Top News:
Alex Sherman / Bloomberg Business:
Sources: AMC Networks again in talks to acquire John Malone's pay-TV network Starz — AMC Networks Said in Talks to Acquire John Malone's Starz — Discussions last year faltered on differences over valuation — Malone says Starz would gain from finding media partners
Discussion:
Broadcasting & Cable, Deadline, The Wrap, Variety, Reuters, @modestproposal1 and @richbtig
Garrett Quinn / Boston Magazine:
Layoffs hit Boston.com, with number estimated by sources as in the “high teens” — Bloody Tuesday at Boston.com as Staffers Get Walking Papers — The turbulence at the Boston Globe-owned site continues. — A number of staffers at Boston.com were given their walking papers on Tuesday according to multiple sources.
Discussion:
Media Nation, @carlycarioli and @dabeard
James Warren / Poynter:
One week after ouster of Los Angeles Times publisher Austin Beutner, 80 positions to be cut in Tribune newspapers — Big cuts coming to L.A. Times, likely other Tribune papers amid tumult — Significant newsroom cuts are being planned at the Los Angeles Times one week after the ouster of its publisher.
Discussion:
FishbowlNY, The Wrap, LA Observed and @jimwarren55
Ricardo Bilton / Digiday:
Two-thirds of Wired's revenue is digital, and brand content is why — The sponsored content market is packed to the gills with publishers looking to carve out their own niche in the space. A core part of Wired's formula: tapping its community of editorial freelancers.
Discussion:
@raju, @rafat and Media Wire Daily
Shan Wang / Nieman Lab:
A profile of The Conversation, an online-only Australian news site with three international editions, for US, UK, and Africa — With writing by academics and underwriting from universities, The Conversation finds its place — In a basement at the Boston University College of Communication …
Discussion:
Knight Foundation and @jayrosen_nyu
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Cable network Epix announces offline viewing on its mobile apps for subscribers, available later this month — Take That, Netflix: Epix to Launch Offline Movie Viewing — Premium cable network Epix later this month will let subscribers watch movies on mobile devices when they're not connected …
Discussion:
/Film, CNET and TechCrunch
The Nation:
Thai government frees Nation journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk, held for “attitude adjustment”, after he signs pact promising not to help anti-coup efforts — Nation writer, politicians let go after signing pact — WASAMON AUDJARINT, JITRAPORN SENWONG, KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
Discussion:
news.vice.com and BenarNews
Andy / TorrentFreak:
FBI and Department of Justice shutter ShareBeast, the largest illegal file-sharing site operating in the US according to the RIAA — FBI Seizes Domains Of Two Pre-Release Music Sites — As efforts to hinder file-sharing sites gather pace around the world, in Europe in particular, criminal actions in the U.S. remain relatively rare.
Discussion:
Agence France-Presse, Business Insider, Billboard and Ars Technica
Glyn Moody / Ars Technica UK:
Paywalled science publisher Elsevier donates 45 ScienceDirect accounts to Wikipedia editors; some open-access advocates object — “WikiGate” raises questions about Wikipedia's commitment to open access — Jimmy Wales asked to reconsider arrangement with paywalled science publisher Elsevier.
Discussion:
@scipublab, @scipublab and @mbeisen
Jeremy Barr / Politico:
Huffington Post to publish 59K word “DocuSerial” from Steven Brill, over 15 days — Steven Brill's next project: 59,000 words in 15 days — At 26,000 words, Steven Brill's 2013 exposé into the health care industry was referred to as the longest single-authored piece in the history of Time magazine.
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Poynter, @yayitsrob, FishbowlNY, @chaykak and @mathewi
Sam Kimball / Columbia Journalism Review:
After a 10-year ban and a hunger strike, one Moroccan journalist is getting back to work — In the courtyard of his 19th century Andalusian house among the winding alleyways of the city of Tetouan, in Morocco's verdant Rif Mountains, journalist Ali Lmrabet, 55, types slowly on his laptop …
Joseph Lichterman / Nieman Lab:
S. Mitra Kalita, managing editor for editorial strategy, talks about how the LA Times is using new beats like Black Twitter and platforms like Snapchat — California dreaming: How the L.A. Times is introducing new beats and platforms to grow its audience — When the Los Angeles Times announced …
Discussion:
@ylichterman