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7:40 AM ET, December 18, 2014

Mediagazer

 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 …
RELATED:
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.
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.
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 …
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?
RELATED:
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.
RELATED:
Mallory Ortberg / The Toast:
Following outcry from writers over copyright transfer, The Toast and The Butter amend their contracts
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 …
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
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.
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
 
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 More News: 
Peter Kafka / Re/code:
Former Hulu CEO Jason Kilar opens Creator Preview for YouTube rival Vessel to lure stars; $2.99/month service includes ads, offers up to $50 CPM for creators
Jeff John Roberts / Gigaom:
Broadcasters try to block Aereo asset sale, $90M tax transfer
Discussion: Plagiarism Today
Mike Shields / Wall Street Journal:
21st Century Fox to Acquire Ad Tech Firm TrueX for $200 Million
 Earlier Picks: 
Erik Sass / MediaPost:
190 magazines launched in 2014, up from 185 in 2013, and closings rose to 99 from 56 in 2013
Discussion: Media & Entertainment
Roy Greenslade / Guardian:
News Corp UK suffers £3.5m loss after £51m profit the year before
Discussion: Press Gazette, Tvnews4u and City A.M.
Stuart Dredge / Guardian:
Spotify CEO wants ‘to do a better job’ convincing musicians of its value
Discussion: RAIN News