Mediagazer: BBC accused of acting like a ‘thug’ towards local papers (Mark Sweney/Guardian)

12:30 PM ET, May 30, 2013

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RT:

US media execs rebuff Holder's closed-door wiretap scandal meeting — Several significant US news organizations reject the Department of Justice's proposal to discuss off-the-record ‘new guidelines’ in light of the reporter wiretapping scandal. Last week President Obama urged the DOJ to search a consensus with the media.

Discussion: Politico, Poynter, Mediaite, @mweinger, Los Angeles Times, @mlcalderone and @nycjim

Michael Calderone / The Huffington Post:

Which Media Outlets Will Be At DOJ's Off-The-Record Meeting? — Media executives and editors are divided over whether to attend an off-the-record meeting with Attorney General Eric Holder to discuss guidelines for dealing with journalists in leak investigations, an issue that's gotten a lot …

Discussion: Mediaite, Erik Wemple, BuzzFeed and National Review

Carol Cratty / CNN:

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Edmund Lee / Bloomberg:

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Discussion: Mashable, Adweek, paidContent, @peretti, Poynter and Poynter

Robert Channick / Chicago Tribune:

Chicago Sun-Times lays off its photo staff — The Chicago Sun-Times has laid off its entire photography staff, and plans to use freelance photographers going forward, the newspaper said. About 20 full-times staffers received the news Thursday morning, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Discussion: JIMROMENESKO.COM, @gailpennington, @mattwaite, @anicabutler and @jvansack

Mark Sweney / Guardian:

Netflix boss: BBC is holding back UK children's shows — Ted Sarandos says corporation restricts UK licensing for up to five years, forcing streaming service to buy US shows instead — Ted Sarandos, Netflix's content chief, has accused the BBC of stifling the potential of homegrown children's shows …

Discussion: paidContent and Hollywood Reporter

Mark Sweney / Guardian:

BBC accused of acting like a ‘thug’ towards local papers — Corporation criticised by regional newspaper executives for being competitive and refusing to credit local press stories — The BBC has been accused of acting like the “thug at the end of the street” in its dealings with local and regional newspapers.

Discussion: Kirk LaPointe's …

BuzzFeed:

The Social Media Editor is Dead — By April 19, the manhunt for two brothers suspected of bombing the Boston Marathon had been ongoing for four days, and the Twitterati were growing weary. — Brian Ries, of The Daily Beast, confessed he was “so tired.” Huffington Post's Craig Kanalley saw …

Discussion: Poynter, Zombie Journalism, ReadWrite, @lheron, @ivanlajara, @fieldproducer, @lheron, @fieldproducer, Nieman Reports and @boyreporter

Jim Romenesko:
Liz Heron is named Wall Street Journal emerging media editor

Discussion: @antderosa and @lexinyt

Josh Sternberg / Digiday:

Is Quartz the Very Model of a Modern Publisher? — Eight months ago, Atlantic Media placed a bet that a digital-first, mobile-oriented publication geared to business executives on the go would be a hit. The results, so far, point to a publication on the rise.

Discussion: eMedia Vitals, @zseward and @joshsternberg

Steve Jordon / Omaha World-Herald:

Warren Buffett's media group to buy Roanoke, Va., newspaper — The Roanoke (Va.) Times will become part of Warren Buffett's newspaper group. — BH Media Group, an Omaha-based division of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., said Thursday that it would purchase The Times from Landmark Media Enterprises of Norfolk, Va., for an undisclosed price.

Discussion: The Roanoke Times and Poynter

Sharon Terlep / Wall Street Journal:

Dish Increases Its Bid for Clearwire — Dish Network Corp. has increased its bid for mobile-broadband operator Clearwire Corp., topping the offer Sprint Nextel Corp. raised last week. — Late Wednesday, Dish offered to acquire Clearwire for $4.40 a share in cash, a 29% premium over Sprint's offer of $3.40 a share.

Discussion: The Verge, CNET, GeekWire and AllThingsD

Terry Heaton / Street Fight:

Report: Pureplays Using Legacy Media as a Farm System for Sales Staff — Local media companies need to do something to protect their digital sales assets or run the risk of losing them to pureplay* web companies. That's just one of the findings of a new study being released tomorrow by Borrell Associates …

Discussion: NetNewsCheck Latest and Radio Ink Magazine

Kelly E. Christensen / INMA:

Dallas Morning News encourages innovation by funding employee ideas — Employees can earn up to US$25,000 for revenue-generating ideas, such as two recent winners: an E-books option for special sections and custom publishing customers and a collectible sports poster series.

Media Hawk / The Commentator:

The Guardian has opened a coffee shop. No, it's not a joke. — Wanting a steaming cup to go with their steaming journalism? Well now you've got a place to go, London... Deep in the murky, hipster-ridden depths of London's Shoreditch emerges a new beast dedicated to bringing you bitter …