Mediagazer: China Ranks Last of 65 Nations in Internet Freedom (Edward Wong/New York Times)

11:55 AM ET, October 31, 2015

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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.

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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” …

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Alison Burdo / Philadelphia Business Journal:

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Kristen Hare / Poynter:

Newspapers taken over in Turkey are printing again, and they're now pro-government — A protester holding a placard demonstrates across the street from the headquarters of a media company in Istanbul, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015. Police in Istanbul have carried out a dawn raid at the building …

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Desmond Butler / Associated Press:
Editors from around the world urge Turkey to protect media

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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.

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Edward Wong / New York Times:

China Ranks Last of 65 Nations in Internet Freedom — BEIJING — China ranks last in the world for openness among countries studied in a new report on Internet freedom by a prominent American pro-democracy group. — The report, “Freedom on the Net 2015,” the latest such annual study by the group …

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Dominic Patten / Deadline:

Starz and CEO Chris Albrecht sued by former senior vice president who claims the pay-TV network inflated revenue and subscribers — Starz & CEO Chris Albrecht Sued By Ex-SVP Over “Illegal Activities” & Inflated Revenue & Subscriber Numbers — EXCLUSIVE: The same day that the premium …

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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 …

Eugene Kim / Business Insider:

FanDuel now faces lawsuit from Redskins' Pierre Garcon, alleging unauthorized use of players' names and likenesses and seeking class-action status — FanDuel, the daily fantasy site worth over $1 billion, was just hit by another lawsuit — this time by an NFL player

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