Mediagazer: RNC cancels plans to partner with NBC News for February 26 debate after CNBC debate controversy; NBC says it will work “in good faith” to resolve issue (Politico)

6:45 PM ET, October 30, 2015

Top News:

ESPN suspends publication of Grantland, effective immediately — ESPN Statement Regarding Grantland — Effective immediately we are suspending the publication of Grantland. After careful consideration, we have decided to direct our time and energy going forward to projects that we believe …

Brian Stelter / CNNMoney:

Closure of Grantland affects about 40 journalists; ESPN remains “totally committed” to FiveThirtyEight and The Undefeated — ESPN ‘suspending’ Grantland — ESPN said Friday that it is “suspending the publication of Grantland,” one of its most ambitious Internet ventures, effective immediately.

Discussion: Deadspin, The Wrap, @bro_pair, Poynter, @rembert, LAist, @mtthwrose, @brianstelter, The Big Lead and Mashable

Politico:

RNC cancels plans to partner with NBC News for February 26 debate after CNBC debate controversy; NBC says it will work “in good faith” to resolve issue — RNC drops NBC partnership — The RNC has canceled plans to partner with NBC News for a Feb. 26 debate, citing a “bad faith” …

Noah Kulwin / Re/code:

SXSW apologizes for earlier panel cancellations, announces one-day online harassment summit on Saturday, March 12 — SXSW Apologizes for Gamergate Panel Cancellations, Announces One-Day ‘Online Harassment Summit’ (Updated) — A week after canceling two controversial panels scheduled …

Noah Kulwin / Re/code:

SXSW Bungles Announcement of ‘Online Harassment Summit,’ and Panelists Are Pulling Out — This morning, SXSW Interactive Director Hugh Forrest released a statement apologizing for canceling two controversial panels earlier this week, and announcing a March 12 “Online Harassment Summit” …

Discussion: Slate, The Open Gaming Society, @randileeharper, @randileeharper, Digital Savant, @nkulw and The Verge

Alison Burdo / Philadelphia Business Journal:

Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News merging, layoffs expected — Inquirer, Daily News reportedly merging — More Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News employees are set to lose their jobs as the two newspapers are reportedly going to merge. — Inquirer reporter Bob Fernandez sent …

Discussion: Billy Penn, @bobfernandez1, Philly.com, @bobfernandez1, Poynter, New Jersey Business News, @wbender99, @taramurtha and Philadelphia Magazine

Mark Sweney / Guardian:

Sun website to scrap paywall — Publisher News UK set to makes U-turn and offer its content for free from 30 November in bid to compete with rivals such as Mail Online — The Sun is poised to make a major U-turn by scrapping its paywall and offering most of its website content for free.

Discussion: Reuters, Nieman Lab, @wblau, @martinshovel, Press Gazette, Talking New Media, Mashable, @tcordrey, Financial Times, The Register, The Drum, @dabeard, @jonhew, @higgis, @_liamcorcoran, Londonlovesbusiness.com and TechRadar.com

James Warren / Poynter:

Los Angeles Times buyout offer prompts 15 percent of newsroom to raise their hands — Fifteen percent of The Los Angeles Times newsroom has applied for buyouts, according to a source with knowledge of the process. — At least 75 individuals in the 500-person flagship of Tribune Publishing …

Desmond Butler / Associated Press:

Editors from around the world urge Turkey to protect media — ISTANBUL (AP) — Dozens of editors from leading international news organizations have written to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressing “profound concern regarding the deteriorating conditions for press freedom in Turkey.”

Discussion: Agence France-Presse, World News Publishing Focus …, TodaysZaman, Poynter and The Huffington Post

Kara Bloomgarden-Smoke / The New York Observer:

Co-editors of Hairpin, Haley Mlotek & Alexandra Molotkow, are leaving; site's future unclear — The Hairpin's Editors Are Leaving — “Why would we tell anyone! That's no fun,” The Awl's Choire Sicha responded — Haley Mlotek and Alexandra Molotkow, editors of The Hairpin …

Discussion: @nicole_cliffe, @amyrosary, The Hairpin, @zunguzungu, @sarahw, @markberman and @clarajeffery

Laura Hazard Owen / Nieman Lab:

NarcoData is a new collaboration that aims to track and visualize the drug cartels of Mexico — NarcoData, a collaboration between Mexican digital news site Animal Politico and data journalism platform Poderopedia, launched Tuesday with a mission to shine light on organized crime and drug trafficking in Mexico.

Discussion: Forbes and Quartz

Benjamin Mullin / Poynter:

Bucking national trend, Charleston's privately owned Post and Courier plans to hire a DC correspondent in January — Bucking national trend, the Post and Courier plans to open D.C. bureau — After nine people were fatally shot at a prominent black church in Charleston, South Carolina this June …