Top News:
Brent Lang / Variety:
Sony Cancels Theatrical Release for ‘The Interview’ on Christmas — With theater chains defecting en masse, Sony Pictures Entertainment has pulled the planned Christmas release of “The Interview.” — In announcing the decision to cancel the holiday debut, Sony hit back at the hackers …
Discussion:
New York Times, The Daily Beast, Fusion, Mediaite, @roblowe, Politico, CNBC, Gizmodo, @rogerkimball, @nikcub, @petepachal, @brentalang, Gawker, The Wrap, @dandrezner, @fleetstreetfox, @kashhill, @jackmirkinson, Splitsider, @jeffjarvis, Forbes, @nickkristof, @felixsalmon, SSN Insider, AdAge, TechCrunch, The Week, The Next Web, The Verge, FishbowlNY, Business Insider, U-T San Diego stories, Rolling Stone, Media & Entertainment and USA Today
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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:
TIME, New York Times, The Wrap, Forbes, Mashable, Gizmodo, The Desk, TechCrunch, Gawker, Engadget, Mediaite and Business Insider
Ted Johnson / Variety:
CNBC and CNN reporting US investigators have linked North Korea to Sony attack — North Korea Ordered the Sony Attack: Reports — Federal authorities have determined that hackers working on behalf of the North Korean government were behind the attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment, according to published reports.
Discussion:
CNBC, @marlenacnn, Hollywood Life, fox4kc.com, Mediaite and Broadcasting & Cable
Bryan Bishop / The Verge:
With major US movie theater chains refusing to show Interview, Sony should release it online — Why Sony Pictures should release The Interview online — Not even North Korea can stop the internet — The dominoes fell swiftly Tuesday. The group behind the massive Sony hacks released another cache …
Discussion:
Hollywood Reporter, Wall Street Journal, BuzzFeed, The Wrap, @pamelabrowncnn, New York Times, Bloomberg View, Deadline, @rhoulette, @metromanto, @mattsmacintosh, @dcshorts, The Dish, @juliejacobson, @jrudis, @scalzi, @kyleorl, @harrymccracken, @girlparts, /Film, Asia Unbound, Guardian, Variety, The Week, The Daily Caller and Polygon
Michael Calderone / The Huffington Post:
New York Times Reporters Told Not To Open Hacked Sony Emails, Some Of Which Involve The Times — NEW YORK — The massive Sony hack has left editors with a decision sure to be studied in media ethics classes for years to come: Should journalists report on materials stolen from a corporation by hackers?
Discussion:
Hollywood Reporter, Poynter, @matthewkeyslive, @freebarrett_, Sony Hack, Slate, Washington Post, US News, @mlcalderone, @dangillmor and SocialTimes
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Manjula Martin / Scratch Magazine:
The Toast's publisher Nick Pavich explains contract changes, apologizes for rude tweets — UPDATED: “I apologize.” The Toast's publisher on writers' terms — UPDATED: — I talked with Nick Pavich, publisher of The Toast and The Butter, over email this morning to clarify their rights terms for freelance writers.
Discussion:
Whatever, @alexanderchee, @manjulamartin, @nick_pavich, @sulagnamisra and @glennf
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Mallory Ortberg / The Toast:
Following outcry from writers over copyright transfer, The Toast and The Butter amend their contracts
Following outcry from writers over copyright transfer, The Toast and The Butter amend their contracts
Discussion:
@sedna_51, @mallelis, @mallelis, @mallelis, @thewayoftheid, @tithenai, @meanchelled, @mallelis, @scalzi, @eilatan, Writer Beware, @mallelis and @scalzi
Mat Honan / Wired:
Inside Circa, BuzzFeed, and First Look Media: the battle for attention from the news startups — Inside the Buzz-Fueled Media Startups Battling for Your Attention — It's like a parody, spending time in a well-funded startup's office, with exposed brick walls and Great Big Screens Showing User Numbers …
Discussion:
@digidave, @ashleykmayo, @antderosa, @joelchoffmann, @coreyhutchins, @moneyries, @sealln, @c_heller, @jimray, @om, @shanedingman, @lheron, @eamonleonard, @zeynep, @kevinroose and @digiphile
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:
thebaron.info
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
Discussion:
@brianb, @sievertmike, TechCrunch, The Mac Observer, The Verge, Electronista, Mashable, Business Insider, WebProNews, Pocket-lint, Engadget and BGR
Joseph Lichterman / Nieman Lab:
How Philly's Billy Penn is building a local news audience from scratch — HILADELPHIA — Armed with a Kindle Fire tablet, Anna Orso stood just inside the front door of an Irish pub last Monday night welcoming guests to a happy hour in Center City, Philadelphia.
Discussion:
Billy Penn, @justinnxt, @stevebuttry, @ylichterman, @ceodonovan and @samkirkla
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
Jacob Kastrenakes / The Verge:
BuzzFeed buys Hyper IQ, small app developer that has been working on its iOS app — BuzzFeed buys developer to focus on building native apps — BuzzFeed has big plans to build out its mobile app. The site has acquired the team behind Hyper IQ, a developer that's already been working on BuzzFeed's iOS app.
Discussion:
@mobilemediamemo