Top News:
Brian Stelter / CNNMoney:
Adelson family confirms ownership of the Las Vegas Review-Journal — Putting an end to a week-long mystery, the family of billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson confirmed Thursday morning that it has “purchased the Las Vegas Review-Journal through a wholly-owned fund.”
Discussion:
@brianstelter, The Wrap, CNNMoney, @weeddude, @ndhapple and @keachhagey
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Las Vegas Review-Journal:
Sources: Adelson's son-in-law Patrick Dumont arranged $140M purchase of Las Vegas Review-Journal on Adelson's behalf — Adelson son-in-law orchestrated family's purchase of Las Vegas Review-Journal — The son-in-law of billionaire casino owner Sheldon Adelson arranged the $140 million purchase …
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Dan Primack / Fortune:
Sources: casino operator Sheldon Adelson is mystery buyer of The Las Vegas Review-Journal — Yes, Sheldon Adelson Bought The Las Vegas Review-Journal — For nearly a week, the media and political worlds have been wondering who paid $140 million to purchase Nevada's largest daily newspaper, The Las Vegas Review-Journal.
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Hayes Brown / BuzzFeed:
Brazil imposes 48-hour block on WhatsApp for failing to cooperate in criminal investigation; rival app Telegram says it gained 1.5M+ users there in a day — Brazil Just Blocked WhatsApp Despite Almost Everyone In Brazil Using It — A court has blocked the app that 93% of Brazil's internet users depend …
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Joe Mullin / Ars Technica:
Pandora to pay royalty of 17 cents per 100 songs, up from 14 cents, after copyright board decision, with rates rising with inflation through 2020 — Copyright tribunal slaps Pandora with 20 percent rate increase — A little-known panel of judges determines what Internet radio must pay.
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Erik Wemple / Washington Post:
FBI Director James Comey calls media reports that San Bernardino shooters posted publicly on social media about jihad a “garble” — The FBI just blasted reporting on the San Bernardino killings — A whoa moment here: FBI Director James B. Comey today told the media …
Chris Johnston / Guardian:
Popbitch asks readers to raise £20,000 after rise in legal threats — Celebrity gossip newsletter says it has faced cyber attacks and many more attempts by lawyers to kill stories in the past six months — Popbitch is seeking to raise £20,000 from its readers in the wake …
Katie Roof / TechCrunch:
Tastemade Raises $40 Million From Goldman Sachs To Make Food Videos — Tastemade, the maker of food and lifestyle videos, has raised a $40 million financing round led by Goldman Sachs. Participating investors in the Series D round include, Redpoint Ventures, Comcast Ventures, Liberty Media and Scripps Networks.
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Associated Press:
Anti-IS group says 1 of its journalists killed in Syria — BEIRUT (AP) — A Syrian media activist group that reports on Islamic State group activities says that one of its journalists has been assassinated in Syria. — The group, which calls itself Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently …
Discussion:
Committee to Protect …, telesurtv.net and Guardian
Guardian:
Phone-hacking victims ask CPS to review decision to take no further action — Prosecution service tells high court it has been contacted by campaign group Hacked Off announcing its intention to seek a review — Phone-hacking victims have asked the Crown Prosecution Service to review …
Ricardo Bilton / Digiday:
Wirecutter creating custom product guides for other sites to raise its profile and build its audience beyond tech — Why The Wirecutter lets other publishers run its product reviews — The Wirecutter has made a business out of obsessively reviewing the minutiae of gadgets.
Discussion:
@alexcrabb and @rbilton
Jill Goldsmith / The Wrap:
Judge approves Relativity Media's bankruptcy reorganization plan but postphones final hearing to February — Relativity Bankruptcy: Judge Delays Reorganization Approval, Movie Releases Hang in Balance — U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Wiles approved the terms of Relativity Media's Chapter …
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Law360, Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Deadline and Variety