Mediagazer: Associated Press expands coverage of state government and social issues with team of specialists (Erin Madigan White/The Definitive Source)

2:50 PM ET, December 18, 2014

Top News:

Dave McNary / Variety:

Sony Has ‘No Further Release Plans’ for ‘The Interview’ — Sony Pictures Entertainment has walked out on “The Interview,” deciding against releasing the Seth Rogen-James Franco comedy in any form — including VOD or DVD. — “Sony Pictures has no further release plans for the film,” a spokesman said Wednesday.

Discussion: New York Times, @jimmykimmel, Wall Street Journal, The Wrap, The Verge, Forbes, TIME, The Desk, Mashable, Gizmodo, Slate, TechCrunch, Mediaite, Business Insider, FishbowlNY, Engadget and Media & Entertainment

Brent Lang / Variety:
Sony Cancels Theatrical Release for ‘The Interview’ on Christmas

Ted Johnson / Variety:
CNBC and CNN reporting US investigators have linked North Korea to Sony attack

Discussion: The Wrap, Broadcasting & Cable, New York Times, CNBC, Hollywood Life, Forbes, Mediaite, fox4kc.com and @marlenacnn

Bryan Bishop / The Verge:
With major US movie theater chains refusing to show Interview, Sony should release it online

Justin Ellis / Nieman Lab:

New friends: The Washington Post and The Texas Tribune enter into a new reporting partnership — The Texas Tribune is taking its split with The New York Times pretty well. — Two months ago the Times ended its story-sharing agreement with the Austin-based news nonprofit after four years.

Discussion: The Texas Tribune, Washington Post, The Wrap, Folio, Capital New York, Poynter, @rosental, @evanasmith, @justinnxt and @jayrosen_nyu

Alex Kantrowitz / AdAge:

Inside the Business of the Serial Podcast — Signing on as “Serial's” first advertiser has turned out nicely for MailChimp. The podcast, which investigates the 1999 murder of a Baltimore high school student, quickly became a hit. But as Serial's only launch partner …

Discussion: Online Journalism Blog, Wall Street Journal, The Irish Times, @jcstearns, @shannonpareil, Vulture, WTOP and @pjvogt

Graham Cluley:

Technology news site Ars Technica hacked, readers advised to change passwords — Ars Technica was hacked. Readers advised to change passwords — Oh arse! Registered users of Ars Technica told their passwords might now be in the hands of hackers. Not that Ars Technica is making the news that obvious on its webpage, mind you...

Discussion: Ars Technica

Erin Madigan White / The Definitive Source:

Associated Press expands coverage of state government and social issues with team of specialists — Doubling down on state government coverage — Building on The Associated Press' unmatched presence in all 50 U.S. statehouses, we are adding to our competitive advantage by creating a team of state government specialists.

Discussion: @pdcolford_ap, @ckrewson, @lclemetson, @jonathankappler, Washington Post, @jmsummers, @bshelly, @kronayne and @jmartnyt

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Hulu Nabs Several FX Shows Under Exclusive Multiyear Pact — Deal gives Internet TV site exclusive SVOD window for ‘The Strain,’ ‘Tyrant,’ ‘Married,’ 'You're The Worst' and future series — Hulu sealed a deal for exclusive subscription video-on-demand rights to several current and future FX …

Discussion: Hulu Blog, Home Media Magazine, The Wrap, Deadline, Hollywood Reporter and Los Angeles Times

Alyson Shontell / Business Insider:

Bustle, Bryan Goldberg's news site for women, raises $15.5M, led by General Catalyst; total raise now $27M — 1-Year-Old Startup Bustle Hits 20 Million Uniques And Raises $15.5 Million: 'It's Been A Watershed Year For Digital Media' — Bryan Goldberg and Kate Ward's one-year-old publication for women …

Discussion: Fortune, TechCrunch, @rafat, @katewardbustle and @ajs

Laura Hazard Owen / Gigaom:

Macmillan, too, returns to agency pricing with Amazon — Book publisher Macmillan, like Simon & Schuster and Hachette before it, has signed a new contract with Amazon and will return to agency pricing on its ebooks starting in 2015. In a public letter to authors and agents …

Discussion: Tor.com Frontpage Partial, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and Whatever

Chris Roush / Talking Biz News:

Ex-Reuters journalist Jui Chakravorty launches video startup b-yond.tv to cover global cultures and communities — Ex-Reuters journalist launches video startup — Jui Chakravorty, a Reuters journalist for nine years, has left the wire service and launched a digital video startup.

Discussion: @bobbymacreports and thebaron.info

Andrew Jacobs / New York Times:

Visa renewals obscure a mounting hostility toward Western media outlets operating in China — China Gets Even Colder for Reporters — For foreign journalists in the Chinese capital, the end of the year brings the usual swirl of holiday parties, talk of escaping the bracing cold …

Discussion: @comradewong

Press Gazette:

Former Sunday Mirror investigations editor Graham Johnson avoids prison after admitting hacking — A former Sunday Mirror journalist who voluntarily came forwad to police to admit hacking the voicemails of a soap star today avoided jail. He was sentenced to two months in prison …

Discussion: Telegraph

Hugh Langley / TechRadar:

Netflix exec says access and quality of wi-fi will improve within 5 years, end the need for offline downloads — Netflix: offline viewing is ‘never going to happen’ — Well damn … For some time now, services like BBC iPlayer and 4oD have offered the ability to download shows for offline viewing, yet Netflix hasn't