Mediagazer: Danny Zappin's Zealot Networks Buys Majority Stake in YouTube Licensing Firm AudioMicro (Todd Spangler/Variety)

7:40 PM ET, December 18, 2014

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Kent Walker / Google Public Policy Blog:

Google concerned by reports that MPAA is secretly working with studios to resurrect SOPA — The MPAA's Attempt to Revive SOPA Through A State Attorney General — We are deeply concerned about recent reports that the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) led a secret …

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

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.

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

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

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, Poynter, The New York Observer, Vulture, @jcstearns, @shannonpareil, The Irish Times, @pjvogt, WTOP and Wall Street Journal

Benjamin Mullin / Poynter:

Mike Wilson, managing editor of FiveThirtyEight, named editor of Dallas Morning News, starting in February — Mike Wilson named editor of The Dallas Morning News — Mike Wilson, managing editor of ESPN's FiveThirtyEight, will be the next editor of the Dallas Morning News, the paper announced Thursday in a staff memo.

Discussion: JIMROMENESKO.COM, NetNewsCheck Latest, @mwilstory, @mwilstory and @mwilstory

Jeff John Roberts / Gigaom:

Flickr ends the sale of Creative Commons licensed photos through Wall Art service, apologizes, will issue refunds — Flickr kills sale of Creative Commons prints, issues refunds — Flickr has abruptly ended a service that allowed people to buy canvas or wood prints based on pictures …

Discussion: Flickr Blog, The Next Web, @jeffjohnroberts and PetaPixel

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

Ruth Reader / VentureBeat:

The Yahoo app gets more personalized with local news and comments on both iOS and Android — Yahoo continues its trend of building personalized content in its latest app update for both iOS and Android. — Today, Yahoo is tweaking its digital content app to provide local news regardless of where you travel to.

Discussion: Yahoo, App Advice, 9to5Mac and WebProNews

David S. Bernstein / Boston Magazine:

Boston.com, split from the Boston Globe editorially, stumbles in its effort to draw traffic while upholding Globe's standards — What the Hell Happened to Boston.com? — The site's best and worst moments of the year all happened because of a $4 overcharge at a Chinese restaurant.

Discussion: FishbowlNY, @iandon, @thestalwart, @jaredbkeller, @nero, @mathewi, Mediaite, @bj_roche, @dbernstein and Talking Points Memo

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Danny Zappin's Zealot Networks Buys Majority Stake in YouTube Licensing Firm AudioMicro — Zealot Networks, the digital-media studio formed by ex-Maker Studios CEO Danny Zappin, has acquired a majority stake in content-licensing company AudioMicro, whose brands include YouTube music-licensing business AdRev.

Discussion: Hollywood Reporter and Re/code

Jordan Chariton / The Wrap:

Russell Simmons' Global Grind Acquired by Interactive One — Russell Simmons' pop culture site GlobalGrind.com was acquired by Interactive One, the two companies announced Thursday. — GlobalGrind will become a new Millennials channel for Interactive One (iOne), made up of over a dozen sites that target the younger demographic.

Discussion: Deadline and @pkafka

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