikTok videos and social media posts, primarily from LGBTQ+ people, often including incendiary framing designed to generate outrage.”

The identity of the user behind the account, which Lorenz said is “secretly fueling the right’s outrage machine,” has been unknown. Last Thursday, they appeared anonymously on Tucker Carlson’s show after the account was temporarily suspended by Twitter.

The account has amassed a following of more than 664,000 thanks to its viral videos, and counts Joe RoganGlenn Greenwald and Meghan McCain as fans.

The Lorenz report prompted outrage from Raichik’s fans and prominent conservative pundits who condemned her for outing a social media user who, despite achieving a massive following, wanted to remain anonymous. Many accused Lorenz of “doxxing” the account.

A lot of outrage. And loud.


🇺🇦 FOR LATEST UKRAINE COVERAGE CLICK HERE


In Other News...

Samantha Bee Says Her Husband Witnessed a New York City Subway Stabbing This Week

Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Rips Media in Rare Tweet Storm: 'Watching Them Try to Create Conflict and Film it'

'Former MSNBC Contributor Malcolm Nance Reveals
He Joined Ukraine's Foreign Legion to Fight Russians: 'I'm Done Talking'

RATINGS: April 15 - Fox Sweeps Top 14 Shows in Demo and Total Viewers

Must Listen Clips

Harsh and Cruel

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki spoke with former CNN chief White House correspondent Jessica Yellin,on her News Not Noise podcast, and got very real on quite a few topics.

They talked about Twitter in light of the Elon Musk news and the influence that social media has on Republican politics.Psaki called social media a "fractured' envionment that promotes the "extremes" but is mostly a particular demographic.

"Twitter is very white, it’s very liberal, it’s very coastal," she says in this clip.

Yellin asked Psaki whether she prepares “specific answers” for Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy every day for the briefing, and that great answer is in this clip.

When they talked about Florida's new law, and similar laws in other states, it got emotional.

“They’re doing that in a way that is harsh and cruel to a community of kids, especially,” Psaki said, through tears.

“I’m going to get emotional about this issue because it’s horrible!

It's really a terrific interview.

Links We Like

Taylor Lorenz Wrote About Libs of TikTok — and Conservatives Won’t Shut Up About It
- Kat Bouza, Rolling Stone
How Orwell Diagnosed Democrats’ Culture War Problem Decades Ago
- Jeff Greenfield, Politico
Just How Big Is Twitter?
-  Kalev Leetaru, RealClearPolitics
NextSense Wants to Get in Your Ears -- And Watch Your Brain
- Steven Levy, Wired
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