Top News:
Alexandra Steigrad / WWD:
Sources: Jared Kushner is trying to sell the New York Observer, with National Enquirer parent American Media rumored to be a potential buyer — According to insiders, Kushner has been quietly shopping the Observer to potential buyers. — Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump at the Met Gala, May 2016.
Discussion:
Fortune, The Real Deal New York, Mediaite, @dylanbyers, Media Matters for America, @pkafka, @pkafka and New York Magazine
Reuters:
Sources: Viacom executive Doug Herzog, who oversaw Comedy Central and MTV, is leaving in restructuring after the appointment of Bob Bakish as Viacom CEO — Longtime Viacom Inc (VIAB.O) executive Doug Herzog, who oversees the networks Comedy Central and MTV, is expected to leave the company next month …
Discussion:
Deadline, The Wrap, Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Variety, Broadcasting & Cable, Fortune, @keachhagey, CNNMoney and TVWeek.com
Stephen Battaglio / Los Angeles Times:
Sources: Katie Couric will fill in as co-anchor on NBC's Today Show for one week from January 2, alongside Matt Lauer, covering Savannah Guthrie — Katie Couric, shown last January, was co-anchor of “Today” from 1991 to 2006. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Discussion:
Hollywood Reporter, Jezebel, Mediaite, Refinery29, Variety, @jpodhoretz, TVNewser, TVWeek.com and @brianstelter
Richard Smirke / Billboard:
TeamRock, owner of rock music magazines and a radio station, goes into administration, leaving 70+ jobless; crowdfunding appeal raising funds for staffers — A crowdfunding appeal to raise funds for the staff of a rock music publisher that has gone into administration - similar to chapter 11 bankruptcy …
Discussion:
JustGiving, RadioToday, Music Week, Press Gazette and The Guardian
Rachael Bade / Politico:
Sources: Attacks from Breitbart and other pro-Trump bloggers and media personalities are having a chilling effect on discourse within the Republican Party — Lawmakers are loath to say anything remotely critical, fearful they might set off the president-elect or his horde of enforcers.
Discussion:
New York Magazine, Hot Air, Mother Jones, Mediaite, Vanity Fair, @fahrenthold, Media Matters for America, @jestei, @pantsuitpolitic, @emilylhauser, @peternickeas, @jyarow, The Daily Caller, @joyannreid, @resnikoff, @bterris, @mattyglesias, @therickwilson, @mattyglesias, @clarajeffery, @ericgarland, @sarahkendzior and @evan_mcmullin
Josh Constine / TechCrunch:
Zuckerberg, after saying Facebook is not a media company in August, now suggests it is a media firm, just not a “traditional” one — Mark Zuckerberg gave new insights about how he sees Facebook's role in informing the world today during a Live video one-on-one year-end chat with COO Sheryl Sandberg.
Discussion:
@joshconstine, @getaholdofryan, Digital Trends, @joshconstine, USA Today and Business Insider
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Disney-ABC to produce several original series for Snapchat, in bid to target younger viewers, starting with an after-party show for The Bachelor, debuting Jan 3 — Snapchat has pulled Disney-ABC Television Group into its expanding original programming orbit, with the parties setting …
Discussion:
Deadline, Home Media Magazine, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, Engadget, Vanity Fair, The Wrap, Adweek, Refinery29, Fortune, The Verge and Broadcasting & Cable
Tony Connelly / The Drum:
Vice removes its comments sections; in a post, Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Smith said too often, the sections devolved into racist and misogynistic abuse — Vice has revealed that it is taking the bold step of removing the comments sections from its online platforms, citing a lack of time or desire to continue monitoring “crap”.
Discussion:
Mediaite, @mathewi and @alexckaufman
Christopher Meighan / Nieman Lab:
Tech advances in mobile offer publishers new opportunities to interact with readers in 2017 by way of lock screens, messaging apps, and partner integrations — Does it add value? Will it enrich a subscriber's experience? These are the questions we always come back to when discussing new features for apps.
WRAL-TV:
McClatchy buys the print and digital operations of North Carolina's Durham Herald-Sun from the Paxton Media Group — RALEIGH, N.C. — McClatchy, the owner of Raleigh's daily newspaper, The News & Observer, announced on Wednesday that is had completed a deal to purchase the print and digital operations of The (Durham, NC) Herald-Sun.
Discussion:
@davemildenberg, @rl_bynum and Raleigh News & Observer
Kelsey Sutton / Politico:
Poll: 49% of Trump voters believe it should be easier to sue the media, with 38% also supporting cuts to federal spending on media — Around half of self-identified Donald Trump voters said in a survey this week that courts should make it easier for public figures to sue the media.
Discussion:
@lexalexander, @nedrapickler, @christoronyi, @aphoenixalice, Mediaite, Refinery29 and FishbowlNY
Pamela Engel / Business Insider:
After granting an interview to STAT News, Trump's doctor told reporter Ike Swetlitz he'd never work again if the story were published — President-elect Donald Trump's doctor recently gave an interview to a health publication and then threatened to end the reporter's career if he published it.
Discussion:
@oliverdarcy, ABC News, AOL, Mediaite, New York Magazine, FishbowlDC, Washington Post, @ericgeller, @kagrox, @dataeditor, @sopandeb, Jezebel and The Week
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